The Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a floating hotel type experience in Palau with some notable highlights and areas for improvement.

The Palau Siren is a beautifully presented traditional Phinisi. One of her best features is undoubtedly the a la carte plus buffet breakfast served after the first dive, providing guests with a delightful start to their day. The liveaboard, owned by Master Liveaboards, boasts a large lounge, dining area, and well-appointed cabins.

The cabins are equipped with modern showers, toilets, and daily housekeeping services, including fresh towels. However, some guests may find the air conditioning to be noisy and prone to temperature fluctuations. Additionally, there is no onboard WiFi, but guests can purchase local SIM cards for internet access, although coverage may vary depending on the location.

Meals onboard are of very good quality and plentiful, with a wide selection of breakfast options cooked to order plus a generous hot buffet of side items. Delicious lunches and dinners are served buffet-style as well. The onboard bar offers a selection of local light beer on tap, cocktails, and some spirits to enjoy after diving is completed for the day.

The dive team on the Palau Siren Liveaboard comprises the Cruise Director/instructor, assistant CD, and two experienced guides, maintaining an overall ratio of approximately four guests to one guide, although this ratio may vary slightly on different dives. Dive briefings were engaging and informative, featuring rotations among the team and supplemented by humorous anecdotes and visually appealing graphics displayed on a large screen in common areas. However, there were instances where the dive plan did not achieve its objective due to misjudged current conditions.

Diving activities are conducted from banana boat skiffs, with travel times ranging from 20 to 40 minutes. While the dive boats are comfortable and covered, the open sides can lead to exposure to wet and windy conditions, especially during rough weather. It's important to note that there is no provision for water onboard the dive boats, but the ever cheerful hospitality team always serves water or juice before and after the dive.

Equipment handling is primarily self-setup, and equipment stays on your allocated skiff. Tanks are filled in situ, and the crew ensures wetsuits are rinsed after each dive. Guests should be self-sufficient in terms of camera handling, although the crew is supportive in passing equipment as needed.

Nitrox at 31% is available, with guests required to sign for each tank, although an on-site O2 analyzer is not provided. The compressors onboard are essential for dive operations but can be noisy.

The itinerary is collaboratively decided with input from the Cruise Director, boat captain, and skiff drivers, taking into account prevailing conditions and a routine itinerary. However, there may be room for improvement in optimizing the itinerary for the best diving experiences throughout the trip.

During our 10-night trip, we found the itinerary somewhat disappointing as we spent 4 nights in Malakal Harbor (2 at the beginning and 2 at the end), 2 nights at Ulong, and just 4 nights in the Ngemelis area. The diving experience was notably better in the Ngemelis area, which hosts premier dive sites like Blue Corner and German Channel. The Ulong area was also good, but Malakal Harbor had poor visibility and lacked marine life. Pelileu dives were conducted using the skiffs, with one boat remaining behind for guests opting for a land tour at Pelileu instead of a second dive.

For non-divers, the liveaboard offers snorkeling and kayaking options, adding to the variety of activities available during the trip.

Overall, the Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a memorable diving experience with excellent meals, comfortable accommodations, and knowledgeable guides. However, improvements in air conditioning stability, WiFi availability, and itinerary. The Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a floating hotel type experience in Palau with some notable highlights and areas for improvement.

Sam's Tours, located at their own boat dock on Malakal Island, offers a well-organized and spacious environment for both divers and snorkelers.
The dive boats at Sam's Tours are comfortable, covered, and provide side seating, ensuring a drier experience compared to other operators. Convenient walk-up ladders and a dry box under the driver's seat for personal items add to the convenience on board.
Gear handling is efficiently managed by the boat crew, although divers are reminded to retrieve their own wetsuits from the rack. Certified divers can enjoy complimentary Nitrox with 80cf/11l tanks filled with 32% Nitrox.
Camera handling is well organized, with a crate immediately provided for cameras. Refreshments such as water and punch are available on board, and lunch is served between dives. While boat towels and toilets are not provided, the overall comfort and functionality of the boats are acceptable.
Additionally, Sam's Tours facilitates access and transfers to/from hotels, ensuring convenience for their guests.
The diving experience with Sam's Tours relies heavily on the teamwork of the boat captain and the dive guides, who vary each day and ultimately decide on the dive site based on prevailing conditions. They also set the direction and pace of the dives.
During our two dive days, we noticed a significant difference in approach. The first day was characterized by a relaxed and non-prescriptive style from the guides. Dive times typically lasted around 60 minutes, including a safety stop. As photographers, we appreciated this unhurried pace, as it allowed us ample time to focus on interesting subjects without feeling rushed or losing sight of our group.
However, our experience on the second day was quite different. Our guide set a very fast pace for the first dive, which was unsatisfactory for photography. We expressed our desire for a slower pace during the surface interval, but unfortunately, the second dive followed a similar hurried pattern. We were even scolded for lagging behind the group, which was frustrating.
Overall, while the first day provided a positive experience with its relaxed approach, the second day's fast pace and lack of flexibility for photography detracted from our enjoyment.

Sea Passion Hotel situated just over the bridge on Malakal Island in Palau, offers a waterfront experience at a reasonable price.

One of the best features of Sea Passion is its proximity to the dive operators and other resorts and restaurants on Malakal Island adds to its appeal, allowing guests to explore the local dining scene easily.

The environment at Sea Passion is charming, with a waterside location and a small pool and sandy beach for relaxing by the sea. The rooms are modern and recently renovated, featuring open bathrooms, water or green wall views, and essential amenities like housekeeping, toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, soap), WiFi access, and slippers for added comfort.

Meal options at Sea Passion include a hearty breakfast with both Western and Asian choices, including a cook-to-order egg station. For lunch and dinner, the menu leans towards simple American fare, offering items like hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizza. However, it's worth noting that the beverage selection is limited to beer only, with no wine or mixed drinks available.

The resort's bar operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 7 pm, mixing pretty good margaritas, making it a favourite spot for evening drinks.

Overall, Sea Passion Hotel offers a comfortable and enjoyable stay with its waterfront location, modern rooms, and delicious margaritas. While the meal options are straightforward, the proximity to other dining options on Malakal Island adds variety to the dining experience.

Located conveniently on the main road in the center of Palau, Palasia Hotel offers a mid-town experience with some notable strengths and areas for improvement.

The hotel is easily accessible by pre-arranged 30 minute shuttle from Palau/Roman Tmetuchi International Airport (ROR) in Koror. There is an excellent range of well priced restaurants within walking distance.

The urban environment of Palasia Hotel features a multi-storey structure, with public areas recently renovated but rooms showing signs of age. The hotel boasts two large pools, including a lap-sized pool, and a well-equipped gym. However, amenities like the sauna, steam room, and laundry facilities were reported as not working during my stay. It's worth noting that rooms facing the road can be noisy due to traffic, especially with a bar across the road open until 2 am.

In terms of accommodations, the hotel provides daily housekeeping and new towels, along with essential toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion. WiFi access is available, and guests are provided with slippers and robes for added comfort.

Meals at Palasia Hotel are budget-friendly, with a focus on Asian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the cafe. Options also include egg and sausage for breakfast, and burgers are available for lunch and dinner.

The hotel's bar serves espresso coffee, an elusive treat to find in Palau.

Overall, Palasia Hotel stands out for its friendly service and convenient location. However, improvements can be made in noise management for rooms facing the road and ensuring that all amenities, including the sauna, steam room, and laundry facilities, are in working condition for guests' comfort.