Guam

Guam Tropical Dive Station and Micronesian Diving Association, April 1996, Stephen Weinman, M.D., Agana, Guam. "Worst diving in Micronesia, due to over development and over fishing. Large fish rare, pelagics nonexistent, coral does not compare with a good Caribbean dive. Vis: often 150 feet, water usually 82­85 degrees. Lots of shore diving, but currents and often tricky conditions; dive with a local guide. Little drift diving; boats don't get you to areas that are significantly better than shore sites. . . . Two wrecks, one from WW I and one from WW II in 120 feet of water in Apra Harbor; have been stripped and host little life. Blue Hole interesting full moon dive; can be boring given lack of fish or coral. . . . Dive operations excellent, two of which I use regularly: Guam Tropical Dive Station and Micronesian Diving Association. Dependable and friendly, boats well equipped with safety and communication equipment. Guam Tropical Dive Station docks a new boat in a northern harbor to reach little dived northern sites; may be more interesting diving. . . . $150/night for luxury hotels. Contact the above operators for where to stay if you are on a budget."

Kosrae

Nautilus Resort, July 1995, Doris & Bob Schaffer, Fallbrook, CA. "Close to a Motel 6 but the most comfortable accommodations on the island. Rooms clean and comfortable, nothing fancy. Hotel has one boat that carries up to 6 divers for a two-tank morning or afternoon dive. 20 min ride to boat. Diving good, vis excellent. Food adequate to good. Only a year old and the diving isn't running smoothly, but a worthwhile trip to explore interesting islands and native cultures."

Palau

Fish N' Fins, July 1995, JoAnn & David Lemly, Silverdale, WA. "Left dock at 8:00 and returned at 3:30 after 2 dives, lunch and snorkeling. Class act. Stayed on same boat with same guide and driver so never repeated dives. Big Drop Off, Blue Corner, Chandelier Cave, Jellyfish Lake. No problems with current; boat was always there to pick us up. Time and depth up to us. Maurice, our guide, brief us then led the way, pointing out everything of interest. Calm 3 out of 4 days. New chamber at the hospital."

Neco Marine, May 1995, Jeff & Sherry Hotham, Phoenix, AZ. "Fantastic fish and coral. Sharks almost every dive. Manta rays, eagle rays. Current at Blue Corner stiff. New Drop Off and Big Drop Off on Ngemelis wall are the best! Blue Holes - not much. Numerous Lionfish at Ngedebus Gardens, and turtles. Huge schools of barracuda at Blue Corner. Jellyfish Lake is great!"

Neco Marine, May 1995, Jim Urquhart, Phoenix, AZ. "V-hulled 20 ft boats, though equipped with O2, are ill-equipped for some conditions. Reboarding in swells bordered on impossible. No compass, no horizon or sight of land in heavy rains. Captain made an educated guess to find our way back. Soon we were in heavy seas outside the reef. We suggested using one of our console compasses (which they lost and never refunded) and the nonEnglish speaking captain realized we were 110 deg. off course into the Pacific! An investment in safety and comfort goes a long way (even a hand-held radio would have been welcome)."

Neco Marine, January 1996, Steve Bergerson, Lisle, IL. "Beaucoup sharks, mantas, one sea snake; fish and coral declining because operators do not stress protection. Repeatedly saw large groups of divers crawling along reefs, hands and knees on (soon to be dead) coral; mostly Japanese divers. Dive operators would say nothing. They allow divers to dangle their camera from their BC and swing into the coral - incredible! Already a great deal of dead coral at prime sites. Vis: 60­100 ft. water: 78°­82°"

Neco Marine/Palau Pacific Resort, April 1996, Van Ryn David, Elkhart, IN. "Diving fantastic. Blue Corner, New Drop, other wall dives outstanding; schools of shark and barracuda, Bumphead masse, eagle rays, turtles every dive. Shallower sites healthy. Some sites very crowded - large "pods" of divers can be disruptive. Boats, personnel very good- open boats less protected in rain. Nice guidance, freedom to those on computers. . . . Palau Pacific outstanding. Rooms luxurious, food plentiful on buffet. Fresh meat grilled each evening. Setting beautiful. Nice pool and bar."

