LauraTaylor - Bluewater Dive Travel

LauraTaylor

LauraTaylor

My Dive Map

Reviews (25)

Solomons Master

5
4
5
5

I recently returned from a wonderful trip aboard the Solomons Master, exploring the Russell and Florida Islands and the Marova area of the Solomon Islands. The overall experience was great, and I’d recommend it to anyone seeking a diverse diving adventure.
The Crew & Boat:
The crew were polished, friendly, and very attentive. Food was excellent, and they maintained high safety standards throughout the trip. The boat itself is showing its age, but it's impeccably clean with no musty or engine smells often associated with older vessels. A refit is scheduled for early 2025, which will likely enhance its appeal further.
The Diving:
The Best of Solomons itinerary dive sites were well chosen, offering a mix of WWII wrecks, coral seamounts, walls, caverns, and more. We started with a surprisingly interesting check-out dive at White Beach, featuring well-encrusted WWII debris, and continued on with fish-rich seamounts, soft and hard coral reefs, caverns and a few thrilling drift dives.
Highlights included:
• Barracuda Point at Mary Island: teeming with fish and vibrant coral life.
• Cathedral Caverns: fun swim-throughs and a jungle-like surface area.
• Lava Tube Dive: unique topography, featuring camouflaged crocodile fish.
The variety of marine life was impressive, though pelagics were somewhat limited, with only a few sharks, turtles, and one manta. A blue-ringed octopus made an appearance during a night dive, and we spotted a good range of nudibranchs and other macro critters.
Boat & Diving Logistics:
Most dives were "live drops," meaning we entered the water from the main boat and were picked up at the end of the dive by the dingies. Towing us back to the boat via tender was a novel and gentle approach that worked well. Our dive had compatible air consumption, ensuring everyone had a safe and enjoyable experience.
Accommodations & Food:
The rooms were clean and tidied daily. Meals were served buffet-style, with a variety of vegetables, meats, and fresh cakes or cookies each day. Alcohol was available via an honesty tab system. Breakfast consisted of fruit and toast before the first dive, followed by a full cooked breakfast afterward.
Service
The crew consistently went above and beyond to ensure all guests had a comfortable and enjoyable experience, catering to individual needs with great care and attention. This level of dedication speaks volumes about their commitment to delivering outstanding service.
Final Thoughts:
This was an excellent dive trip with an experienced crew, diverse dive sites, and great service. The boat may be older, but it remains a top option for exploring the Solomon Islands’ rich underwater offerings.

Visited on 09/2024 - Submitted on 10/15/2024
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Palau Siren

4
4
4
5

The Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a floating hotel type experience in Palau with some notable highlights and areas for improvement.

The Palau Siren is a beautifully presented traditional Phinisi. One of her best features is undoubtedly the a la carte plus buffet breakfast served after the first dive, providing guests with a delightful start to their day. The liveaboard, owned by Master Liveaboards, boasts a large lounge, dining area, and well-appointed cabins.

The cabins are equipped with modern showers, toilets, and daily housekeeping services, including fresh towels. However, some guests may find the air conditioning to be noisy and prone to temperature fluctuations. Additionally, there is no onboard WiFi, but guests can purchase local SIM cards for internet access, although coverage may vary depending on the location.

Meals onboard are of very good quality and plentiful, with a wide selection of breakfast options cooked to order plus a generous hot buffet of side items. Delicious lunches and dinners are served buffet-style as well. The onboard bar offers a selection of local light beer on tap, cocktails, and some spirits to enjoy after diving is completed for the day.

The dive team on the Palau Siren Liveaboard comprises the Cruise Director/instructor, assistant CD, and two experienced guides, maintaining an overall ratio of approximately four guests to one guide, although this ratio may vary slightly on different dives. Dive briefings were engaging and informative, featuring rotations among the team and supplemented by humorous anecdotes and visually appealing graphics displayed on a large screen in common areas. However, there were instances where the dive plan did not achieve its objective due to misjudged current conditions.

