Diving in Palau

Reef Fish wrote:
> bullshark wrote:
> I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.

> I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.

No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
Resort". Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
staying?

http://www.mantaray.com/


>That was where I stayed on
> one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> gliding over the same rock.

That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
have to plan for it.

> Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)

No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
everyone is you, bob.

>Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
Coming East is always bad.

> The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> It's passenger capacity is over 800.

Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
of Business before they deliver it.

bullshark

Reef Fish wrote:
> bullshark wrote:
> I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.

> I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.

No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
Resort". Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
staying?

http://www.mantaray.com/


>That was where I stayed on
> one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> gliding over the same rock.

That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
have to plan for it.

> Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)

No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
everyone is you, bob.

>Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
Coming East is always bad.

> The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> It's passenger capacity is over 800.

Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
of Business before they deliver it.

bullshark

Reef Fish wrote:
> bullshark wrote:
> I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.

> I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.

No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
Resort". Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
staying?

http://www.mantaray.com/


>That was where I stayed on
> one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> gliding over the same rock.

That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
have to plan for it.

> Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)

No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
everyone is you, bob.

>Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
Coming East is always bad.

> The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> It's passenger capacity is over 800.

Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
of Business before they deliver it.

bullshark

Reef Fish wrote:
> bullshark wrote:
> I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.

> I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.

No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
Resort". Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
staying?

http://www.mantaray.com/


>That was where I stayed on
> one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> gliding over the same rock.

That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
have to plan for it.

> Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)

No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
everyone is you, bob.

>Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
Coming East is always bad.

> The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> It's passenger capacity is over 800.

Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
of Business before they deliver it.

bullshark

On 24 Nov 2006 22:56:43 -0800, "bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>mag3 wrote:

>> I'll be using Sam's Tours. They pick you up right on the PPR beach so that
>> should work out. Hopefully, they'll do better.
>
>Another couple dove with them and seemed happy with them.

Excellent. I spoke to their sales rep directly by VOIP recently and she seemed quite nice. Looking forward to
it.

>
>> How crowded at this time of year? What's the weather like (ie. how much percip.)?
>
>The resort was full. Weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy and dead flat
>seas.
>Water temp was 84-86F.

UGGGGHHHH!!! Now you have me drooling

>We went FLL-IAH-HNL-GUM, 3+8.5+7.5+2=21 hrs in the air+ a couple more
>on the ground.


FLL? Are you based near there? I ask because I'll be in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a week in
mid-January. Perhaps we could hook up for a dive or two with Lee Bell and the others.

mag3 said earlier:
>> What route did you take? I'm going CO 99 EWR-->HKG, and then CS HKG-->GUM and then
>> GUM-->ROR and back. And how long is the trip in total? I'll be going for roughly 1/2 a month
>> door to door.

>CO was late, late, late all the way.
>We walked off one plane and on to the other as they closed the doors.
>Amazingly, four out of four checked bags made it too. I was impressed.

I've learned to ensure I have plenty of time between multiple hops whenever possible. That's why I take some
of the crazy routes I do. I my case, I'll be overnighting in HKG, and then the HKG-->GUM arrives very early in
the morning so I'll have a 13hr layover in GUM before GUM--->ROR. Similar situation returning from ROR - two
12hr~ layovers both in GUM and HKG. I'm going to have to negotiate carefully with the Check in Agents because
I think there's a rule that says if your layover is more than 13 hours, they can't check you straight through.
I'm hoping to get checked straight through HKG--->GUM-->ROR outbound, and then completely straight through
home from ROR-->EWR.

We'll see.



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold


Visit my Travel Photo Website: http://www.mag3.biz/travel_photos/home_page.html

Absolutely 100% SPAM free!!!! HONEST!!!

On 24 Nov 2006 22:56:43 -0800, "bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>mag3 wrote:

>> I'll be using Sam's Tours. They pick you up right on the PPR beach so that
>> should work out. Hopefully, they'll do better.
>
>Another couple dove with them and seemed happy with them.

Excellent. I spoke to their sales rep directly by VOIP recently and she seemed quite nice. Looking forward to
it.

>
>> How crowded at this time of year? What's the weather like (ie. how much percip.)?
>
>The resort was full. Weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy and dead flat
>seas.
>Water temp was 84-86F.

UGGGGHHHH!!! Now you have me drooling

>We went FLL-IAH-HNL-GUM, 3+8.5+7.5+2=21 hrs in the air+ a couple more
>on the ground.


FLL? Are you based near there? I ask because I'll be in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a week in
mid-January. Perhaps we could hook up for a dive or two with Lee Bell and the others.

mag3 said earlier:
>> What route did you take? I'm going CO 99 EWR-->HKG, and then CS HKG-->GUM and then
>> GUM-->ROR and back. And how long is the trip in total? I'll be going for roughly 1/2 a month
>> door to door.

>CO was late, late, late all the way.
>We walked off one plane and on to the other as they closed the doors.
>Amazingly, four out of four checked bags made it too. I was impressed.

