dnhill:
Shasta man,
I really would like to do one of the liveaboards, but I have only one week that I can go this year. I could get on just about any other week. However, I can't complain much if I really get to go at all. I am now looking at packages that offer diving with either Sams or NECO. I can't really tell from my research so far if there is a better choice.
dnhill
Hi, dnhill! What a choice to have to make! I'm jealous!
You might just send them each an email and judge them by their response. I have arranged trips through Sams, and know some of the staff, they are great, and they returned my emails the same day. NECO maybe as well, dunno, haven't worked with them.
I've been to both of their operations - NECO seems to have recently upgraded - their facilities are much newer and, dunno, they seem fancier. Sams felt more comfortable and homey to me because they have sort of an interior courtyard with picnic tables in it for you to hang at until your boat leaves, and although it isn't as new and pristine, it's clean and very functional, and feels lived in and well loved. They have a fun little restaurant/bar at the dock in case you're hungry at the end of the day. They also offer kayaking in the rock islands (good for your last day before flying - the flight out of Palau leaves at midnight so you;re hosed for diving that last day). The kayaking is fantastic. Even after I became certified, and returned to Palau to dive on the Aggressor, I made sure to arrange a kayaking day with Sam's. The rock islands in a kayak are amazingly peaceful and stunningly beautiful, and you won't get to enjoy them too much in a speed boat on the way to the dive sites (about an hour each way) and back. So I highly recommend a day of kayaking if you have time. (It's really easy kayaking - even I could do it!
)
The previous poster was right, Splash caters largely to Japanese. Sams to
Americans and Europeans, and Neco is the same I believe - there were that sort of people in there when I visited (tryin to be pc here, but they looked American and European to me.)
One other point - PPR is really nice, and the only hotel with a beach, but it's a trek (in traffic - they have measurable traffic on their one street) from the dive ops. PPR is located on a different island from most of the main town. There are a couple of other hotels out there too - Carolines, and Sunshine (?). One of the more central Hotel Desekel (it's a chain) locations might require less time riding in minibusses, albeit sans character and sans beach. The HD I stayed at was clean and functional but definitely not "plush". It was about like a Best Western maybe.
Also, all the restaurants are in town. If you stay at PPR, you're pretty much gonna have to eat there or pay for taxis.
Good luck and enjoy the diving!