Diving activities are conducted from banana boat skiffs, with travel times ranging from 20 to 40 minutes. While the dive boats are comfortable and covered, the open sides can lead to exposure to wet and windy conditions, especially during rough weather. It's important to note that there is no provision for water onboard the dive boats, but the ever cheerful hospitality team always serves water or juice before and after the dive.

Equipment handling is primarily self-setup, and equipment stays on your allocated skiff. Tanks are filled in situ, and the crew ensures wetsuits are rinsed after each dive. Guests should be self-sufficient in terms of camera handling, although the crew is supportive in passing equipment as needed.

Nitrox at 31% is available, with guests required to sign for each tank, although an on-site O2 analyzer is not provided. The compressors onboard are essential for dive operations but can be noisy.

The itinerary is collaboratively decided with input from the Cruise Director, boat captain, and skiff drivers, taking into account prevailing conditions and a routine itinerary. However, there may be room for improvement in optimizing the itinerary for the best diving experiences throughout the trip.

During our 10-night trip, we found the itinerary somewhat disappointing as we spent 4 nights in Malakal Harbor (2 at the beginning and 2 at the end), 2 nights at Ulong, and just 4 nights in the Ngemelis area. The diving experience was notably better in the Ngemelis area, which hosts premier dive sites like Blue Corner and German Channel. The Ulong area was also good, but Malakal Harbor had poor visibility and lacked marine life. Pelileu dives were conducted using the skiffs, with one boat remaining behind for guests opting for a land tour at Pelileu instead of a second dive.

For non-divers, the liveaboard offers snorkeling and kayaking options, adding to the variety of activities available during the trip.

Overall, the Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a memorable diving experience with excellent meals, comfortable accommodations, and knowledgeable guides. However, improvements in air conditioning stability, WiFi availability, and itinerary. The Palau Siren Liveaboard offers a floating hotel type experience in Palau with some notable highlights and areas for improvement.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/29/2024
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Palau Dive Adventures

5
5
5
5

Palau Dive Adventures offers a fantastic diving experience with some notable highlights.

The best aspects of Palau Dive Adventures are their knowledgeable guides and the careful decisions made regarding dive sites and prevailing conditions. The guides, Chris and Jason, ensured that we had the best position for Mantas at German Channel and tried and succeeded to avoid the crowds at other dive sites.

Palau Dive Adventures differentiates itself by offering a Monday to Friday program designed for singles, couples or small groups of divers who will dive together with the same group and mostly the same dive guides throughout the week. This program is meticulously planned to visit a different dive area each day, providing guests with continuity and a comprehensive overview of the best dive sites in Palau. Additionally, they can also arrange dive courses that can be undertaken throughout the week.

The dive boats provided by Palau Dive Adventures are comfortable, covered, and feature front-facing seats, ensuring a pleasant journey for each guest. The boats accommodate a maximum of 8 divers, providing an intimate and personalized diving experience. The walk-up ladder is convenient, and there's a dry box under each seat for personal items. Refreshments such as water, Gatorade, and cordial are available on board, along with a spray jacket and towels for added comfort between and after dives.

The handling of cameras is commendable, with the crew asking guests how they prefer their cameras to be handled. We had our own crate and they identified a safe place for it.

One of the standout features of Palau Dive Adventures is the quality of lunch provided, sourced from a top Korean restaurant, King Palace, ensuring that divers are well-fed and satisfied during the breaks between dives.

Access and transfers are convenient, with pick-up services by boat from the Palau Pacific Resort jetty or other locations where guests are staying. For guests not staying at waterfront hotels, pick-ups are available at Sam's if the area is not busy.

Additionally, Palau Dive Adventures offers a "Concierge" service, providing transportation to local restaurants, laundry services, and enhancing the overall guest experience beyond diving.

