Palau - Koror
After being delayed I finally touched down in Koror at 3am in the morning. It’s raining and dark but the people seem really friendly. I had my bags and was out of the airport in 10 mins, I was greeted by Raymond my driver who swiftly took me too the Palau Hotel.
Check In was swift until I was given the key to room 411, that’s great but then I found out no elevator so I had to drag 60kgs of luggage up 4 flights of stairs!
The hotel was boutique style and very friendly and clean. This will be my home for 2 nights.
Aggressor, Palau
I wasn’t impressed with the service after the Galapagos Aggressor, so I was hoping things would get better, bearing in mind I stepped off the Pelagian 2 weeks ago, the pick up didn’t happen and no responses to emails, so I made my way down to the drop off, good job Raymond knew as Aggressor staff didn’t respond to 2 emails I sent. We finally get to the boat, what impressed me was the skiff (small boat) is lifted out of the water with us in it and we just step on to the boat. The boat seemed old and the rooms are dated and old too, they are acceptable but I was hoping for better. I’m just thankful I’m not sharing with someone as that would of been interesting.
We go through what seems to be the longest dive/boat briefing in history and finally its dinner time. There are 17 divers on this boat. 4 from Korea, 2 from Austria, 3 from Netherlands, 2 Canadians, 2 Germans and 4 from America. Everyone seems nice and friendly and should be a good week!
The first 2 dives were on wrecks and sadly these have been the worst 2 dives of my entire trip so far, poor visibility and not much life.... I’m hoping the 3rd dive gets better..... and it does, lovely blue sea, sandy bottom and nice sea life. Now I feel I’m in Palau. The skiff ride through the Rock Islands was a true experience.
So it’s on to the 4th dive, this is a hook in dive and everyone is anxious to see the sharks, off we go and as we arrive I see that no one had put my camera on the boat! And this has my dive computer on it. I’m really pissed off because I followed what I was told in the briefing, only staff can take the camera on and off, and the camera’s that are going should be placed in the rinse tank.... I did my part! So sadly I was not able to dive Ulong Channel. What has annoyed me more is none of the staff really gave a shit or even apologized and tried to say I had done things wrong. Unfortunately the Aggressor showing proof of over promising and under delivering....what’s there motto? Eat, Sleep, Dive??? They are supposed to take care of everything? Maybe they should take note of how the Pelagian does things as it takes more than warm towels and warm filtered water. Hopefully things will get better.
In all fairness Jim the captain came and apologized and didn’t forget any other time. The cruise director and so called photo pro knew what had happened and said nothing and just jumped in, every man for himself.
The diving picked up and there was some lovely dives, we managed to see sharks, mantas and lots of turtles. This is not the best place I have dived for sharks but the warm sea, clear blue visibility gave this something extra.
The food was average compared to other liveaboards and the horrid warm water just turns my stomach every time they pass you your bottle.
I have to say it was a good all round experience, personally I don’t think the staff care for people serious about photography as it seems to be an effort with my camera, 3 times passed to me with the large very buoyant cap still on, and when back in the boat no one places cap back on and I cannot get to it to do myself.
Aggressor says, the “Ultimate Liveaboard” I would say the acceptable but expensive for what you get liveaboard. The were quick to mention about tips, they didn’t forget that, like they did my camera, maybe I will forget to tip.... oh wait just remembered I was charged full rate double concession to have a room on my own.... there is your tip aggressor staff.
It was great diving with all the other guests it was a good group! Except the Korean music, if I hear a grease theme song again.....
After the diving I stayed on land for a few days at a beautiful resort called Palau Pacific Resort, The rooms were lovely, a 24 hour gift shop and the best snorkelling around, Yes... I snorkelled and saw the only Crocodile Fish on the whole trip!
Bucket list # 1 complete!
Next stop Philippines and to Pueto Galera.
