Diving in Palau

"bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164440008.871607.266750@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...

> 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.

Mebbe I should have done that instead. The shore dive wasn't any less
boring after three Red Roosters and it was a real PITA to convince the
broken-Englished shop guy to loan me a tank for a solo dive since they were
supposedly already closing up for the day. He made me drag a flag around as
punishment and I hate dragging a flag. Fortunately they really were closed
when I came back (I accidentally exceeded his half-hour time limit by a
half-hour) and I never got charged the $10 rental fee.

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

We did a week's worth of 2 tank trips and never repeated a site. Lionfish
Wall, Yap Caverns, and Yap Corner immediately come to mind without even
having to consult my log book. Much healthier coral than Palau, at least
when we went (1999). Some very mellow "canyon" drift dives, especially
while chewing a mouthful of betel hand-rolled by Patricia Acker. The
between-dive tea and banana bread, eaten under a light cool rain. I have
some very fond memories of that trip.

> 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.

Twasn't too bad via HK (20 hours), and I liked Cathay Pacific a lot more
than EVA. The flight attendants actually spoke English, which is always a
plus, and Edward Norton was sitting across the aisle from us on the HKG-DPS
leg.

"bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164440008.871607.266750@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...

> 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.

Mebbe I should have done that instead. The shore dive wasn't any less
boring after three Red Roosters and it was a real PITA to convince the
broken-Englished shop guy to loan me a tank for a solo dive since they were
supposedly already closing up for the day. He made me drag a flag around as
punishment and I hate dragging a flag. Fortunately they really were closed
when I came back (I accidentally exceeded his half-hour time limit by a
half-hour) and I never got charged the $10 rental fee.

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

We did a week's worth of 2 tank trips and never repeated a site. Lionfish
Wall, Yap Caverns, and Yap Corner immediately come to mind without even
having to consult my log book. Much healthier coral than Palau, at least
when we went (1999). Some very mellow "canyon" drift dives, especially
while chewing a mouthful of betel hand-rolled by Patricia Acker. The
between-dive tea and banana bread, eaten under a light cool rain. I have
some very fond memories of that trip.

> 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.

Twasn't too bad via HK (20 hours), and I liked Cathay Pacific a lot more
than EVA. The flight attendants actually spoke English, which is always a
plus, and Edward Norton was sitting across the aisle from us on the HKG-DPS
leg.

"bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164440008.871607.266750@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...

> 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.

Mebbe I should have done that instead. The shore dive wasn't any less
boring after three Red Roosters and it was a real PITA to convince the
broken-Englished shop guy to loan me a tank for a solo dive since they were
supposedly already closing up for the day. He made me drag a flag around as
punishment and I hate dragging a flag. Fortunately they really were closed
when I came back (I accidentally exceeded his half-hour time limit by a
half-hour) and I never got charged the $10 rental fee.

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

We did a week's worth of 2 tank trips and never repeated a site. Lionfish
Wall, Yap Caverns, and Yap Corner immediately come to mind without even
having to consult my log book. Much healthier coral than Palau, at least
when we went (1999). Some very mellow "canyon" drift dives, especially
while chewing a mouthful of betel hand-rolled by Patricia Acker. The
between-dive tea and banana bread, eaten under a light cool rain. I have
some very fond memories of that trip.

> 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.

Twasn't too bad via HK (20 hours), and I liked Cathay Pacific a lot more
than EVA. The flight attendants actually spoke English, which is always a
plus, and Edward Norton was sitting across the aisle from us on the HKG-DPS
leg.

"bullshark" <bullshark@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164440008.871607.266750@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...

> 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.

Mebbe I should have done that instead. The shore dive wasn't any less
boring after three Red Roosters and it was a real PITA to convince the
broken-Englished shop guy to loan me a tank for a solo dive since they were
supposedly already closing up for the day. He made me drag a flag around as
punishment and I hate dragging a flag. Fortunately they really were closed
when I came back (I accidentally exceeded his half-hour time limit by a
half-hour) and I never got charged the $10 rental fee.

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

We did a week's worth of 2 tank trips and never repeated a site. Lionfish
Wall, Yap Caverns, and Yap Corner immediately come to mind without even
having to consult my log book. Much healthier coral than Palau, at least
when we went (1999). Some very mellow "canyon" drift dives, especially
while chewing a mouthful of betel hand-rolled by Patricia Acker. The
between-dive tea and banana bread, eaten under a light cool rain. I have
some very fond memories of that trip.

> 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.