Overall, Palau Dive Adventures stands out for its excellent guides, careful dive site decisions, comfortable boats, and comprehensive services, making it a top choice for diving enthusiasts visiting Palau.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/27/2024
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Sam's Tours Palau

4
4
3
4

Sam's Tours, located at their own boat dock on Malakal Island, offers a well-organized and spacious environment for both divers and snorkelers.
The dive boats at Sam's Tours are comfortable, covered, and provide side seating, ensuring a drier experience compared to other operators. Convenient walk-up ladders and a dry box under the driver's seat for personal items add to the convenience on board.
Gear handling is efficiently managed by the boat crew, although divers are reminded to retrieve their own wetsuits from the rack. Certified divers can enjoy complimentary Nitrox with 80cf/11l tanks filled with 32% Nitrox.
Camera handling is well organized, with a crate immediately provided for cameras. Refreshments such as water and punch are available on board, and lunch is served between dives. While boat towels and toilets are not provided, the overall comfort and functionality of the boats are acceptable.
Additionally, Sam's Tours facilitates access and transfers to/from hotels, ensuring convenience for their guests.
The diving experience with Sam's Tours relies heavily on the teamwork of the boat captain and the dive guides, who vary each day and ultimately decide on the dive site based on prevailing conditions. They also set the direction and pace of the dives.
During our two dive days, we noticed a significant difference in approach. The first day was characterized by a relaxed and non-prescriptive style from the guides. Dive times typically lasted around 60 minutes, including a safety stop. As photographers, we appreciated this unhurried pace, as it allowed us ample time to focus on interesting subjects without feeling rushed or losing sight of our group.
However, our experience on the second day was quite different. Our guide set a very fast pace for the first dive, which was unsatisfactory for photography. We expressed our desire for a slower pace during the surface interval, but unfortunately, the second dive followed a similar hurried pattern. We were even scolded for lagging behind the group, which was frustrating.
Overall, while the first day provided a positive experience with its relaxed approach, the second day's fast pace and lack of flexibility for photography detracted from our enjoyment.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/26/2024
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Fish 'n Fins Palau

4
4
3
4

Fish 'n Fins, operated by owner Tova, offers a dive experience with notable strengths and areas for improvement.

The dive center is conveniently located at the boat dock, providing easy access to the water. Guests are responsible for handling their gear, including setup and washing. The center also includes a shop, gear drying room, and the Barracuda Cafe Bar for post-dive refreshments.

Diving with Fish 'n Fins involves guides who vary in style, from assertive to laid-back. Each day features different guides, with an emphasis on equal work distribution among them. Dive times typically last up to 60 minutes, including a 5-minute safety stop, although durations may vary.

Dive groups usually comprise 6 to 9 divers, ranging from new to experienced, with divers using both air and nitrox. This diversity can sometimes limit dive site options and times, and multi-day divers may encounter repeated checkout dive sites, affecting their overall experience.

The best dive sites, such as Blue Corner for sharks and German Channel for mantas, are well-known and favored by divers. Strong currents on some dives are preferred for optimal fish and shark viewing, with reef hooks deployed to allow divers to observe the marine life.

The dive boats are comfortable and covered but have open sides, which can result in getting wet or windy during the ride. It's advisable to bring a light jacket for such conditions. The boats are equipped with sturdy walk-up ladders and dry boxes for personal items, although not all items may remain dry. Water, tea, and coffee are provided on board, but amenities like boat towels are not available. A pre-ordered lunch is enjoyed during a scenic beach stop.

Access and transfers are convenient, with hotel pickup and drop-off services offered. Tipping practices may vary as different guides are assigned each day.

In conclusion, Fish 'n Fins offers a diving experience with knowledgeable guides and comfortable boats. However, improvements in managing dive groups and minimizing repeated checkout dives could enhance the overall quality of the experience.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/24/2024
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Sea Passion Hotel

4
4
4
4

Sea Passion Hotel situated just over the bridge on Malakal Island in Palau, offers a waterfront experience at a reasonable price.

One of the best features of Sea Passion is its proximity to the dive operators and other resorts and restaurants on Malakal Island adds to its appeal, allowing guests to explore the local dining scene easily.

