Dive Review of
Pelileu Divers/Storyboard/Dolphin Bay in
Micronesia/Pelileu

Certified in 1970.  3rd trip to Palau.  Los Archos Ven., Canos Island Costa
Rica, Hawaii, Caymans, Bonaire, Bahamas

Dive Conditions

depth limit, staying with dive guide/master, drift diving, hook-ins with
strong current  

[None]  

Overall Rating

The Storyboard and the new Dolphin Bay Bungalows, a mile or so apart, are
operated by the same people.  We found Storyboard online and made our
reservations through an agent (Sams Tours) in June 06 for a Feb 07 visit. 
We were not advised that the restaurant and diving facilities had been
closed at the Storyboard and moved to the Dolphin Bay Bungalows a month
before we arrived.
Calls to the Storyboard a week before we left the Koror area were answered
by at Dolphin Bay (without stating that they are now at a different
facility) and we were told that the rooms have A/C.  Dolphin Bay, the new
resort, does have air.  Storyboard does not.  
No mention was made of the change in ammenites, diving schedules, shuttling
etc. until we arrived and then it was done with a definite attitude.  We
were told we had booked with Storyboard and all the other guests had booked
with Dolphin Bay, a difficult thing to do since they have just the
Storyboard website.  New guests confirmed that this was a lie since they
were lodged at Dolphin Bay altho they had booked at the Storyboard.
You'd think 7 months would be enough to contact us about the changes.  They
had our contact info.
We didn't expect the Ritz and have stayed in lots of local places around
the world, but at the Storyboard, the bottom sheets don't fit the beds so
you end up sleeping on the matress & pad.  I mentioned it to the owner
and he said , "yea, we know."  We had to go behind the cabin to
turn on cold water for the shower (only the hot worked).  No hot water was
available in the sink.  Cockroaches are impressive, but harmless.  Lots of
cute geckos and lizards live indoors & out.  The sand floor dining room
was charming.  The food was okay.  They asked about allergies, etc.
The purpose for booking lodging on Pelileu is to dive the choice spots
before the boats from Koror arrive.  
Pelileu Divers, also managed/owned?? by Storyboard/Dolphin Bay, was
overbooked and the 4 divers in our group were at the mercy of the their
other dive group of 9+/- divers, staying at Dolphin Bay.  That group always
had first call on dive time and dive sites.  
Arrival day we waited on the dock for 2+ hours for van pickup which took us
to Dolphin Bay.  It's only a 7 min drive & there was a driver waiting
at the dock with the van, but he had to wait for the other dive group to
come in before he could take us to the bungalows.
Our 1st dive  day we were told we had to wait for 2 new guests to arrive
before we could dive because they were diving with us.  They arrived about
10:30 am and then we were then told they weren't diving that day.  The 2nd
day we had to wait for the first boat to return  before we could dive.  The
new guests were told they had dive late with us because they had to do a
checkout dive. We dove Pelileu Express to the Cut.  Some checkout!  The dm
barely kept them in sight.  On both days it was close to lunch time before
we were in the water.  
A tip, given to our dm with specific instructions to share it with the boat
capt, was not shared.  When questioned the following day the dm stated,
"yes, I shared it," and when she realized the capt was behind her
shaking his head, said "I mean I'm going to share it with him." 
Must have been a language problem!.?
These managers/owners only had 10-12 divers and a few bungalows to handle. 
I expected better from them.  
The dive sites are terrific.  
Make sure you tour the WW2 sites with the wonderful and informative Tanzi. 
He's great and so are all the locals we met!

 

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