Palau Pacific, June 1996, Mel McCombie, New Haven, CT. "Gorgeous place to unwind after 10 days on a boat."

Sam's Dive Tours, February 1995. Greg Kinney, Yakima, WA. "Small, friendly, left experienced divers on their own."

Sam's Dive Tours, February 1995, Greg Bledsoe, Toshima-Kil, Tokyo, Japan. "Friendly well run organization, never more than 8 with one divemaster. Slow getting started in the morning. Time wasted in gearing up and getting divers in boat. Hard to get in 3 dives a day, as most sites take hour to get to! Staff helps those who need, leaving the rest alone. Found nice uninhabited beach to eat lunch on and snorkel during surface interval."

Sam's Dive Tours, March 1995, John E. McDonald, San Clemente, CA. "Caters to American and European divers. If you want to dive a wreck, make arrangements day or two in advance."

Sam's Dive Tours, August 1995, Donald Bruce, Barrigada, Guam. "Safety conscious. Diving with biologist/instructor Ron is pure pleasure, I hadn't realized how much better a dive could be with such a well-informed guide."

Splash/Palau Pacific Resort, September 1995, Connie Gallagher, Lake Oswego, OR. "Dive boat under repair, so used uncomfortable small boats with no tank holders, no shelter from the cold driving rain. Dive staff was a pleasure, accommodated everyone's site preferences (the same group together all week), well organized and helpful. The diving spectacular."

Splash/Palau Pacific Resort, November 1995, Claudia Donkel, Daphne, AL. "Boat ride through the Rock Islands to dives was 45 minutes but so picturesque I did not mind. Splash very accommodating - boats flat, open runabouts - no tank racks - throw your stuff on the floor and go. Less than ideal when setting up in choppy water. Corals beautiful; so many creatures I was in awe. Vis. 100­150 ft. water: 82°. . . . Resort beautiful, rooms comfortable (AC, mini-bars). Food is geared to Japanese - have a spirit of adventure when approaching the buffet."

Splash, December 1995, Dale G. Johnson, Helena, MT. "Nondiver spouse snorkeled at most sites. Variable currents but guides good at judging conditions. Too many divers; common to encounter groups on each site. vis: 100­150 ft. water: 70°­80°. Excellent diving."

Splash, February 1996, Joshua Hillman, Skokie, IL. "Excellent photo/video rentals! Dive book and safety sausage a must. Serious currents, but safe for intermediate diver. vis: 75­125 ft. water: 74°­80°. Rental gear adequate to good, hot lunch between dives. German Channel Manta Cleaning Station had few rays. Leave the Beetlenuts for the natives. Mangrove Crab at Dragon Tei restaurant."

Splash/Palau Pacific Resort, August 1996, Martin Raffauf, San Carlos, CA. "Excellent modern hotel, secluded, but close to the town. Nice ocean front room, lots of nondiving activities hotel food good, expensive. . . . Splash Dive Center docks are in the front of the hotel. Ample storage for gear and rinse tanks, Splash personnel load your gear everyday. Some shore diving; several people did some night diving. Shop well equipped with gear, rentals and supplies. Photo Palau, next door, is complete camera center, with rentals, video, instruction, one-day processing. $50 rental of two Nikonos with strobes and film. Splash has two larger boats and numerous smaller high speed canopied speed boats. Divers are divided into smaller groups and each with a divemasters. Most sites are 40­60 minutes by speed boat. Scenery along the way is worth the trip. Full briefings, safety conscious. . . . Sharks every dive. Must do sites: Blue Corner, Blue Hole, Ngemelis Wall, and German Channel (if conditions are right for mantas). Many WW2 wrecks. Use a reef hook (sold in the dive shop) for holding on. Diving not really a problem for beginners with adequate buoyancy control, but follow the divemasters instructions. Water 80­82 Degrees, Vis: 60­100 Feet. . . . Plane changes in Hawaii and Guam and long lay-overs; went through U.S. customs in both Guam and Hawaii and airport security twice. Better way to go: Nonstop to Taipei or Manila, connect to nonstop flights to Palau. Longer in distance, but less travel time and much less hassle."

