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The Republic of Palau is Micronesia's western
most island chain. The tightly clustered Palau
archipelago, consists of over 200 islands
covering a distance of around 125 miles. Palau
is the home to one of the world's unique
phenomena, the Rock Islands.
The Rock Islands
are Palau's crowning glory. More than 200 of
these jungle-topped knobs of limestone dot the
waters for a 20 mile (35km) stretch south of
Koror. Their bases, having been worn away by
tidal action and grazing sea creatures, are
narrower than their tops, causing them to look
like emerald-hued mushrooms rising from the
turquoise sea.
Palau has three ocean currents converging in
its waters to bring in some of the most varied
and dazzling marine life in the world. Palau
is also blessed with a rich diversity of
plants & birdlife. Tropical forest covers much
of the islands, species of trees include
ironwood, banyan, coconut palm and pandanus.
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| Things to do in Palau |
With over 350 islands to explore a
well-balanced tour with a variety of
activities would include: light paddling
combined with snorkelling, bird- watching and
hiking.
 Kayaking or canoeing is the perfect way to
explore the hidden network of saltwater lakes,
mangrove forests, marine tunnels, tropical
beaches and caverns.
A speedboat shuttle service to and
from the kayak sites eliminates a long
distance paddle, enabling you to concentrate
on the wonders of Palau. The expert biologist
guides can lead you to juvenile reef fish
remaining in nursery habitats or expose you to
the mysteries of Palau's endemic fruit dove.
Visit the remains of ancient Palauan villages
where stone paths and ceremonial stone podiums
tell us the story of the past.
You can explore
caves, adorned with stalactites and
stalagmites, within the rock islands or take
in the history of Palau's WWII past, such as
the Japanese forts, lighthouses and other
installations. |
| Scuba Diving in Palau |
Palau's warm tropical waters are legendary
amongst divers for their dramatic sheer walls
rising from the depths to within inches of the
surface and capped with thriving coral reefs.
Palau is home to over 1,300 species of fish
and more than 700 species of coral.
World
renowned for its' marine bio-diversity and
abundance of large pelagic animals, Palau also
offers avid wreck divers one of Micronesia's
largest collections of WWII shipwrecks.
From current swept plateaus to sheltered coral
gardens, Palau offers a wonderful range of
diving for every level of interest and skill.
The majority of diving in Palau is drift
diving along the walls, plateaus and coral
gardens of the outer reef, with the dive boat
following along from the surface to meet you
upon ascent.
Experience the sites that make
Palau one of the top dive destinations in the
world: the sharks of Blue
Comer, the manta rays of Devilfish City and
German Channel, and the coral reefs and
stunning drop offs teeming with marine life. Many liveaboard ships also operate in the waters of Palau
 Some of the more popular dive sites: -
The Ngemelis Drop-Off: The Ngemelis
Drop-Off is considered to be one of the
world's best wall dives. Starting in water
just knee deep, the wall drops off vertically
nearly 300 meters. Divers can free float past
a brilliant rainbow of sponges and soft corals
whose intense blues, reds, or pure whites form
a back drop for quivering nine foot orange and
yellow sea fans and giant black coral trees.
Blue Corner: Blue Corner is regarded as
one of the best single dives on earth! The
wall is vertical and deep and is known for
it's sheer abundance of underwater life. There
are large pelagic fish; schooling barracudas;
tropical fish in every variety; turtles;
guaranteed sharks; hard corals; soft corals;
and fan corals. Strong tidal currents nourish
this chain of life. Best diving is from 15 to
24 meters. Not a dive for beginner divers.
Blue Holes: Blue Holes is a huge cavern
on the north side of Ngemelis Island. Four big
holes on the ceiling enable a lot of ambient
light to penetrate the cave and create great
photo opportunities. Maximum depth is 30
meters
Big Drop Off: This steep wall offers an
amazing formation of soft and hard corals and
a healthy population of reef fish. The best of
Big Drop Off lies relatively shallow in 2 -
17m, which also makes it an excellent
snorkeling area.
