Dive into 2012 with Palau’s Ocean-Based Events

In Palau, the ocean sets the stage for 2012. Known as one of the “Seven Underwater Wonders of the World,” Palau hosts some of the most unique and truly exceptional ocean-based events, including Shark Week; Wrexpedition (featuring World War II dive wrecks); Kids Sea Camp; and Diversity Fiesta.

Shark enthusiasts will enjoy a shark themed week full of adrenalin-packed activities as Fish ‘n Fins together with the Micronesian Shark Foundation (MSF) holds its 10^th annual Shark Week at Palau’s Fish ‘n Fins dive shop, from March 14-21, 2012. Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate, which generates a great opportunity for shark lovers to dive amongst them and to participate in data collection. Participants will get the opportunity to dive world famous sites like Blue Corner, Peleliu Corner and Shark City without other divers being around. Shark Week features nightly lectures, presentations and documentaries presented by some of the world’s most admired leaders in underwater exploration, conservation and discovery. Hotel/dive packages for Shark Week start at $1,250 per person and include accommodations, multiple days of diving, seminars, participation in studies and research, lunches, transportation, an exclusive T-Shirt and a Gala Dinner.

More than sixty-five years ago, during WWII, Palau was a major Japanese military base. On March 30th and 31st, 1944, US Navy bombers and fighter planes raided the Japanese fleet and sank more than 60 ships and seaplanes in and around the lagoon. Today, Palau is renowned for its beautiful lagoons and thrilling marine action but is also the resting place for the “Japanese Lost Fleet of the Rock Islands.”

The 10^th annual Wrexpedition is one of Fish ‘n Fins annual special events, which lasts one week and includes five days of diving; three tanks a day, seminars and tech-diving. Between the dives and during the seminars, participants have the unique opportunity to watch extraordinary documentaries about WWII. Wrexpedition 2012 will be held from June 04-11, 2012. Dive packages are available and include accommodations, multiple days of diving, lunches, transportation, seminars, movie nights, a T-Shirt and much more.

Sam’s Tours’ Kids Sea Camp makes a third appearance in Palau this year in collaboration with Sport Diver Magazine and PADI Diving Society. Scheduled for the week of June 23-30, 2012, this trip “sets the table” for an unforgettable family vacation. With great value in mind, Sam’s Tours offer a variety of packages to accommodate a full family of divers or combination of divers and non-divers.

The basic “Vacation Package” features seven days and seven nights of luxury accommodations; daily meals that consist of seven breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners, including Welcome Dinner, Taj, Beach BBQ, Kramer’s and Graduation “Survivor Day”; round trip airport transfers; transportation for all excursions; Rock Island Tour/Jellyfish Lake; full-day guided Kayak Tour; Babeldaob Island Tour; Ngardmau Waterfall Hike; City Tour; and visit to Palau International Coral Reef Center. Diver packages include all of the above as well as five days of diving at the famed Palau dive sites.

Palau’s “Diversity Fiesta” celebrates the destination’s unique combination of great diving during the day and gourmet cuisine and wine at night. Located in the western pacific and under Japanese rule for decades, combined with culinary influence from Philippines, USA, Malaysia and Indonesia, Palau’s cuisine is a truly Pacific fusion of sea food, fresh fruits and vegetables and spices.

Tova Harel, Fish ‘n Fins and Ocean Hunter owner is an accomplished and innovative chef, cookbook publisher and food and wine lover, and will be the ever gracious host at night with exotic meals. During the day, guests will dive Palau’s best sites and at night there will be a celebration of food and wines from the Pacific Rim. Diners will be served at Barracuda restaurant and on deserted islands under the stars.

The special weeklong fiesta is scheduled from September 3-10, 2012 and the diving program includes a rotation of the following: Day 1- Dancing Sharks: Dive Palau’s blue corners and sheer walls; Day 2- Forlorn WWII Wrecks: explore our 30+ historic wrecks; Day 3- Mysterious Caves: Temple of Doom and Chandelier cave; Day 4- Colorful Coral gardens: Macro heaven and Jelly Fish Lake; Day 5- Majestic Blue Holes: our famous blue holes.

From Palau Island Home!

"Modeled on an African safari lodge, this 1,200 square foot house uses local hardwoods, canvas, and an open plan in order to be as close to nature as possible - at times, a little too close. Salt spray blows through the bedroom. Five-foot long, monitor lizards ander through the living room. Monkeys, including our pet, Gomez, rummage through the kitchen cupboards.

But the little property does have some nice features, including it's own beach, fantastic snorkeling, a water catchment system, and an outdoor shower with views up and down the coast. The closest neighbor is over two miles away.

Building it involved, among other awkward things, mailing ourselves 12,500 screws and digging 44 holes two feet into compacted limestone - without power tools. The holes alone took us a month. Even with the seven friends we imported to help us build.

