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Dive Review of Fish 'n Fins/Palau Royal Resort in
Micronesia/Palau

Fish 'n Fins/Palau Royal Resort: "Great few days in Palau", Apr, 2017,

by James Castanino, CO, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports). Report 9626.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Spent a few days diving with Fish n'Fins before a week on board the Palau Aggressor (see separate review, which also contains additional comments on Palau accommodations etc. Palau Royal was adequate but nothing special).

Decided on Fish n' Fins for two primary reasons: their reputation as a solid operator and the ease of working with them via email to get answers to questions and secure reservations. Office staff is extremely helpful and a pleasure to work with. We didn't use them to book hotel, etc. as we had made arrangements with Aggressor.

Dive operation is well organized and well run. Two morning dives are standard, with the option of a third if enough divers are signed up. Free nitrox (although diving with Fish n' Fins is expensive--two dives are in the range of $160, including lunch. That said, it should be noted that all diving in Palau is expensive and their competitors charge similar rates).

Had several choices for lunch, which was neatly and individually packed. Food was very good and lunch was always taken on a stunning beach in the Rock Islands.

Boats were very good. Canopy providing shade, plenty of storage for gear, fast. No marine head, though.

Dive guides were helpful but not intrusive.

After the first day, boat picked up at hotel. Shop provided ride back to hotel at end of day (no extra charge). Gear is stored overnight at the shop and set up for you on the boat before you are picked up. Change your own tanks between dives.

The diving in Palau is first rate, and I was not disappointed. Fish n' Fins took us to the best sites. We dove Blue Corner and Blue Hole on the first day. Pretty sure we hit Blue Corner twice over 3 days. Lots of reef sharks (4-6 ft.), fish everywhere, stingrays, tons of turtles, and pristine coral reef. Currents were mostly moderate but picked up considerably on a couple dives. Excellent viz. Warm water, 3 mil full wetsuit.

It is worth noting that the best dive sites in the Rock Islands are pretty far from Koror, 45 mins to an hour each way from the dive shop. So it can be a long day. The flip side is that passage through the islands is stunning and worthwhile on its own. (It is also worth highlighting that we saw much more of the Rock Islands diving with Fish n' Fins than we did in a week on the Aggressor, so I recommend a day or two with them even if you are doing a live aboard, which tend to stay anchored close to the best dive sites and do not sail among the most beautiful parts of the islands).

Fish n' Fins also operates and arranges lots of activities and tours. We wished we had used them for a kayak tour (went with the hotel operator and it was poor).

Would definitely dive with these guys again.
Websites Fish 'n Fins   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Indonesia, Philippines, Galapagos, Fiji, all over Caribbean, Florida, Northeast US.
Closest Airport Koror Getting There There's no easy way to and from Palau from the U.S. but it's worth it.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 80-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments I used a small GoPro setup so not pretty easy for me. We had several photogs on the boat and they seemed fine. Rinse tank on boat and back at the dock. Crew would hand gear once in the water.
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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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