German Channel: German Channel is a man
made shallow channel that connects the lagoon
with the outer reef. The channel was blasted
by the Germans in the early 1900s in order to
transport the excavated phosphates from the
island of Angaur to the Koror port.
Today,
many Manta Rays visit the channel and feed on
the plankton that the strong currents bring.
Few cleaning stations in the channel's mouth
allow one to view those great creatures from
such a short distance. The cleaning station is
at 18m and the beautiful coral garden at
7-13m.
Popular WWII wreck dives
Before and during WWII, Palau became
strategically important for the Japanese war
machine. On March 31, 1944, the American Navy
air raided the Palau Archipelago in an
operation named DESECRATE I ". During operation
"DESECRATE I " more than 60 ships were sunk.
The wrecks rest at depths ranging from 20m to
40m. Some of the recommended sites are:
Helmet Wreck (10 - 31m): Small supply
ship, stern gun and shells, depth charges and
radial engines for zero fighters in cargo
hold.
Buoy #6 Wreck (26m): Patrol boat, best
wreck for macro photography, excellent night
dive.
'Jake' Japanese Navy Seaplane (13m): Floatplane, intact
(bomb radios, etc. are still around)
USS Perry (82m): The only US shipwreck
in Micronesia. A 315ft (96m) long, Clemson-class destroyer. Sunk after hitting a mine on
September 14, 1944.
Chuyu Maru (35 - 23m): Freighter, stern
gun and shell, bridge intact, engine room,
many Lion Fish.
Iro (23 - 35m): Fleet oiler, large
coral encrusted bow and stem guns, open engine
room.
Amatzu Maru (30 - 14m): Tanker, largest
wreck in Micronesia, many black coral bushes.
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| Hotels and Resorts |
Palasia Hotel
 Situated in the heart of Palau, the Palasia Hotel provides everyone easy accessibility to different restaurants, shopping centers, souvenir shops, open beaches, tourist spots, and other public facilities of the island.
The hotel has a total of 165 rooms and suites with balconies that provide a spectacular view of the Rock Islands and Northern Bay of the island. |
Accommodation: 165 rooms and suites of varying size and views
Deluxe Bay / Rock Island View Room: Rooms have a balcony facing either Rock Island or Bay view, a floor-to-ceiling balcony window with sitting area.
Deluxe Town View: The room has a balcony facing Koror downtown view, and a floor-to-ceiling balcony window with sitting area.
Junior Suite: Each suite offers a comfortable living room in addition to a spacious king bedroom. Each room has a balcony facing the Rock Islands view, a floor-to-ceiling bay window and sitting area, and a special reading corner for bookworms on travel for a more quiet time.
Executive Suite: The room's design provides two balconies facing the Rock Islands and bays while overlooking downtown Koror. It also has a floor-to-ceiling bay window with sitting area. It's a perfect suite for honeymooners.
Amenities: The hotel offers: Fitness center, sauna, swimming pool, laundry service and internet cafe. All rooms feature Air Conditioning, Cable TV, In-room refrigerator, IDD telephone, Daily housekeeping service and Bathroom with a deep-soaking hot tub.
The in-house Desomel Restaurant offers Western style food and Ming's Restaurant offers Chinese style food.
Activities: The hotel is a short distance from the restaurants and shops of downtown Koror. The Local Tour Desk can also arrange many interesting day trips to explore Palau as well as assisting with any scuba diving needs. The in-house Weltz Bar is a great place to relax and enjoy the spectacular sunset along with a drink, alternatively the Karaoke Bar & Night Club can be a great place for some fun and entertainment.
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Palau
Pacific Resort
The Palau Pacific Resort is set amongst 64
acres of lush, tropical gardens on the western
shore of Arakabesang Island in Palau. The
location offers stunning views of the rock
islands as well as a beautiful, white sandy
beach to relax on.
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Accommodation: This 5 star
International resort combines luxury and style
with a large selection of room categories from
guest rooms to luxury ocean front suites. All
rooms feature air conditioning, two twin, or
one queen sized bed, TV, mini bar, IDD
telephone, kettle, private bathroom facilities
and a turn down service.