Ponape (Pohnpei)

The Village, June 1995, Mike and Danielle Kerner, Erie, PA. "One of the more pristine environments imaginable. Fish abundant. Numerous schools of barracuda. Most dives in too much current for beginners, but drifting safe. Close encounter with large Napoleon wrasse. lots of sharks at various depths. Water: 85° to 8°. Vis: 100 to 150 ft. . . . Dive boat a 24 ft. skiff with divemaster and two assistants. They travel around island to Ant Atoll to the strangest currents and best sites. In medium chop sit at the back. They will get you a reservation with Phoenix Dive Team, if you wish, which has nicer boats, but usually packed with Japanese tourists. Hotel takes care of your gear from your arrival to departure. . . . The Village: huts with thatched roofs, showers, etc. Two waterbeds per room. No glass windows, but screens. No A/C but breeze keeps pleasant. Housekeepers deploy mosquito nets on bed while you are at dinner. Take Repellant. Fax and phone at main "hut". Rooms very clean: $99/night. Food is wonderful. Full bar. Sunsets wonderful. Tuna was fresh. Do not miss the Portuguese sausage either. crafts: great quality, good prices. Natives negotiate. Carvings excellent. Be sure to wax them, humidity is high so they crack easily in harsher climates. Pohnpe pepper is reportedly the best in the world (we agree), so buy some. Pohnpe is all tropical rain forest. English spoken by almost everyone."

Let Ehu Tours/Village Hotel, March 1996, Steve Weinman, M.D., Agana, Guam. "Great diving, on par with Palau. Sharks more timid but plentiful. Miles of untouched reef; large schools of large fish. Vis: 50­150'. Atoll diving better than inner reefs, which are still world-class. Three mantas in eight dives, a school of 15 sharks at a cleaning station, 150 grouper on one dive, two bigger than me. Mostly drift dives. . . . Let Ehu (pronounced Yet A-hoo) guides friendly and dependable. I was wary of guides spearfishing during the dives, until I was eating fresh fish cooked on a fire at lunch; then I wished them happy hunting. Plenty of big game fish. . . . Boats small, uncomfortable, no seating except for small cushions. No oxygen or radios, trip to the atolls an hour each way. I was the only diver on most dives. Other operators tend to cater to the Japanese tour groups. Let Ehu also offers many island tours and hikes. . . . Village Hotel; local style huts situated on a cliff in a beautiful jungle. No AC, but the huts are mostly screened with a good breeze. Waterbeds and reliable drinkable water. Don't spring for expensive rooms: view is overgrown with vegetation. Mosquitos netting is placed over the beds; only bitten 3 times. Great food, enough variety for the week, though restaurants are a 10 minute, $4 cab ride. . . . Two hundred inches of rain every year; driest months are Feb­March. Great waterfalls and WW II relics and a sekau bar, for a mild narcotic drink found only on a few islands. Not many foreigners can handle the taste, but if you do you'll enjoy the feeling and the respect of the locals."

Truk Lagoon

Blue Lagoon Dive Shop, June 1995, Mary Laddis, S. Padre Island, TX. "Spectacular. 30 ft to 200 ft., hard and soft corals, multitudinous fish. Hang time enlivened by invertebrates drifting by. Incredible! Guides knowledgeable and follow safe diving procedures. Compared with the Thorfin's guides, they took us to deeper wrecks. Provided tanks at various depths so backup air was always accessible."

Blue Lagoon Divers/Truk Continental Hotel, December 1995, Dale G. Johnson, Helena, MT. "No beach, minimal WWII relics on Island, but world's best wreck diving. Beginners wern't supervised except by their own companions. No one checked C-cards. Plywood boats barely adequate. Guides friendly and willing to let us dive any wrecks we wanted. During surface intervals took us to shallow wrecks and a Zero for snorkeling. Pointed out artifacts. After your 7th or 8th wreck dive they all start looking the same; 5 days is plenty. vis: 80­125 ft. water: 78°­86°."

