Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Sam's Tours/Eclipse Liveaboard in
Micronesia

Sam's Tours/Eclipse Liveaboard: "Best diving in Palau", Feb, 2014,

by Michael J. Miller, MD, US ( 1 report with 1 Helpful vote). Report 7851 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 1 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Eclipse is a sailboat run by John and Charlie (his Chinese wife). It is a small, non-air-conditioned sailboat with a small motor. Best for a couple. The accommodations are spartan. Showers are sun showers on the front of the boat. Entries are by 4 foot giant stride. John takes your equipment up after the dive with a rope and then you need to climb up a sturdy wooden ladder. Charlie is the divemaster, cook, and the tender of the scuba gear. John fills tanks when you are diving. Charlie cooks the fish that they catch along with the food that they bring along. Sam's Tours rendezvous for daily food and ice. This is a very small boat and in no way is the food gourmet, but it is tasty and filling and I am used to good food.

I should add that John and Charlie have some squabbles and this is a small boat.

Now, why would you want to basically camp on the ocean in Palau.

I have over 100 dives in Palau and this is the best diving in Palau!

If you don't know Palau, most of the diving in Palau is at the southern end of the island group, about an hour by speedboat from the hotels in the Koror area. At about 10:00 each day the major dive sites like Blue Corner have 10 or more dive boats waiting for their entry. And they leave by about 3:00 pm each day. There are several liveaboards that also dive in the off-hours but the competition is manageable.

Charlie is a great dive master and photographer. If you don't come back with fabulous photos and memories then you were sleeping.

I have been diving on Eclipse 3 times and I want to go back soon! But when I get off the boat I would spend a couple of days at the beautiful Palau Pacific Resort.
Websites Sam's Tours   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Palau, Truk, Yap, Kauai, Bahamas, Bonaire, BVI, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, Roatan, Key Largo
Closest Airport Koror Getting There Guam

Dive Conditions

Weather windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 80-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 80-120 Ft/ 24-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Drift diving. Must stay close to dive master for 3 minute safety stop for group boat re-entry
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 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 Best location for UWPs that I have ever been!
Was this report helpful to you?
Report currently has 1 Helpful vote
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 466 dive reviews of Micronesia and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. Looking for sharks, wrecks, kayaking, tropical islands? We specialize in adventures to Micronesia.

Want to assemble your own collection of Micronesia reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.11 seconds