The environment at Sea Passion is charming, with a waterside location and a small pool and sandy beach for relaxing by the sea. The rooms are modern and recently renovated, featuring open bathrooms, water or green wall views, and essential amenities like housekeeping, toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, soap), WiFi access, and slippers for added comfort.

Meal options at Sea Passion include a hearty breakfast with both Western and Asian choices, including a cook-to-order egg station. For lunch and dinner, the menu leans towards simple American fare, offering items like hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizza. However, it's worth noting that the beverage selection is limited to beer only, with no wine or mixed drinks available.

The resort's bar operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 7 pm, mixing pretty good margaritas, making it a favourite spot for evening drinks.

Overall, Sea Passion Hotel offers a comfortable and enjoyable stay with its waterfront location, modern rooms, and delicious margaritas. While the meal options are straightforward, the proximity to other dining options on Malakal Island adds variety to the dining experience.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/24/2024
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Palau Pacific Resort

4
4
4
3

Palau Pacific Resort, nestled in the stunning Palauan landscape, offers a lovely tropical getaway. The resort's best features include its beautiful sand beach and cove, perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts.

The environment at Palau Pacific Resort is serene, with extensive gardens and saltwater pools that often serve as habitats for fish and turtles undergoing rehabilitation. The resort offers various accommodation options, including water bungalows with direct access to the water, although some may be too shallow for swimming during low tide. The rooms are well-maintained, with daily housekeeping, a range of toiletries provided, slippers, robes, and WiFi throughout.

Meals at the Palau Pacific Resort were a bit mixed. While the breakfast buffet was extensive and delicious, offering a range of choices, the lunch and dinner options were lacking both in food variety and service quality. The resort's bar offers the same menu as the restaurant but with slightly better service, providing a pleasant atmosphere for drinks.

The long fixed jetty offered a secure and convenient pick-up point for guests and diving operators and other water sports.

Overall, Palau Pacific Resort's stunning beachfront location, well-appointed rooms, and excellent snorkeling opportunities make it a worthwhile destination. However, improvements in food choices and service during lunch and dinner would enhance the overall guest experience.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/24/2024
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Palasia Hotel Palau

5
4
4
3

Located conveniently on the main road in the center of Palau, Palasia Hotel offers a mid-town experience with some notable strengths and areas for improvement.

The hotel is easily accessible by pre-arranged 30 minute shuttle from Palau/Roman Tmetuchi International Airport (ROR) in Koror. There is an excellent range of well priced restaurants within walking distance.

The urban environment of Palasia Hotel features a multi-storey structure, with public areas recently renovated but rooms showing signs of age. The hotel boasts two large pools, including a lap-sized pool, and a well-equipped gym. However, amenities like the sauna, steam room, and laundry facilities were reported as not working during my stay. It's worth noting that rooms facing the road can be noisy due to traffic, especially with a bar across the road open until 2 am.

In terms of accommodations, the hotel provides daily housekeeping and new towels, along with essential toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion. WiFi access is available, and guests are provided with slippers and robes for added comfort.

Meals at Palasia Hotel are budget-friendly, with a focus on Asian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the cafe. Options also include egg and sausage for breakfast, and burgers are available for lunch and dinner.

The hotel's bar serves espresso coffee, an elusive treat to find in Palau.

Overall, Palasia Hotel stands out for its friendly service and convenient location. However, improvements can be made in noise management for rooms facing the road and ensuring that all amenities, including the sauna, steam room, and laundry facilities, are in working condition for guests' comfort.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/24/2024
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Yap

4
4
3
3

My experience at Manta Bay Resort in Yap, Micronesia was a mix of highs and lows, with some notable aspects to consider.

Firstly, the location is situated on the waterfront of Colonia, the tiny capitol of Yap, a short ride from the airport. The resort's unique Phinisi boat converted into a bar and restaurant added to the charm of the place.

The rooms at Manta Bay Resort were spacious and decorated with ornamental carved timber furniture, providing a comfortable stay. Daily housekeeping ensured cleanliness, and essential toiletries like shampoo and conditioner were provided. The availability of in room WiFi was a plus for staying connected.