Blue Lagoon Divers/Truk Stop Hotel, January 1996, Graham McMullen, Sacramento, CA. "Well run shop. Divemasters safety-conscious experienced wreck divers. Oxygen, a walkie talkie, and a medicine kit on each small dive boat. Boats picked us up at Continental Hotel. 10­30 minute rides to the dives were bumpy: 20 knot winds. I took a plastic poncho because of the wind and ocean spray. 12 dives, dove on 9 wrecks. The amount and variety of color of soft coral was amazing; great variety of colorful sponges, quite a few varieties of fish and anemones. Water and air were 82°. Vis: 35­80 feet. . . . Truk Stop adequate; Truk Continental is nicer because of views and beautiful grounds. The Continental is refurbishing and adding a new bar, dive gear lockers, an additional restaurant, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. Food at both hotels good and reasonably priced. Rooms at both hotels have balconies and are good sized and comfortable."

Blue Lagoon Divers/Truk Continental Hotel, July 1996, Emiliano H. Ruiz, San Juan, Puerto Rico. "Outstanding wreck diving (including airplanes and tanks): frequent deep dives. Excellent soft corals in some wrecks. Moderate to good vis and calm seas. Blue Lagoon has modest facilities; divemaster great. Sites are close to shore, so no need for better boats. Although Spartan, the Continental Hotel is the best choice; grounds and architecture are nice and much Micronesian. Two other lodges too close to town, in small lots."

Micronesia Aquatics/Truk Continental, 1995, Richard Madarasz Tempe, AZ. "Second time diving with Micronesia Aquatics. Unique to experience local culture and some of the world's best diving. Guides locals; laid back, friendly, concerned about safety and enjoyment. Dive boats leave a lot to be desired. Small open boats accommodate up to 7 divers and two guides, most dive days 2 to 4 divers. Not fast boats, but ride is enjoyable. May return to hotel for lunch or may stay out. Surface interval at shallow wrecks for snorkeling. Go to most well known wrecks, but without the crowds. Significant coral growth since our trip seven years ago; some ship features becoming unrecognizable.". . . Clark Graham has lived in Truk since Peace Crop in 60's. Concerned about the people, knowledgeable about, active in, the affairs of the country. Treats guests with warmth and respect. . . . Truk Continental one of most beautiful locations in the world, with great views of the Truk Lagoon and several islands. Clean and comfortable, but not luxurious (has water and electricity nearly all day now. Staff friendly and helpful. Not much of a beach, but room to lounge in the grass; good snorkeling."

Micronesia Aquatics/Truk Stop, April 1996, Van Ryn David, Elkhart, In. "Diving physically challenging but outstanding! 3­4 wrecks/day in remarkable condition, some quite deep - computer essential. Water rough several days, driving rain some days. Open boats - wooden "dry" box for belongings. Guides experienced, knowledgeable, quiet, non-confrontational. Some persons followed dangerous profile - no comments from guides. With no chamber a risky place to take chances! No oxygen on boats - did have take at 20' for extra air. Truk Stop in town; clean convenient, reasonable; welcomes divers. Island in disarray - take everything you need. Cannot find postcards, t-shirts. Rental car essential if NOT staying at Continental."

