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Dive Review of Palau Aggressor II in
Micronesia/Palau

Palau Aggressor II: "Disappointing Live Aboard", Mar, 2016,

by Mr Brent Woods, ON, CA (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 22 reports with 13 Helpful votes). Report 8951 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 1 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 2 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments I was pleasantly surprised to see a review in the Palau Aggressor in the May issue of Undercurrent. I was also disappointed with my recent trip on this boat. The diving in Palau is so good that not even poor boat detracts from the memory of the trip. This report will focus on the boat and not the abundant fish life.
I go on live aboards for more dives than you get in the same time frame from shore, uncrowded diving and dive sites not reached by day boats. The Aggressor only delivered on the number of dives.
All diving is done from their one and only tender. Dives were crowded with up to 18 divers and three dive masters. Entry is by backroll and the setup is such that you never enter at the same time as your buddy. Since most of the dives are either drift dives for all or part of the dive, you can not in any meaningful way separate yourself from the hoard. The group was generally too large for the dive masters to be able to find and point out camouflaged animals.
Dives were repeated on too many of the sites.
We were never out of the range of the day boats.
The Palau Aggressor is about 20 years old and showing its age. The boat looks tired. All of the cabins have bunk beds without ladders. The AC in one cabin was stuck at its lowest setting for the whole trip. One of the main fridges in the galley broke down during the trip.
Everybody has a numbered water bottle on the tender. They are stored in a cooler at the front of the boat and passed out after the dive unless your seat is at the back of the tender as mine was in which case it was often too much effort for the crew to pass your bottle back. I complained and nothing changed.
I hate being photographed and looking at pictures of myself. I requested to not be photographed. I was the most photographed person on the trip. My tip was small.
The Rock Island Aggressor is the same age and design and has the same ownership. I can see no reason why it wouldn't have the same issues.
I recommend avoiding boat boats. In Palau, a reputable day boat operator such as Sam's Tours is your best option.
Websites Palau Aggressor II   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Ontario, Quebec, Cuba, Roatan, Red Sea, Little Cayman, St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Jamaica, Pohnpei, Galapagos, Costa Rica, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Cozumel, Bahamas
Closest Airport Koror Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents, no currents
Water Temp 75-80°F / 24-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-100 Ft/ 9-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Recreation/Nitrox limit
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Dedicated rinse tank and lots of camera table space on live aboard. Cameras keep separate from divers on tender.
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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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