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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
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Accommodations |
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Food |
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Service and Attitude |
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Environmental Sensitivity |
N/A |
Dive Operation |
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Shore Diving |
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Snorkeling |
N/A |
Overall Rating |
Value for $$ |
N/A |
Beginners |
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Advanced |
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Comments |
My wife and I have more than 65 years of diving experience between us around the world on live-aboard and land-based operations. EAT, SLEEP and DIVE! The Palau Aggressor II lives up to its slogan. Captain Mike Farmer and his crew provide a memorable diving and living experience of the best of Palau outer reef diving. The catamaran Aggressor II is a well-appointed, stable and extremely comfortable home for a week of world-class diving. The large salon and huge galley allow for living comfort that exceeds most land resorts. All diving is from a large, fast skiff. The skiff is secured in a lift cradle across the stern of the Aggressor. Boarding it is as easy as entering the ship’s galley. Once all divers are on-board, the skiff is lowered into the water and pulls free of the mother-boat. Each diver’s equipment – tank, regulator, fins, mask, etc – remain on the skiff. Thus, the between dive chore of managing loose equipment is eliminated. A short run to the dive site and an easy backroll entry drops you into spectacular water. Reef sharks, Napoleon Wrasses, Eagle Rays, and Turtles are found intermixed with a huge variety of reef fish. The soft corals are beautiful. The walls seem to drop off forever. Most diving is drifting in the current, with three crew members in the water acting as guides. Blue Corner, Blue Holes and New Wall are always close. Ulong Channel, two days before the full moon on the incoming tide was the most exciting drift dive we have ever done. The fast current, the coral and the fish created a kaleidoscope of images diverse images. The same channel two days later was good, but nowhere near the first trip. We did not go to Peleliu because of the weather. According to the crew, the spring and fall are the best times to go south to this island of World War II infamy.
The Palau Aggressor is certainly among the best of the excellent Aggressor fleet. Captain Mike was totally involved with his guests and joined the diving activity two or three times a day. He understood what each guest was interested in seeing and worked hard to make each dive an exceptional experience for every diver. His enthusiasm and professionalism was reflected by every member of the crew. It will be a real challenge for other ships in this fleet to meet the standards set by the Palau Aggressor II.
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Reporter and Travel |
Dive Experience |
Over 1000 dives |
Where else diving |
Throughout Pacific, all coasts USA, Gulf, Caribbean |
Closest Airport |
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Getting There |
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Dive Conditions |
Weather |
sunny, windy |
Seas |
calm, currents |
Water Temp |
81-83°F / 27-28°C |
Wetsuit Thickness |
2 |
Water Visibility |
50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
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Dive Policy |
Dive own profile |
yes |
Enforced diving restrictions |
130 istr dive; 100 subsequent dives; those depths not necessary usually
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Liveaboard? |
no |
Nitrox Available? |
N/A |
What I Saw |
Sharks |
Lots |
Mantas |
1 or 2 |
Dolphins |
None |
Whale Sharks |
None |
Turtles |
> 2 |
Whales |
None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
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Corals |
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Tropical Fish |
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Small Critters |
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Large Fish |
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Large Pelagics |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
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Subject Matter |
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Boat Facilities |
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Overall rating for UWP's |
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Shore Facilities |
N/A |
UW Photo Comments |
Vessel well set-up to handle cameras from camera table on mother-boat to table on skiff and getting cameras to and from divers in the water. Crew skilled at handling cameras exactly as the photog wanted - dome dorts were NEVER placed down! |