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Dive Review of Black Pearl Palau in
Micronesia/Palau

Black Pearl Palau: "Trip of a Lifetime", Feb, 2023,

by JD Box, VA, US ( 1 report with 1 Helpful vote). Report 12357 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations For Subscribers Only Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude For Subscribers Only Environmental Sensitivity For Subscribers Only
Dive Operation For Subscribers Only Shore Diving For Subscribers Only
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ For Subscribers Only
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced For Subscribers Only
Comments Trip of a lifetime to celebrate our 25th anniversary. This was our first liveaboard experience and was originally planned for Chuuk three years ago but changed to Palau due to never ending COVID lockdowns and as my wife is more interested in pretty fish than wrecks. Palau did not disappoint. Hardworking Gabriel and his very thorough pre-dives and Maria were great cruise d ... Subscribe to get the full story. For Subscribers Only  Active subscribers continue reading here
Websites Black Pearl Palau   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Florida, Keys, Caribbean - Roatan, Cozumel, Grand Caymen, US Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Diego Garcia.
Closest Airport Koror Getting There Washington, San Francisco, Honolulu, Guam, Palau. Layout in Guam on way home was rough.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas surge
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions max 100'
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish For Subscribers Only
Small Critters For Subscribers Only Large Fish For Subscribers Only
Large Pelagics For Subscribers Only

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

Subject Matter For Subscribers Only Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's For Subscribers Only Shore Facilities For Subscribers Only
UW Photo Comments [None] ... Subscribe to get the full story. For Subscribers Only  Active subscribers continue reading here
Was this report helpful to you?
Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By Kendall Raine in CA, US at Aug 02, 2023 13:52 EST  
Do you know why the fills were 2600-2800 psi? Is the compressor/bank system too small for the number of divers so they're short filling to speed things up/get in more dives? Did other divers have the same results (possible your SPG reads low)? Thanks
By report author: JD Box in VA, US at Aug 02, 2023 16:04 EST  
Tanks were consistently short filled. When I questioned it, I was initially told the cylinders were limited to a lower working pressure - which was not the case (same AL80s used everywhere else in the world and clearly marked as 3000psi). Can't say for sure but suspect it was more to due with under sizing of the compressor/bank setup. That said, fill time didn't seem an issue partly because the manifold system permanently installed on the boats allowed for efficiently filling in place. Made me wonder at the time if this was intentional, but I see no reason to do that if not to shorten bottom time. Curious for sure but the Black Pearl was still an awesome experience!
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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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