17 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

Yes its time to look at doing Palau again or Guam for the first time!

It makes sense to add Palau or Guam to our Truk trip since it is one of the routings we can take to get there. We can do it either before the trip or after the Truk trip which is going to be Apr 24- May 1, 2011.

So here are my options:

1. Offer Palau or Guam as a stand alone trip for those who don't want to do Truk
2. Offer Palau or Guam as a combo trip add-on for those who want to do Truk AND Palau
3. Offer Palau or Guam as a landbased so you could do shorter or longer durations and have more flexibility
4. Offer Palau or Guam as a liveabaord so you can have your own floating hotel which is nice but usually about twice as much in price compared to liveaboards. The biggest advantage to the liveaboard in Palau is most dive sites are 30-40 min boat ride which can be used to offgas between dives but for some they feel it limits the amount of diving they can do. I'm not sure the average distance boat ride to the sites in Guam.

So tell me what you want! This is a very strong option for 2011.... are you interested in Guam or Palau for 2011?

Edited by WreckWench, 02 April 2009 - 04:12 AM.

[ScubaShafer]

Yes its time to look at doing Palau again or Guam for the first time!

It makes sense to add Palau or Guam to our Truk trip since it is one of the routings we can take to get there. We can do it either before the trip or after the Truk trip which is most likely going to be Apr 24- May 1, 2011.

So here are my options:

1. Offer Palau or Guam as a stand alone trip for those who don't want to do Truk
2. Offer Palau or Guam as a combo trip add-on for those who want to do Truk AND Palau
3. Offer Palau or Guam as a landbased so you could do shorter or longer durations and have more flexibility
4. Offer Palau or Guam as a liveabaord so you can have your own floating hotel which is nice but usually about twice as much in price compared to liveaboards. The biggest advantage to the liveaboard in Palau is most dive sites are 30-40 min boat ride which can be used to offgas between dives but for some they feel it limits the amount of diving they can do. I'm not sure the average distance boat ride to the sites in Guam.

So tell me what you want! This is a very strong option for 2011.... are you interested in Guam or Palau for 2011?

I'd be interested in either Palau, Guam, or YAP.

[Jerrymxz]

Yes its time to look at doing Palau again or Guam for the first time!

It makes sense to add Palau or Guam to our Truk trip since it is one of the routings we can take to get there. We can do it either before the trip or after the Truk trip which is most likely going to be Apr 24- May 1, 2011.

So here are my options:

1. Offer Palau or Guam as a stand alone trip for those who don't want to do Truk
2. Offer Palau or Guam as a combo trip add-on for those who want to do Truk AND Palau
3. Offer Palau or Guam as a landbased so you could do shorter or longer durations and have more flexibility
4. Offer Palau or Guam as a liveabaord so you can have your own floating hotel which is nice but usually about twice as much in price compared to liveaboards. The biggest advantage to the liveaboard in Palau is most dive sites are 30-40 min boat ride which can be used to offgas between dives but for some they feel it limits the amount of diving they can do. I'm not sure the average distance boat ride to the sites in Guam.

So tell me what you want! This is a very strong option for 2011.... are you interested in Guam or Palau for 2011?

Two or three days in Guam on the way to Palau as land based legs, then on to Truuk. that's my 2psi

[georoc01]

I'd like to potentially spend a couple of days on truk prior to the liveaboard, that would give time just in case of delays somewhere in route. I also hear there are some dive sites that are done from land that wouldn't be included in the liveaboard.

So I'd prefer to do truk first and then Palau afterwards. If we do Palau first, I would prefer it to be land based.

I have also talked to many guys who dove Hawaii enroute either way also as apparently you can get an extended airline layover. I haven't look into the flights yet myself.

[WreckWench]

I'd like to potentially spend a couple of days on truk prior to the liveaboard, that would give time just in case of delays somewhere in route. I also hear there are some dive sites that are done from land that wouldn't be included in the liveaboard.

So I'd prefer to do truk first and then Palau afterwards. If we do Palau first, I would prefer it to be land based.

I have also talked to many guys who dove Hawaii enroute either way also as apparently you can get an extended airline layover. I haven't look into the flights yet myself.

All good suggestions....

I can see deciding what to do will not be easy to decide...we have as many suggestions as people posting so far.

I have ascertained that other than relieving some jet lag...the sites are not very far from the boat so unlike MOST liveaboards...if you are late arriving to Chuuk...the boat can just come and get you.

Good suggestions....glad we have some planning time...

[ScubaPunk]

I want to do Palau and Yap. Not sure about Truk.

[Capn Jack]

Way far out to promise, but I'm interested. Might need DG to hold my hand.

[WreckWench]

The Truk trip is now set and discussion is in THIS THREAD. However for those who may not know...you can dive from 30-130 ft in Truk and see an amazing time warp back into history. We'll have pictures posted soon...but this is NOT a trip just for tech divers....most will be and will enjoy it as a recreational diver who just enjoys diving on history or history that has become amazing reefs!

[rkymtwy]

I'm interested in Palau but I would prefer a liveaboard if that is an option.

[bowjunkie]

If your adding to the Truk trip I would like to do Truk first due to the timing

[UP Diver]

Kamala -

I would be interested in a late April trip and like Carla, would like to see if a good livaboard is possible. I share the same view as Mark above though, with "it sure is far out there...."

Keep me posted!

UP Diver

[Scubatooth]

This far out anything is possible but yes to the yap, guam and palau option in addition to truk that would be one heck of a photo trip

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

I've read some pretty interesting trip reports on Palau and Yap.....but they say if you do land-based on Palau, the trip to/from the dive sites can be up to an hour each way. True??? I still have to find some reports on Guam.

This is shaping up to be very interesting to me, especially since you confirm that Truk is not just a tech diver destination! And to do 2 destinations on the same trip really takes advantage of the time & airfare.

So, anybody else who wants to dive a bit shallow can sign up dive with me in Truk!

[WreckWench]

The goal is to maximize the experience for everyone which is why I suggested landbased in the first place. First it can be adjusted for those doing Truk or NOT doing Truk. Second it is significantly cheaper than a liveaboard. And third the dive sites vary in distance from the land based ops but can be up to 40 mins each way...keeping in mind that a great deal of this is your required surface interval anyway.

While I love liveaboards...and I do...just not sure that its the way to go. It is the BEST way to go in my opinion for Truk which is why we are doing it for that part of the combo trip.

Keep researching and let us know what you find. The truk part is set now in stone...what we do around it is not. And again I know that some people will ONLY do the Palau or Guam or Yap part...so for them THAT PART is the prime attraction and that is cool with me too.

Just trying to maximize happiness all the way around....

[Capn Jack]

The goal is to maximize the experience for everyone which is why I suggested landbased in the first place. First it can be adjusted for those doing Truk or NOT doing Truk. Second it is significantly cheaper than a liveaboard. And third the dive sites vary in distance from the land based ops but can be up to 40 mins each way...keeping in mind that a great deal of this is your required surface interval anyway.

While I love liveaboards...and I do...just not sure that its the way to go. It is the BEST way to go in my opinion for Truk which is why we are doing it for that part of the combo trip.

Keep researching and let us know what you find. The truk part is set now in stone...what we do around it is not. And again I know that some people will ONLY do the Palau or Guam or Yap part...so for them THAT PART is the prime attraction and that is cool with me too.

Just trying to maximize happiness all the way around....

We had a great time land-based in Palau - the diving makes everything worth it.

I'm itching to go back to Palau - so that would be my #1, but if things brighten up economically - a Truk/Palau combo would work for me.

DG???? Need help with those Blue Sharks!!!!