I've learned to ensure I have plenty of time between multiple hops whenever possible. That's why I take some
of the crazy routes I do. I my case, I'll be overnighting in HKG, and then the HKG-->GUM arrives very early in
the morning so I'll have a 13hr layover in GUM before GUM--->ROR. Similar situation returning from ROR - two
12hr~ layovers both in GUM and HKG. I'm going to have to negotiate carefully with the Check in Agents because
I think there's a rule that says if your layover is more than 13 hours, they can't check you straight through.
I'm hoping to get checked straight through HKG--->GUM-->ROR outbound, and then completely straight through
home from ROR-->EWR.

We'll see.



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold


Visit my Travel Photo Website: http://www.mag3.biz/travel_photos/home_page.html

Absolutely 100% SPAM free!!!! HONEST!!!

On 24 Nov 2006 22:56:43 -0800, "bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>mag3 wrote:

>> I'll be using Sam's Tours. They pick you up right on the PPR beach so that
>> should work out. Hopefully, they'll do better.
>
>Another couple dove with them and seemed happy with them.

Excellent. I spoke to their sales rep directly by VOIP recently and she seemed quite nice. Looking forward to
it.

>
>> How crowded at this time of year? What's the weather like (ie. how much percip.)?
>
>The resort was full. Weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy and dead flat
>seas.
>Water temp was 84-86F.

UGGGGHHHH!!! Now you have me drooling

>We went FLL-IAH-HNL-GUM, 3+8.5+7.5+2=21 hrs in the air+ a couple more
>on the ground.


FLL? Are you based near there? I ask because I'll be in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a week in
mid-January. Perhaps we could hook up for a dive or two with Lee Bell and the others.

mag3 said earlier:
>> What route did you take? I'm going CO 99 EWR-->HKG, and then CS HKG-->GUM and then
>> GUM-->ROR and back. And how long is the trip in total? I'll be going for roughly 1/2 a month
>> door to door.

>CO was late, late, late all the way.
>We walked off one plane and on to the other as they closed the doors.
>Amazingly, four out of four checked bags made it too. I was impressed.

I've learned to ensure I have plenty of time between multiple hops whenever possible. That's why I take some
of the crazy routes I do. I my case, I'll be overnighting in HKG, and then the HKG-->GUM arrives very early in
the morning so I'll have a 13hr layover in GUM before GUM--->ROR. Similar situation returning from ROR - two
12hr~ layovers both in GUM and HKG. I'm going to have to negotiate carefully with the Check in Agents because
I think there's a rule that says if your layover is more than 13 hours, they can't check you straight through.
I'm hoping to get checked straight through HKG--->GUM-->ROR outbound, and then completely straight through
home from ROR-->EWR.

We'll see.



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold


Visit my Travel Photo Website: http://www.mag3.biz/travel_photos/home_page.html

Absolutely 100% SPAM free!!!! HONEST!!!

On 24 Nov 2006 22:56:43 -0800, "bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>mag3 wrote:

>> I'll be using Sam's Tours. They pick you up right on the PPR beach so that
>> should work out. Hopefully, they'll do better.
>
>Another couple dove with them and seemed happy with them.

Excellent. I spoke to their sales rep directly by VOIP recently and she seemed quite nice. Looking forward to
it.

>
>> How crowded at this time of year? What's the weather like (ie. how much percip.)?
>
>The resort was full. Weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy and dead flat
>seas.
>Water temp was 84-86F.

UGGGGHHHH!!! Now you have me drooling

>We went FLL-IAH-HNL-GUM, 3+8.5+7.5+2=21 hrs in the air+ a couple more
>on the ground.


FLL? Are you based near there? I ask because I'll be in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a week in
mid-January. Perhaps we could hook up for a dive or two with Lee Bell and the others.

mag3 said earlier:
>> What route did you take? I'm going CO 99 EWR-->HKG, and then CS HKG-->GUM and then
>> GUM-->ROR and back. And how long is the trip in total? I'll be going for roughly 1/2 a month
>> door to door.

>CO was late, late, late all the way.
>We walked off one plane and on to the other as they closed the doors.
>Amazingly, four out of four checked bags made it too. I was impressed.

I've learned to ensure I have plenty of time between multiple hops whenever possible. That's why I take some
of the crazy routes I do. I my case, I'll be overnighting in HKG, and then the HKG-->GUM arrives very early in
the morning so I'll have a 13hr layover in GUM before GUM--->ROR. Similar situation returning from ROR - two
12hr~ layovers both in GUM and HKG. I'm going to have to negotiate carefully with the Check in Agents because
I think there's a rule that says if your layover is more than 13 hours, they can't check you straight through.
I'm hoping to get checked straight through HKG--->GUM-->ROR outbound, and then completely straight through
home from ROR-->EWR.

We'll see.



