Diving is something which is still very new to me. When I researched things to do in Palau, scuba diving always came up as number one. I completed my PADI Open Water diving course a few weeks earlier (more about that experience here) so that I could do this in Palau. In this blog post, I’ll share my experience of diving with Cruise Control Palau.
Searching for a Dive Shop
When I arrived in Palau, the staff at Shell Villa Apartel Resort drove around to several dive shops to see what I was able to book. As Palau is still recovering after covid, not everything was available every day. Most dive shops work with groups instead of solo travellers. I was lucky enough that Cruise Control Palau allowed me to join one of their group dives. They have a mixture of Japanese and Palauan staff.
Two Days of Diving
On both days, I was picked up by Michael in the morning and we collected Japanese divers along the way. As I had only recently got my PADI, I still felt very much out of my comfort zone. I watched YouTube videos the night before so that I would remember the order BWRAF (for putting on equipment), SORTED (for going down) and STELLA (for going up).
The First Day of Diving
Two fantastic guides, Jeffrey and Rushia were on the dives with me. Rushia completed a pre-dive briefing with me before we went under so I had an idea of what to expect, as well as what sea creatures I would see. My first dive was along the German Channel, followed by Blue Corner Out Going Side and ending with the New Drop Off.
Just before we started the first dive, I was told asked if I knew how to use a reef hook. I didn’t. I’ll be honest, this was in the back of my head throughout the entire dive. I also didn’t realise how strong the currents were underwater which came as a surprise at first. For my first dive, I was hooked onto a rock but then on other dives I tried to hook and unhook myself, with mixed results.
If I continue to do more dives, it is something that I will certainly need to do more. That said, I also need to make sure be more aware of the currents on dive sides if I am to become more confident at diving. Observing all of the reef shark in a current will definitely go down as one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.
Another thing which took some getting used to was being back on the boat after using the the oxygen tank. The breaks in between really helped me to getting more accustomed to this.
I can’t take any credit for the following images, so a massive thanks to Rushia and Jeffrey for sharing them with me.
Second Day of Diving
The next day I went diving I was a lot more at ease and it all felt a bit more fresh in my head. I felt like I was more aware of what to expect, when currents were coming and what I need to do, etc. The sea-life was wonderful again but I did notice that since it was cloudy, it was a bit darker in the water. I did two of the same dives (German Channel was in the opposite direction).
My final dive was definitely the one I felt most relaxed and confident on. Finally, as I am still very new at this, I go through oxygen very quickly! As a result, my dives were shorter than others but I was very happy to see what was around me. Credit to Rushia and Jeffrey again for the underwater pictures. I have a GoPro but my priority was focusing on the diving as much as possible.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I went from feeling internally intimidated to feeling very well guided and keen to see more. Also, the staff at the dive shop and the clients were all very hospitable. I left feeling accomplished but also with a great view of what lies beneath the waters of Palau.
Prices
I completed 3 fun dives on two days (around 8/9am to 4/5pm). This cost $210 each day. Equipment cost $40 for a full set and $10 for a dive computer. You will also need your Rock Island permit which costs $50 and is valid for about a week if you are just planning to dive. Further information is available on their site here. Your lunch is included in the price.
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for reading! If you liked this post, you may enjoy some more blog posts I have written about Palau.
KAYAKING TRIP TO RISONG BAY | PADDLING PALAU
THE BEST RESTAURANTS TO EAT AT IN PALAU.
PALAU DAY TRIP | ROCK ISLANDS TOUR
SHELL VILLA APARTEL RESORT | AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION IN PALAU
BELAU ECO GLASS | WHAT TO EXPECT
