Palau, Saipan or Hawaii in September?

[scubamiette]

Thank you all for great advice!

Our trip is now pushed back to October and i am looking at Dumaguete or Kona... reason is i would like us to get more dives in our log books to fully enjoy Palau.

In any case, i can't wait to go out diving again!
thank you!

 

[dashark]

Kona is probably the best for the experience levels you described. it is also the best place to get up close and personal with Mantas.
Unless you want to do a liveaboard, then Palau is a good option. For land based diving with Mantas. Kona is an outstanding choice. Try Big Island Divers!

 

[dashark]

P.s. I would also dive with Friscuba (steve) if I was going. He was incredibly helpful to me during my last trip....

 

[manhattandiver]

IMO, you have a greater chance of getting a direct hit by a typhoon at that time of the year in the Marianas (Guam, Saipan), than you do in the Carolines (Palau, Yap). Go for the Palau/Yap Itinerary, but also closely monitor the Guam NWS Typhoon Website as well. . .

Having been in the water with Kevin when we took a direct hit by a typhoon, I'd suggest following his advice. Nothing makes you appreciate the power of mother nature quite like surfacing from a 180 foot deco dive into 50 mph winds, 6 foot swells, blinding rain and no dive boat in sight. Think I'm still drying off from that one...

 

[Kevrumbo]

Having been in the water with Kevin when we took a direct hit by a typhoon, I'd suggest following his advice. Nothing makes you appreciate the power of mother nature quite like surfacing from a 180 foot deco dive into 50 mph winds, 6 foot swells, blinding rain and no dive boat in sight. Think I'm still drying off from that one...

Another half-hour without sight of land, and I was going to deploy the Emergency PLB (remember my "Gold Can"?):shocked2:

How's the carnage over there on Wall Street? I'm about to withdraw all my savings from WAMU, and go retire in the Philippines (where the US Dollar is still worth something!). . .

Next month I'll be in Truk again. . .

 

[CARHILL]

If you come to Saipan you can get lots of shore dives in. Let me know if you come here I can hook you up

Dale Still on a little rock in the Pacific next to a pinapple under the sea

 

[NudiHuntrs]

I second the recommendation of diving with Steve (friscuba) in Kona. Well run operation and DM Bob is a great critter spotter. Check out his blog: A Kona Hawaii Scuba Diver blabbers on

 

[aatrek]

Hi all.
I am in japan now.
going on a trip (with a friend ) to saipan for 10 days, dec 20-28.
looking for advice on shops (Japanese or english is ok, between both of us, we have the two languages covered)..
we are both experaniced divers and looking for a good shop that would take us out and do some good diving (not the ... go in a group of 50 people diving... )
any ideas?
please help.
thank you very much.
A.