Dive Review of Siren Fleet/Palau Central Hotel in
Micronesia/Palau

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Siren Fleet/Palau Central Hotel: "Palau Siren Liveaboard", Feb, 2018, by richard s mcgowan, CT, US ( Reviewer 6 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 10135 has 3 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Palau marine life is everything they say it is and I will keep my comments more to the non-marine life areas to try to be helpful in planning. The Palau Siren is a faux sailboat with 8 cabins holding up to 16 divers – we had 14. You dive from 2 tenders as she draws too much water. By law, you must have a guide and we had 3 groups (4, 4, and 6). Four dives a day except for shoulder days (2/3 dives). Dives have a set limit - 700 psi, 50 bar, 60 minutes, night 45 minutes. We were told the Palau Aggressor Fleet (I and II) did 5 dives per day with a 45 minute limit so there is a personal choice to be made. There are nine liveaboards out of Palau. We were happy with the Palau Siren, but from what I heard we probably also would have been happy on at at least the Aggressors if not several of the other boats. We originally booked the Aggressor but moved to the Siren because it was 10 days versus 7 in the time we wanted to go. Siren is generally 7 days but it and the others also offer 10 days trips every once in a while. Given the 24 hours in the air it took us each way and the 12 hour time difference, we felt 7 days was too short. You come up with your group, but that was not an issue as all were experienced and they tried to group you accordingly. Everyone dove in the same general area so if there was a large disparate air difference in the group (which happened 2x), they would pass divers to another group. You come up via surface marker and the boat picks you up. Our 14 ranged from ages 29 – 70, the least experienced had over a 100 dives and the rest a multiple of that. We had Germans, Swiss, French and U.S. Specific dive drop site is chosen just prior as tides / currents are just plain unpredictable per the guides. This can lead to more than one boat diving the same site as they are all subject to nature's whims and couldn't coordinate if they wanted to. We had moderate current only once, and some current a handful of times. Sometimes the current changed during the dive – we were told it just does that. We did not experience the strong currents that can occur there. Many people, myself included, dove in a rash shirt and shorts, some wore 3mms. Water temp was 84-85 f. Surface temp was also in that range. At night we dove in skins just for some added protection. We took a 10 day trip, 33 dives. I believe the 7 day trip is 22 dives. They offer 15 L tanks (limited number – you can request before hand); std is 12 L. Everyone used nitrox (2 people took the course while there) – you can go air but it limits you. 2 people had real pony bottles and they filled them free. They have reef hooks with cord for sale (I think $15) which were fine if you need them. You could rent flashlights and all other equipment if needed. Each of the 2 dive boats had a full set of extra gear for last minute emergencies. There is an optional land tour of about 3 hours of Peleliu one afternoon, the WWII battle sight – you miss one dive. You can sign up on board (I think it was $45 per). We took it and it was very interesting (see “The Pacific” series segments on it before). There is a land based all day tour from Sam's but is pricey and unless you are really serious, unnecessary. Of the 8 passenger cabins 6 were basically the same size, but the 2 bow cabins (1 & 2) were significantly smaller as you caught the curve and you had to climb up into the full size bed. Your shower was also the bathroom floor. So avoid these if possible. We booked late and the only choice was this or 2 single beds. Food was fine – all buffet. Breakfast usual spread (eggs made to order, bacon sausage, noodle, fruit, etc.). Lunch was hot food with multiple choices as was dinner. At all meals there was always plenty of salad, fruit and vegetables. Aside from dinner, sweets (thankfully) were limited to some oreo like cookies in a jar. Dinner desert was ice cream, cheesecake, etc. Drink coolers were stocked, plenty of ice, and ice tea available. Beer tap was always open but strict no drinking and diving. You can buy bottles of wine, bottles of liquor, or hard drinks. The back open area (with canopy) is the eating area and open lounge area (plastic sheets on the sides roll down for bad weather). Big u-shaped table with bench seating on one side, chairs on the other. There is an open sun deck above the enclosed main lounge with chairs and they will put up a canvass awning for shade if calm. The inside Main lounge is a half deck so you have to walk bent over – once you sit there is plenty of head room and several couches. Tipping the crew was a big question the last night as it is not included nor mandatory. A few did not tip, most seemed to tip about $100-150 per, some gave about 5 % (about $250 per). There isn't any pressure to tip and all tips are shared. You board and disembark from Sam's Tours (embark at 5 p.m. - disembark 10 a.m.). They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel. Flights generally arrive and leave very early in the morning (we arrived and left at 1 a.m.) via Guam to Honolulu. You need a hotel on disembark day. We arrived 2 days early to settle the time difference. We stayed at the Palau Central Hotel which is a 10 minute ride to Sam's. It is not on the water so it is appreciably cheaper than others that are. We paid for the day for our 1 a.m. arrival and another day for our 10 a.m. arrival 1:45 a..m. (next day) departure (they let us stay until it was time to leave for the airport in their shuttle.) Neither the airport nor airport lounge is great. On disembark day, other hotels let you use the beach and beach showers for something like $80. We sprung for a room and were quite happy. Palau Central was very nice. It is almost done with a complete renovation; a pool is being installed. Breakfast (eggs made to order and the usual buffet) included. Coffee, tea and cookies available all day, Staff were absolutely wonderful. It is a 15 minute (maybe) walk to downtown Koror and an even shorter walk to the grocery store, shopping, restaurants, etc. We had lunch around the corner at Poi Me Poi Yuh, a local Vietnamese / Chinese place ($20 for 2). Ate there 3x it was so good and reasonable. We also had lunch and dinner at Elilai (which is supposed to be the best restaurant on the island). It is owned by the hotel owners and was delicious (they will deliver to the hotel). They picked us up and brought us back after dinner. The restaurant is on a hill overlooking the lagoon – open front, beautiful view. It was reasonable. Lunch and dinner offered prixe fixed menus or ala carte. We did ala carte dinner - was about $70 U.S. (shared Cesar salad as appetizer, daily fish specialties as entrees (wahoo) and four local beers). Everyone (including the boat) charges you 3.5 % credit card tax on the bill if you don't pay cash. So bring plenty of U.S. money if that bothers you. Island uses the U.S. dollar.
Websites	Siren Fleet Palau Central Hotel
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Roatan, Cozumel, Caymans, Bahamas, Key West, Bonaire, Belize. Turks & Caicos
Closest Airport	KOR	Getting There	HON to Guam to KOR
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	84-85°F / 29-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	700 psi or 50 Bar, 60 minutes day dive; 45 minutes night dive. surface with your group (4-6 divers)
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	not a photographer. Had separate large cleaning tank by dive area for photo equip and separate inside table top with chargers.

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Siren Fleet/Palau Central Hotel in Micronesia/Palau

Siren Fleet/Palau Central Hotel: "Palau Siren Liveaboard", Feb, 2018,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Siren Fleet/Palau Central Hotel in
Micronesia/Palau