Palau, Micronesia Scores High On Scuba Diving Magazine’s Top 100 Gold List 2013

Considered by industry experts and scuba diving enthusiasts as “the best of the best,” Scuba Diving Magazine’s Top 100 Gold List is a “popularity contest” where rankings are based on a total number of responses from global readers and divers.  The Top 100 Gold List features operators, resorts, live-aboards, underwater experiences (i.e., best wall, shore and wreck sites), dive bars and more.  For more specific information on the results, please visithttp://www.scubadiving.com/2013-gold-list.  Here are some of the highlights that feature our beloved scuba diving destination of Palau and many of our tour operators.

The “best” of the best (where Palau rates):

1          Best Dive Site Blue Corner, Palau

24        Best Bar Kramer’s Cafe, Palau

28        Best Dive Operator, Sam’s Tours, Palau

74        Best Dive Site, Ulong Channel, Palau

95        Best Bar, Bottom Time Bar & Grill, Sam’s Tours, Palau

Best Wall Diving
1. Palau
2. Papau New Guinnea
3. Indonesia
4. Red Sea
5. Fiji

Best Macro Diving
1. Indonesia
2. Philippines
3. Papau New Guinea
4. Palau
5. Malaysia

Best Wreck Diving
1. Chuuk
2. Palau
3. Solomon Islands
4. Tie – Bali and Queensland

Best Value of Diving Dollar
1. Philippines
2. Palau
3. Malaysia
4. Indonesia
5. Thailand

Best Advanced Diving
1. Palau
2. Fiji
3. Red Sea
4. Indonesia
5. Galapagos

Best Underwater Photography
1. Fiji
2. Tie – Maldives and Palau
4. Philippines
5. Red Sea

Best Big Animals
1. Palau
2. Maldives
3. Tie – Galapagos and Mexico
5. French Polynesia

Best Marine Environment
1. Palau
2. Fiji
3. Maldives
4. Australia
5. Red Sea

Best Overall Diving
1. Palau
2. Indonesia
3. Philippines
4. Maldives
5. Great Barrier Reef

To cast your vote for the 2014 Top 100 Gold List, go to: http://www.scubadiving.com/top100

Fish ‘n Fins Introduces New Helicopter Service in Palau, Micronesia

The only one of its kind in Palau, pioneer dive shop Fish ‘n Fins just introduced a new helicopter service. Officially known as Palau Helicopters Inc., Fish ‘n Fins now owns and operates a brand new Robinson R66 turbine helicopter, which allows visitors to experience the beauty of Palau‘s Rock islands from the air.

Scenic flight and photography tours include 20; 40; and 60 minute options, which offer an opportunity to explore the Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake, the WWII battle fields of Peleliu and the world-class dive sites from a different point of view.  The scene is set by pilot Martin Pacheco who has over 3300 hours of flying experience and is also an FAA certified helicopter/airplane mechanic and FAA A&P helicopter inspector.  Prices for the tours range from $185 to $450 per person or from $1,150 for 30-minute private charters for up to four people.

As the only commercially-available helicopter or airplane tour in Palau, Fish ‘n Fins’ Palau Helicopters Inc. is also developing Search & Rescue and Medevac programs with the local government to provide a safer diving and boating environment.

For more information and booking: email info@fishnfins.com or call 680-488-2637.