SY Palau Siren

Overview

Launched in 2012, the 40m S/Y Palau Siren offers spacious accommodation for 16 guests. A Phinisi yacht that shares the same specification with its sister yachts, S/Y Indo Siren and S/Y Fiji Siren, the S/Y Palau Siren is a true divers' vessel.

Eight large, well-appointed cabins offer twin or double accommodation and two are inter-changeable. All cabins are air-conditioned and beautifully finished with additional fan, en-suite bathroom with hot water shower, TV and personal entertainment system, safe, and the additional home comforts of bathrobes, towels and hairdryer.

The indoor air-conditioned lounge offers comfortable sofas, large flat screen TV, cocktail bar and personal storage drawers. The dining area is outdoors under a covered area which allows for beautiful ocean views. A spacious dive deck has individual set-up stations and a shaded rest area. Photographers and videographers will enjoy the large freshwater rinse tanks and dedicated set-up and charging areas for their equipment. An upper-level unshaded sun deck allows plenty of space to relax in the sunshine between dives.

This vessel also offers use of kayaks, as well as a laundry service, yacht boutique, massage service, plus free nitrox and basic equipment hire.

Specification

Built: 2012, Length: 40 metres, Beam: 9.7m, Draft: 3.0m, Construction: Wood, Speed: 10 knots, Engines: Marinized Nissan RH-10 and Mitsubishi 6D-22, Generators: 3 x Yanmar, Water Storage: 16 tonnes, Compressors: 2 x MCH 13, plus two tenders.

Navigation / Safety

GPS, Radar, VHF radio, Sonar & Satellite phone, Life Rafts, Life Jackets and Rings, Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors, Emergency Oxygen and First Aid Equipment.

Please note: Use of a dive computer is obligatory.

S/Y Palau Siren is a Rebreather Friendly vessel. If you are intending to dive with a Rebreather please ensure that you contact us in advance so we can discuss your requirements.

 

Schedules & prices

Dive info

Palau is an archipelago of more than 586 islands and about 20,000 inhabitants, located in the western Pacific Ocean and sharing maritime boundaries with Indonesia and the Philippines. Palau is part of the Micronesian Island chain and is located just north of the Equator. This gives Palau some of the most favourable tropical weather on earth with moderate temperatures and soft ocean breezes all year round.

Consistently ranked as one of the world's most spectacular dive destinations, Palau is the ultimate paradise for the adventurous traveller.  It boasts amazing underwater features such as vertical drop-offs, hidden caves, tunnels and wartime wrecks as well as the world famous Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake (currently closed - please check with Regaldive).

Beneath the surface, Palau is home to an astonishing spectrum of marine life, with more than 1,400 species of fish, 500 species of corals, and seven out of nine species of giant clams. Palau is famed for its pelagic action. As Palau waters have been protected since 2009, sharks are frequent visitors to these waters. There are also a number of Manta Ray cleaning stations, including the famous German Channel, and even whale sharks can sometimes be spotted around the outer reefs. There are plenty of smaller and more unusual critters to be found, including the elusive nautilus, frogfish, mandarin fish, pipefish and an array of nudibranchs.

Strong currents should be expected and the use of reef hooks is common place when diving in Palau. The area offers such an incredibly diverse range of diving experiences that there will almost certainly be something to thrill everyone from relative newcomers to even the most experienced and well-travelled divers.

Flight Information

The majority of visitors to Palau arrive on United Airlines, on a daily flight from Guam. Alternatively, it is possible to reach Palau directly from Manila twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. From the UK Guam can be reached by flying either West via the United States or East via a number of hubs including Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. Depending upon the routing, overnight stops may be necessary.

Departure Tax

A departure tax of $20 and a $30 “Green Fee” is required for each person departing Palau. The “Green Fee” is used to fund Palau’s Protected Area Network’s for conservation purposes. The $50 is required to be paid in cash prior to exiting the ticketing area. These fees are due to be replaced by the Environmental Impact Fee which will cost $100.

Please note: The U.S dollar is used throughout Palau. Credit cards are widely accepted. Banking facilities in Koror are limited therefore it is recommended that you obtain US dollars prior to your arrival in Palau.

Passports & Visas

All non-US citizens opting to travel via Guam will need to obtain a US visa or Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers without the required visa or ESTA may be denied flight boarding. Citizens of 37 countries, including most European nations, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are eligible for the ESTA and can apply for these online. There is a charge of $14 and the issued authorisation is valid for 2 years and allows for multiple entries into US territories within that period.

Upon arrival, UK citizens are granted a 30 day tourist visa. There is no charge for this visa.

All visitors to Palau are required to be in possession of a current passport and a return airline ticket. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry into Palau.

Vaccinations & Health Information

There is no malaria risk in Palau, however protection against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid are always strongly recommended. We suggest drinking bottled water only. The hospital on Palau is the Belau National Hospital, which has a modern hyperbaric chamber.

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure with your local GP or travel clinic. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

Itineraries

S/Y Palau Siren offers a choice of 7 or 10 night itineraries encompassing the dive highlights of one of the world's top dive destinations. A 6 night itinerary is also available that combines with a 6 night itinerary aboard S/Y Philippine Siren for the once in a lifetime trip of the Philippines and Palau Combo.

Sample Itineraries

Palau Islands 7 nights
Palau Islands 10 nights
Philippines and Palau Combo

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