"Welcome to paradise," was a sweaty refrain as we whacked crowbars into rock, "Welcome to paradise." "

Adventure Girl Visits Palau's Jellyfish Lake!

Check out Adventure Girl Stefanie Michaels as she dives in Jellyfish lake to swim with and hold jellyfish! How awesome is that??

Paradise in Palau – Special Edition!

"It was one of most surreal experiences of my life—swimming among millions of golden jellyfish, so many that you couldn’t avoid bumping into them with your bare skin. But what should normally be an excruciatingly painful experience (and if you’ve ever been stung by a jelly you know what I mean) wasn’t. On a tiny island in Palau is one of most famous snorkeling sites in the world: Jellyfish Lake. And if there is one place you need to see before you kick the bucket, this is it..." Read full article...

Palau Introduces NEW Eco Theme Park

Recently opened, the Palau Eco Theme Park introduces a whole new brand of adventure to this Micronesian paradise. The theme park features Palau’s only zip-line course for those thrill-seekers who enjoy the adrenaline rush of flying above treetops.

Famous as a premier destination for underwater thrills, Palau now boasts its new sky adventure with a three-course zip-line soaring over the Taki Waterfall Park in the State of Ngardmau.

"Zipline is getting popular around the world, and it will become another major attraction of Palau," said Chris Kay, President of Palau Leisure Group Inc., a Korean company that built the $2.2 million adventure facility that also includes an eco-theme park and a monorail.

Eun Song Cho, chairman of Palau Leisure Group said, "I started our zipline project in Palau first because I was attracted by the beauty of the waterfalls in Ngardmau.”

Unlike scuba-diving which requires certification, zip lining only requires willingness to unleash one’s inner Tarzan and primal scream as he or she gets whisked along a cable, 250 feet from the ground, from one platform to another for a ride that goes from 30 seconds to one minute. The length of each course is between 300 meters and 340 meters and is said to be one of the longest in the world.

For more information about the Palau Eco Theme Park, please call (680) 747-1004.

Palau's most idyllic Live Aboard options

For those looking to fill their “bucket list” with a scuba adventure in one of the world’s most beloved dive destinations, Palau is home to some of the world’s most idyllic Live Aboard options.

The Palau Aggressor II

To begin, the Palau Aggressor II is an 18-passenger, 106-foot aluminum catamaran. Sunday-to-Sunday charters explore world-class diving favorites like Blue Corner, Ulong Channel, Blue Holes, and many more. Charters include a visit to remote Peleliu Island as well. Diving, accommodations, meals, snacks, soft beverages, beer, wine and service from a professional crew are included. The boat may be hired for private charters, film production support and marine research.

Contact/Information: Palau Aggressor IIMalakal, Koror, Koror 96940Telephone: 800-348-2628 / 985-385-2628Email: palau@aggressor.comWebsite: http://www.aggressor.com/

Ocean Hunter I

A family run operation since 1993, Ocean Hunter I is a 60 foot (21 meters) motorsailer Liveaboard, exclusively designed to accommodate only six divers. This exclusive “dreamboat” has been in Palau for eighteen years and just underwent an upgrade, making it feel like a brand new boat. Each of the cabins are now fitted with private A/C units, toilets and showers. The renovation took place in Palau with attention to our previous and repeat guests requests and wishes with the magical touch of the famed Navot Bornovski, the accomplished mechanical engineer and a naval architect. A fixture on this exclusive yacht is the crew, led by Captain Troy Ngiraikelau who has gone on over 8,000 dives in Palau, and Chef Roy with over 9,000 gourmet meals under his belt. Ocean Hunter I has an average of 55% repeat guests, a sum that very few (if at all) liveaboard achieve. Those that charter this liveaboard will enjoy unlimited diving on board, diving from the main boat and being able to get close to the dive sites as well as professional underwater photography services; gourmet health food; rich scientific marine library. For more information contact: info@oceanhunter.com.

Contact/Information: Ocean Hunter I, P.O. Box 964, Koror, Palau 96940Telephone: (680) 488-2637Email: info@oceanhunter.comWebsite: http://www.oceanhunter.com/

Continental Airlines Introduces Discounted Airfares For North American Travelers Interested in Vacationing in Palau

Continental Airlines has just introduced reduced airfares for North Americans interested in visiting Palau, Micronesia, anytime from September 1-December 15, 2011. Roundtrip airfares are as low as $1,305 from Los Angeles or $1,405 from Houston. Other select U.S. airports feature airfares of only $1,505. Additionally, the airline is offering a special add-on rate for stopovers in Yap, for a fee of only $75.

Restrictions apply and airfare is subject to applicable taxes, passenger facility charges and security fees. These special rates require a minimum stay of six days and maximum stay of 30 days. Tickets must be purchased at least seven days prior to departure and no later than August 31, 2011.

For more information and to book these special rates, visit www.continental.com.