Yap

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, 1995, Donald Eugene Bruce, Guam. "A guide waved a dive knife in the face of a European diver and another guide grabbed my wife by the leg to force her to the bottom and away from an approaching manta. In neither case was the behavior warranted. The European diver was having trouble with buoyancy, and my wife was 20 feet away from the only manta we saw on that dive, which continued to swim around even after others got closer. Certainly contradicts the generosity and friendliness of Palau."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, June 1995, Ron Martin, San Dimas, CA. "Excellent treatment. Bus driver gave us a brief history of Yap. Dive guides friendly and fun to be around. Restaurant excellent."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, July 1995, Mary M. Grab, Westland, MI. "Only one manta. I was attacked by a triggerfish who was protecting the nest. I swear that fish gave me a dirty look, rammed my mask full force, knocking me back and came around and latched onto my left arm. Never made it through my 1/8" wetsuit and skins, but left nasty teeth marks and a huge bruise. Island is charming, Stone Money culture intact."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, August 1995, Bill Haapa, Lutz, FL. "Five days 'guarantee' mantas. Up close encounters when you see them. Boring dives after mantas unless Yap Caverns and Lionfish Wall. Insist on these places; 5 days in Yap worth trip. Local food OK but little variety."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, September 1995, Arthur Fish, Beaverton, OR. "Hotel comfortable and nicely appointed, staff friendly and helpful. Mantas spectacular, reefs pristine, abundant corals, lots of fish both large and small. Dive staff knowledgeable, helpful, operation efficiently. I recommend at least 5 to 7 days on Yap."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, October 1995, Joe Johnston, M.D., Mt. Olive, MS. "Hotel and dive staff helpful, courteous; Current at Mil Channel 6 to 8 knots! Mantas, school of large eagle rays. Food at hotel moderately good. Hotel and rooms nice, view of bay. Cable TV, mini-bar, A/C; enjoyable stay. Freddie, dive operator, and Leo, divemaster, show you things you might not see without them. Bill Acker good host. Culture tour: dancing and food on the other side of the island: $50."

Yap Divers/ Manta Ray Bay Hotel, November 1995, Mel Butler, Claremont, CA. "Mantas 4/8 dives. Water murky. Divers sit on bottom (40'­60') in channel near manta cleaning stations. Mantas hover and fish clean body, mouth and gills. Sunrise Reef and Samarai Reef: sharks and numerous reef fish. . . . Hotel: spacious rooms, large beds, excellent drawer and closet space, friendly staff (Yap Divers is adjacent to hotel). Top floor restaurant is good."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, January 1996, Steve Bergerson, Lisle, IL. "Fabulous diving with mantas, crocodile fish. Good dive operation and hotel. New chef from Palau Pacific produces very good food. Reefs so so. vis: 40­80 ft. water:79°­81°."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, January 1996, Larry S. Roberts, Homestead, FL. "Wall diving on west side outstanding, but no mantas there. vis: 30­150 ft. water: 80°­82°."

Yap Divers, Manta Ray Bay Hotel, February 1996, Lloyd Schwengel, Brea, CA. "Four mantas on one dive. Briefings confusing. Divemasters not talkative; caused my wife to miss the manta dive, maybe due to language barrier. Vis at Kingdom 200 ft; coral is rubble from storms. Lionfish Wall and Yap Caverns excellent: good soft and hard corals, lots of critters, larger reef fish, a few sharks. Manta Ridge, vis 40'­75'. Saw mantas. . . . Villages unique and beautiful, but would have enjoyed tasting local food. Go now. It won't be there long. Staff fair, facilities, food excellent. Water 81°"

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, February 1996, Charles Scogin Dallas, TX. "Accommodations very nice, food good with lots of local flare. Diving great, lots of mantas, Lion Fish wall was out of the world. Vis 100 plus. Lionfish spectacular. Dive briefing when went to see the Mantas was next to nothing. All we were told was "don't touch, don't chase and don't blow bubbles at the Mantas. That was it."

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, May 1996, Steve Nielson, Danville, CA. "Mantas in both channels! Everyday! Not much else. Excellent accommodations. Wonderful food, Bill (the Chef) wonderful. Half day to see villages, then nothing. No beach or pool at hotel. Spend 3 maximum days;. See the mantas and get out!"

Yap Divers/Manta Ray Bay Hotel, May 1996, Max Dreyer, Petaluma, CA. "Spacious rooms, tiled, clean accommodations! Organized and proficient diving, well run. People friendly. vis: 50­75 ft. water: 82°­84°. Fine meal in restaurant upstairs."

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