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold


Visit my Travel Photo Website: http://www.mag3.biz/travel_photos/home_page.html

Absolutely 100% SPAM free!!!! HONEST!!!

bullshark wrote:
> Reef Fish wrote:
> > bullshark wrote:
> > I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> > liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> > to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> > some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

You were complaining about your boat dive. I was comparing it with
the FREEBIE, your description below notwithstanding. You missed
the giant clams?
>
> Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
> butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
> it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
> other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
> rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.
>
> > I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.
>
> No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
> Resort".

No, BS!

BS> staying at the MantaRay Bay.

You may be staying at the Manta Ray Bay beach, but I stayed at
the Manta Ray (bay) Resort. That was my correction of your
misname of the Resort.


> Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
> world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
> staying?

Apparently bullshark didn't.
>
>
> >That was where I stayed on
> > one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> > there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> > Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> > took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> > gliding over the same rock.
>
> That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
> have to plan for it.

You didn't know what was offered or what wasn't when *I* was there,
did you?

>
> > Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)
>
> No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
> everyone is you, bob.

That's true for sure. I showed how you took at least 2,000
more miles flying to HKG first. I just came back from there!

>
> >Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

I said that.
>
> Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

Why not? Direct flight to SIN, and a connecting flight to DPS.
>
> LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
> Coming East is always bad.

That was why I said YOUR flight EWR-HKG was a bad way to go.
>
> > The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> > in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> > It's passenger capacity is over 800.
>
> Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
> another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
> budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
> and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
> of Business before they deliver it.
>
> bullshark

Yes, it was my typo for A380.

So, you got me on a typo and an omission of "bay" in Manta Ray Bay
Resort,
while you didn't even remember that you called it "Manta Ray Bay"
WITHOUT
the "Resort". You were wrong on all other accounts.

Not bad for someone who seldom travel anywhere though, bullshark.

-- Reef Fish Bob.

bullshark wrote:
> Reef Fish wrote:
> > bullshark wrote:
> > I did a shore dive at PPR because I had much better dives on the
> > liveaboard ahead. It was surprisingly GOOD! Visibility wasn't much
> > to crow about, but I saw some giant clams (a foot or two in size), and
> > some colorful Pacific Reef Fishes on that shore dive.

You were complaining about your boat dive. I was comparing it with
the FREEBIE, your description below notwithstanding. You missed
the giant clams?
>
> Did a couple of those too. The coral is very sad. There are a few
> butterflies and angels, but its hardly worth the trouble. Free diving
> it is much better, since you can get access to the shallows on the
> other side of the dock where we saw pipe horses (many) and a couple of
> rare blennies as well as all the fish we saw on the shore dive.
>
> > I think that's called the Manta Ray Resort.
>
> No, bob, it's not. It's called just what I called it. "Manta Ray Bay
> Resort".

No, BS!

BS> staying at the MantaRay Bay.

You may be staying at the Manta Ray Bay beach, but I stayed at
the Manta Ray (bay) Resort. That was my correction of your
misname of the Resort.


> Do you really think that someone who travels all over the
> world diving doesn't know where they are going, or where they are
> staying?

Apparently bullshark didn't.
>
>
> >That was where I stayed on
> > one of my trips because the flight schedule allowed only a 3 night stay
> > there -- but I was sorely disappointed and was SICK of seeing the
> > Mantas because for FIVE consecutive dives (in three days) the Manta Ray shop
> > took the group back to the SAME spot to watch the same Mantas
> > gliding over the same rock.
>
> That's *your* failure, not theirs. Other dives are offered, you just
> have to plan for it.

You didn't know what was offered or what wasn't when *I* was there,
did you?

>
> > Flight to Palau is a piece of cake on CO (Air Mike)
>
> No it's not. Its a piece of shit. You might like like it, but not
> everyone is you, bob.

That's true for sure. I showed how you took at least 2,000
more miles flying to HKG first. I just came back from there!

>
> >Flying to Bali (or back) on CO is pure hell.

I said that.
>
> Going to Bali by Singapore is not the best choice.

Why not? Direct flight to SIN, and a connecting flight to DPS.
>
> LAX-TPE-DPS - 19 hours total air time - two planes.
> Coming East is always bad.

That was why I said YOUR flight EWR-HKG was a bad way to go.
>
> > The next generation of flying -- the Airbus 780 had its debut landing
> > in Kowloon (Hong Kong) yesterday on its test flight (with the crew of 78).
> > It's passenger capacity is over 800.
>
> Do you mean the A380? Or are those bankrupt jerks trying to design
> another behemoth that nobody wants? They are behind schedule, over
> budget, overweight and airlines are cancelling orders for the 380 right
> and left. If they ahve another one in the works they eill likely be Out
> of Business before they deliver it.
>
> bullshark

Yes, it was my typo for A380.

So, you got me on a typo and an omission of "bay" in Manta Ray Bay
Resort,
while you didn't even remember that you called it "Manta Ray Bay"
WITHOUT
the "Resort". You were wrong on all other accounts.

Not bad for someone who seldom travel anywhere though, bullshark.

-- Reef Fish Bob.