Solitude One Liveaboard

Upon boarding Solitude One, a welcome from the rest of our crew awaits you. Orientation and registration will begin once you are welcomed.

Leave Malakal Lagoon Anchorage for Ulong Island. Today is our first day of diving and Solitude One will still be moored in Malakal Bay just off the shore of the main town. As you may or may not have known, this area was the centre of a major battle between the US and Japanese armed forces during WW2. There are many WW2 shipwrecks scattered in close proximity to the most populated town of Koror. You have the possibility of diving both shipwrecks and an aeroplane wreck. There is also a popular and easy cavern dive within a close-by rock island called the Chandelier Cave. This is a beginner cavern dive which consists of 4 separate air chambers in the roof of a very spacious cavern which are visited during the dive. Guests have the opportunity to ascend into these spacious air chambers and view the stalactites that have formed from the ceiling of this limestone cave.

Today you get to experience a very different side of Palau diving, displaying both the history and highlighting the diversity of dive sites within this small island nation. The visibility around this area is normally much less than the clear blue waters that you probably would expect from Palau, but it only adds to the mysteriousness of the experience. In the afternoon we will set sail for the 1-2 hours journey to Ulong Island.

Today we wake up moored just off of the stunning white sand beach of Ulong Island. We have the choice today to dive a very large, full-intact, WW2 shipwreck called the Iro, and the walls, reefs, and current swept corners of the Ulong area. Drifting along the vertical walls gives you the feeling you’re flying while you take in the amazingly healthy coral growth. There are beautiful schools of multicoloured, plankton-eating reef fish surfing the current as you pass by, and when the current is pumping at the corners, there are numerous sharks to keep you company while you’re dangling by your reef hook. The sand in this area is pure white, the water comes in an array of blue colours, most of the time it’s crystal clear, and reef walls drop into the abyss. You are truly in paradise. We’ll stay in this area overnight.

Today we wake up still in front of Ulong Island. We will have another opportunity to dive in this area before moving farther south. As the visibility is normally amazing, it’s easy to get caught up in staring at the wide-angle view of the reefs and walls, but if you pay closer attention to the reef you will find that Palau also has an impressive array of macro life.

During the afternoon we find ourselves riding through the German Channel, which is a very shallow channel that was carved through the reef during the German occupation for more efficient navigation of Palau’s islands. Most of the country is surrounded by a barrier reef, which the approximate southern half of the reef comprises the UNESCO World Heritage site of the RISL (Rock Island Southern Lagoon). The reef is very shallow and this forces larger ships to take the long route along the outside of the barrier reef to reach the southern islands. Luckily our skiffs can pass through the German Channel, making for a much shorter commute to the southern dive sites. The actual German Channel dive site is south of the boat passage, where the southern edge of the channel slopes into the deep, and this is where the Manta Rays come to feed and get cleaned.

As we continue to venture farther south, we come to the southern outer reef where some of the most famous dive sites in Palau await. As we dive during the day, Solitude One will make the long journey via the eastern outer reef around the southern tip of Peleliu to meet us.

We spend the next 2 days diving the current swept walls and corners of Ngemelis island, home of the Blue Corner and Blue Holes, and Peleliu. Clear water, stunning coral gardens, and massive schools of both big and small fish, including an impressive number of sharks await. You’ll have plenty of chances to navigate current and learn how to utilise a reef hook properly. During this day there is the potential for an optional Peleliu island WW2 land tour.

By now you are like a seasoned professional using the reef hook and navigating the currents of Palau. We will have our last dives, say goodbye to the southern reefs of Palau, and slowly make our way back to Malakal Harbour. Return to Malakal Lagoon Anchorage in the late evening.

After a big breakfast, you have optional complimentary tours of Jellyfish Lake & Milky Way by speed boat. After the tour, you will return to Solitude One and prepare for check-out before a late lunch. Disembarkation will be by 17:00.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.