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Dive Review of Solitude One liveaboard/TaucherTraum in
Micronesia/Palau

Solitude One liveaboard/TaucherTraum: "Three Week "Exploratory" and Spawning Trip!", Mar, 2020,

by Randall S Preissig, TX, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 37 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 11592 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was a special three week trip arranged by the excellent German company Taucher Traum. Taucher Traum--see link above--arranges extraordinary trips to unusual places; it caters to very experienced divers, mostly German, which is a big plus as well. If you're looking for a "trip of a lifetime", I suggest visiting their website.
The trip also featured a world-famous photographer and specialist on fish spawning, Richard Barnden. His expertise and enthusiasm were exceptional. Just another example of the uniqueness of Taucher Traum trips.
I have made several trips to Palau, first in 1980. And I witness the devastation from the great El Niño of 1998. I can say that Palau has fully recovered! From a manta cleaning station to schools of sharks to breeding snappers--wow! And plenty of macro. Walls, current, coral like you rarely see and more.
The Solitude One is also exceptional, being way larger than the biggest liveaboard you are likely to have been on. They take deserved pride in the quality of their operation, luxury of their ship and food. Excellent photo facilities and frankly everything else. It is said that the owner operates it as a loss/hobby.
Unfortunately, The EU required the Germans to return home in the middle of our 3-week trip, so we missed some spawning and other highlights and had the extra hassle and expense of a rerouted trip home. The non-EU divers could have stayed, but a German law allowed the entire trip to be cancelled/rescheduled. The companies have rescheduled a similar trip in 2023 at a slight discount as compensation.
I plan on more Solitude One trips in the Philippines and I will continue to dive with Taucher Traum. You should consider them if you're an experienced diver looking for the best diving possible.
Websites Solitude One liveaboard   TaucherTraum

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Red Sea, Raja Amphat, Lembeh, Komodo, Alor, Thailand, Sipadan, PNG, BVI, Bahamas, Tahiti, Palau, Chuuk, Ponape, Guam, Australia, Hawaii, Myamar, Fiji, Cocos, Galapagos, Socorro, 3 Caymans, Bonaire, Cozumel, Belize, Etc.
Closest Airport Getting There United Airlines via Hawaii going but via Japan on return due to COVID and air travel situation.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 74-78°F / 23-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 70-99 Ft/ 21-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Recreational limits.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Huge modern camera room. Professional service. Excellent camera care.
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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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