Twasn't too bad via HK (20 hours), and I liked Cathay Pacific a lot more
than EVA. The flight attendants actually spoke English, which is always a
plus, and Edward Norton was sitting across the aisle from us on the HKG-DPS
leg.

Reef Fish wrote:

You missed the giant clams?

Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue? I recall the giant claims on my
trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

>
> >
> > >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.

Reef Fish wrote:

You missed the giant clams?

Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue? I recall the giant claims on my
trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

>
> >
> > >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.

Reef Fish wrote:

You missed the giant clams?

Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue? I recall the giant claims on my
trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

>
> >
> > >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.

Reef Fish wrote:

You missed the giant clams?

Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue? I recall the giant claims on my
trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

>
> >
> > >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.

Daniel Kessler wrote:
> Reef Fish wrote:
>
> You missed the giant clams?
>
> Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue?

I would say so, and completely disoriented about THIS thread.

That was my question to bullshark:

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.

RF> You were complaining about your boat dive. I was comparing it
with
RF> the FREEBIE, your description below notwithstanding. You missed
RF> the giant clams?

Even if you (Daniel Kessler) is revealing that you ARE bullshark, I
was referring to bullshark's current Palau trip, and why should I care
or recall that Daniel Kessler had seen the clams I saw at PPR?


> I recall the giant claims on my
> trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
> subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
> since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

Yes, you are completely OUT OF DATE too. I was at the PPR doing
the shore dive at the 1997 Christmas about which I had posted

RF> On TWO different occasions in my recent Palau/Yap trip I wished I
had
RF> my fins with standard booties: (1) shore diving at the PPR hotel
-- my
RF> feet were too tender to negotiate the 10-20 ft of entry with what
appeared
RF> to be razor-sharp shells/coral,

I dived Palau at least twice after 1997, each time staying at the PPR,
but
I didn't post about my shore dives there on those later occasions.
This was posted in 1999:

Greg Gulik> I can't say enough good things about diving in Palau
Greg Gulik> as well as the Sun Dancer II crew.

RF> I agree. Did it again in 1999.

In 2001, I posted this:

Matt Ando > Has anyone here ever stayed at the Palau Pacific Resort?

RF > I am sure lots of readers on this ng have. I've stayed there in
1997,
RF > 1999, and will stay there next month.

So. Daniel, I've been at the PPR three times since 1997, and you were
there LAST time in the mid-1980s? Old Man, you must be getting very
senile to have made your statement in response to what I said to
bullshark in 2006!

-- Reef Fish Bob.

> > > >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.

Daniel Kessler wrote:
> Reef Fish wrote:
>
> You missed the giant clams?
>
> Did I miss something this interchange of dialogue?

I would say so, and completely disoriented about THIS thread.

That was my question to bullshark:

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.

RF> You were complaining about your boat dive. I was comparing it
with
RF> the FREEBIE, your description below notwithstanding. You missed
RF> the giant clams?

Even if you (Daniel Kessler) is revealing that you ARE bullshark, I
was referring to bullshark's current Palau trip, and why should I care
or recall that Daniel Kessler had seen the clams I saw at PPR?


> I recall the giant claims on my
> trip to Palau some years ago in the mid-80's, but didn't I learn that they were
> subsequently stolen by Taiwanese fishermen. If true, that would have been a tragedy,
> since their mantels (?) were of many extraordinary vivid colors.

Yes, you are completely OUT OF DATE too. I was at the PPR doing
the shore dive at the 1997 Christmas about which I had posted

RF> On TWO different occasions in my recent Palau/Yap trip I wished I
had
RF> my fins with standard booties: (1) shore diving at the PPR hotel
-- my
RF> feet were too tender to negotiate the 10-20 ft of entry with what
appeared
RF> to be razor-sharp shells/coral,

I dived Palau at least twice after 1997, each time staying at the PPR,
but
I didn't post about my shore dives there on those later occasions.
This was posted in 1999:

Greg Gulik> I can't say enough good things about diving in Palau
Greg Gulik> as well as the Sun Dancer II crew.

RF> I agree. Did it again in 1999.

In 2001, I posted this:

Matt Ando > Has anyone here ever stayed at the Palau Pacific Resort?

RF > I am sure lots of readers on this ng have. I've stayed there in
1997,
RF > 1999, and will stay there next month.

So. Daniel, I've been at the PPR three times since 1997, and you were
there LAST time in the mid-1980s? Old Man, you must be getting very
senile to have made your statement in response to what I said to
bullshark in 2006!

-- Reef Fish Bob.

> > > >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.