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Dive Review of Peleliu Divers/Dolphin Bay Resort in
Micronesia/Peleliu (Palau)

Peleliu Divers/Dolphin Bay Resort, Dec, 2008,

by Sandy Falen, KS, USA (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 29 reports with 20 Helpful votes). Report 4625.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments I spent six days in Koror (staying at West Plaza By the Sea and diving with Sam's Tours, see separate review), then transferred by boat to Peleliu for two days, staying at Dolphin Bay Resort and diving with Peleliu Divers.

This is a great way to mix up your stay in Palau, without having to interrupt your diving with air travel. It's also a great way to reach those southern dive sites, while enjoying laughably short boat rides (10 minutes or less).

After the traffic and relative crowds in Koror, Peleliu was a breath of fresh air, and the vision of a peaceful, tropical paradise. The island has only a few hundred residents, no traffic, and few tourists. Dolphin Bay Resort (DBR) has been open for about two years, and it is just about perfect. Seven cottages front a gorgeous, sandy beach, offering spectacular sunsets from your own private deck. The cottages are solidly built, and beautifully appointed, with lovely, modern en suite facilites, a/c (no need for it), ceiling fan, mini-frig, and ample closet space. No TV, no phone, and I didn't miss them. Meals were in the open-air dining room, and the food was wonderful: fresh, local ingredients, homemade with care, and graciously served. This small resort is absolutely beautiful, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Peleliu Divers is on site at DBR. Divers are transported by van to the boat dock, and from there, dive sites are a mere two to ten minutes away. The water is clearer here than further north, with stunning vis. The Peleliu Wall is gorgeous; I saw turtles and sharks, and an unexpected manta sailing by. In one sandy cut sat a giant clam, easily three feet across. The Peleliu Corner is less famous than its cousin further north, but the diving is very similar -- when the current is running, there's no telling what might swim past.

Service was gracious, and there were always two divemasters in the water -- that was great for me, as I was always hanging back from the rest of the dive group, and the second guide was happy to stay with me and let me move at my own, leisurely pace. Lunches were excellent, and on both days I enjoyed the fish sandwich, made with a generous slab of grilled kingfish.

Peleliu was the site of a very long and bloody battle in the waning months of WWII. As a result, the island is littered with artifacts. During one dive off of Orange Beach, I am quite sure I floated past an encrusted amphibious tank and other war relics, although the dive guides made no mention of them.

On my last morning in Peleliu, I took a private land tour with local historian, Tangie Hesus. The four-hour tour was a fascinating glimpse into the island's WWII history.

Peleliu is beautiful and friendly, and the diving is outstanding. Its quiet, laid back environment is not for everyone, but if I return to Palau, I'll spend more days there. My reservation for Peleliu and my boat transfer were arranged through Sam's Tours, making it very easy to plan my entire Palau stay.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving All of the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Sea of Cortez, Fiji, Tonga
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 130-150 Ft/ 40-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dive your own profile, just stay within range and come up after an hour.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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