When it came to meals, the breakfast options were simple but satisfying, with eggs cooked to your preference. However, some dishes like bacon were not up to par. Lunch options were limited on weekdays, requiring advance ordering or exploring cafes nearby. The dinner menu offered basic Western fare, with standout items like sashimi and burritos receiving praise. The staff was friendly, although service could be slow at times, averaging around 50-60 minutes for meals.

The resort's own microbrewery produced good-quality beer, enhancing the dining experience.

Diving with Yap Divers provided both excitement and disappointment. The manta rays at Stammtisch and the sharks at Vertigo and Yap Caverns were the standout dives. While the boats were comfortable and well-equipped, including amenities like water and hot wet face towels after dives on board, camera handling could be improved. The dive planning and execution, however, were a bit disorganized, with changes in plans not always communicated effectively. The mix of experienced and new divers on each boat, along with varying dive durations, could lead to inconsistent experiences.

Snorkeling options were available, although some practices, like snorkeling with dive groups at shallow sites, raised concerns about disturbing marine life, such as mantas.

Overall, Manta Bay Resort offers a unique experience in a tropical location, with room for improvement in areas such as dive planning and meal quality.

Visited on 02/2024 - Submitted on 03/24/2024
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Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa

5
5
5
5

Bunaken Oasis Resort provided possibly the best dive resort experience I have had in 15 years of diving in Indonesia. From the luxury vehicle 30-minute airport transfer, and another 30 minutes on a lovely timber-trimmed boat (interestingly named after the owners’ horses) to arriving at the resort pier, I felt like a cherished guest.

Warmly welcomed by the management team, I was given a brief tour, deposited my camera into the huge camera room, and then escorted up a few flights of stairs to my standalone bungalow, where I had a great view of the lushly landscaped hillside of the Oasis, over the infinity pool and beyond to the sea from the comfortable deck chairs.

My room had everything one could desire, a beautiful fruit basket, a Nespresso coffee maker, lots of teas, hot & cold water, a mini-bar, wine, waffle robes or silky kimonos, lots of towels, organic body wash, soaps, shampoo and conditioner and a magic basket, where your laundry goes in and returns clean and folded. Importantly for me, WIFI was available in the room and throughout the resort.

I left the cocoon of my room to venture up to the spa for a blissful massage before wandering down to the impressively designed bar and lounge over 3 levels. As one looks around you can’t help but notice the many detailed design elements of the resort that are beautifully maintained. One morning I noticed a loose paving stone, but on my way back from breakfast one of the groundskeepers was already repairing it and inspecting others.

Meals were all ordered a la carte from an extensive menu for breakfast and lunch and a menu of the day for dinner. Fresh squeezed juices, baked pastries and fancy egg dishes and espresso coffees for breakfast; lunch ranged from salads, grilled fish, curries to burgers and exceptional house-made ice creams.

With a small number of guests, we all had dinner together with the resort owners and management team. One night we had a 7-course tasting menu where the chefs were flexing their creativity and impressive presentation skills, which occurs almost weekly. On the last night for some guests, we were presented with a concert of local and pop songs by some of the talented F & B team as a farewell.

The Bunaken Marine Park dives were a surprising treat, featuring wall diving, at times a comfortable drift and one for advanced divers with more challenging currents but all with very clear water and lots of marine life, both macro and pelagic. I had a tip to dive at Manado Tua, at the base of the volcano, and on request that was easily added to the itinerary.

The dive operation was top-notch too, with everything fastidiously managed, from the boats, to the dive prep area, camera room and even the compressor room. Two of the dive team were being certified to teach tech/rebreather diving, so they will have that option there by now too. I was lucky to be one of the only divers in a lull between 2 busy periods and I dived with the owners and one of the managers. But my dive guide and buddy Hentje Pontoh is a legend in Bunaken, having discovered a new pygmy seahorse species in 2008: Hippocampus pontohi. We had a lot of fun.

Visited on 09/2023 - Submitted on 01/18/2024
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