Amenities: The Palau Pacific Resort
offers a fresh water swimming pool, two
Jacuzzis, well equipped fitness centre as well
as tennis courts.
Activities: For the water sport
enthusiasts who prefer a little more
adventure, there’s windsurfing, sailing and
kayaking. If it’s the underwater world of
Palau that you are keen to experience, snorkel
the tropical clear waters of the private
lagoon where you will discover giant clams and
a myriad of tropical fish and corals. For all
your scuba diving needs, the resort offers a
PADI five star dive centre.
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The Carolines Resort
 Carolines Resort is situated on top of the
hill overlooking the stunning scenery of the
Philippine Sea and the Rock Islands.
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Accommodation: This intimate resort
offers 8 private bungalows all crafted from
local materials and modelled on traditional
Palauan architecture. Each bungalow offers air
conditioning, cable TV, VCR, refrigerator,
mini bar, private bathroom facilities and
private balcony.
If you are looking for a small, quiet, relaxed
resort to get away from the bustle of the city
then Caorolines is the place for you.
Amenities: Guests staying at Carolines
Resort are provided with complimentary access
and use of the tennis courts, fitness centre,
swimming pool and private beach located at The
Palau Pacific Resort.
Activities: The reception staff at
Carolines Resort can arrange a variety of
activities such as scuba diving, kayaking,
sport fishing and also cultural tours through
a number of local tour operators. After a day
of activities a stunning sunset and pleasant
ocean breeze awaits you from your balcony,
overlooking Palau's magnificent Rock Islands.
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West Plaza Hotels
West Plaza Hotels provide a range of
economical and comfortable hotels dotted
around Palau from down town locations to ocean
view settings. |
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West Plaza By the Sea
 The hotel boasts a water front location
offering spectacular views over the ocean and
nearby islands and yet is within walking
distance to the central business district and
main shopping centre of Koror.
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Accommodation: The hotel offers a range
of rooms, from standard to self contained
units. All rooms are comfortably furnished and
feature air conditioning, cable TV & VCR and
private bathroom facilities.
Amenities: There is the Sea Horse
Restaurant overlooking the ocean, a coffee
shop for light snacks, a cocktail bar, gift
shop and laundry service.
Activities: A range of activities can
be organised through the hotel’s
reception / tour desk.
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West Plaza Coral Reef
 This West Plaza Hotel is located on the waters
edge overlooking a tranquil lagoon.
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Accommodation: This stylish property
has 12 spacious standard rooms and 2 suites
featuring air conditioning, TV, private
bathroom facilities and a private balcony.
Amenities: A short stroll away, you can
access the Seahorse Restaurant, coffee shop
and cocktail bar which are located in the near
by West Plaza by the Sea.
Activities: A range of activities can
be organised through the hotel’s
reception / tour desk.
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West Plaza Malakal
 West Plaza Malakal is located on the island of
Malakal and is within walking distance to most
tour operators and dive shops.
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Accommodation: The hotel has a
selection of standard rooms and two bedroom
suites. All rooms are air conditioned with TV,
refrigerator, mini bar, hair dryers and
telephone. The 2 bedroom suites come complete
with a full kitchen, dining area and spacious
living area.
Activities: A range of activities can
be organised through the hotel’s
reception / tour desk.
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Cliff Side Hotel
 Cliff Side is situated on a quiet hillside
overlooking Koror and its bays, only 5 minutes
away from downtown Koror.
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Accommodation: Each room is tastefully
appointed and features air conditioning,
telephone, cable TV, DVD player, refrigerator
with mini bar service and a great view.
Amenities: The resort houses Larry’s
Bistro a full service restaurant and bar, a
pool with a pool bar & hot tub where guests
can enjoy the spectacular sunsets. Room
service is also available if you wish to dine
in your own privacy.
Activities: The reception staff at
Cliff Side can arrange a variety of
activities such as scuba diving, kayaking,
sport fishing and also cultural tours through
a number of local tour operators.
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