Liveaboard Palau Aggressor
Fisherman pier and there is skiff waiting with the Aggressor staff in their white shirts and blue shorts, waiting for three of us and our luggage to transport us to the big boat. So few people already on the skiff, when we boarded and the introduction started. Large as life itself David a Israel guy with bubbly personality, Matt and Michelle smiling couple from US, then me, Dave ‘Canadian dude’ and Billy Indonesian dude. Skiff started and with engines roaring behind me, we left the pier and headed to boat where we parked at lift which lifted the whole skiff upwards. What a luxury, not even need to use stairs 😊 off the skiff and luggage was transferred by staff to the main boat ‘poor one who lifted my “little” suitcase’.
The good thing was that I’ve got the whole berth ‘cabin’ to myself as I was the only one stupid enough to pay full price for this trip as everyone else got a 50% discount since this boat was not sold out. Well what can I do, I booked and paid for everything in advance as part of planning. Lesson learned and next time the planning will be reactive in short time period before the trip as the cost could be cheaper on last minute.
We are all aboard and it is time for the introduction dinner after short speech at dive deck, from the crew member. Dinner was delicious and I was surprised by it as this was my third liveaboard in short time and so far the food was yummy compared to previous ones. After dinner we got a brief orientation from the activity director and also introduction to staff members. What a international group we were, Canada, USA, Indonesia, Korea, Slovak, Israel, Germany. After brief chat everyone headed to berth to catch up on sleep as most of the people flown directly based on the 50% sale from aggressor. One movie later I was gone too.
Moring came and the early waking up as at Belize was not happening as I woke up around 4am and then fall asleep again, waking up only on food alarm. Food alarm is the alarm consisting of little bell ringing by staff member what mean that food is served soon. What a pavlova reflex we were trained to 😊 Jeysus thank God I’m not teacher or hotel staff as upon hearing the bell I would start salivating. Food is great and I can just compliment chef Meno for his culinary skills as this is the best liveaboard food so far.
Well the gluttony is over and now time to dive into the warm waters of Palau and see some shit. Not literally as that would be classified as commercial diving ‘diving in septic tanks’ and so far I’m only recreational diver. All equipment is on the board of the skiff and we are ready to receive briefing. Lets’ go diving and briefing is done. No it is not that short but for the purpose of this blog there is no reason to go into details. Pay the full price of liveaboard and you will receive the full briefing your selves.
Everyone is ready in the black condom, from the head to the toes as black is the new diving color. Only me and staff in shorts, since we are going to dive in the cup of tea, at least the temperature of ocean reminds me a cup of tea. First stage attached, mask on, fins on and back roll of the skiff into the cuppa. Woo hoo in the water again, yep yep hooray sea creatures and critters here I come. Buddy is Dave the Canadian dude from the hotel who has this huge camera apparatus with lights that we are looking like Jack Cousteau. Since the guides knew the areas we all follow them but with the individual pace as some are hanging on the guide as Soon-yo ‘Hope this is correct spelling’. She reminds me remora stuck on the sharks as she is hanging off the dive guide with her right hand constantly on regulator. Some others, like me and my buddy are at the very back so far back that we don’t even see bubbles from the rest of the group.
Describe all the diving in Palau here would take a lot of letters, so will not going to it. However I have to mention that this is the first liveaboard where I receive Iron Diver medal for completing all the dives available. I have completed all the dives as the underwater world was absofuckinglutely amazing. It was shame to miss a dive, even a night dive ‘which I’m not biggest fan’ but it was so amazing that I become fan of it. So spectacular creatures and critters down there, as well as corals to be seen, it is hard to be believed that we are on earth. I’m convinced that some of the directors or movie producer or whoever have input on movies must be diver since some things seen down there reminds me of sci-fi movies I saw. AS my underwater housing flooded on previous dives I was lucky to be just hoovering and looking, while Dave took photos. This way we slowed down to minimum speed, drift and I become pointer and Dave shooter.
Drift dive is the best so far for me, as I have to do nothing just hoover there and let the water take care of movement. We drifted to the place along the wall then hook on top of the reef and turn on the Blue Planet live. Hoovering in one place and looking at all those animals, you feel like you are in aquarium. Amazing, truly amazing sight of all the fishes swimming around. I did not experience safari yet, but I assume that it is something similar.
Every day between meals we were looking at the photos of the photographers and talked about what we saw as well as about life in general. There was no jacuzzi on this liveaboard but there were hammocks and I was already called hammock guy as I was always in one of them swinging and relaxing. When you have such view as the Palau you enjoy the hammock more and more with every day, soaking up the tranquility of the place. Chatting to everyone who did not nap at the time was nice past time. Minho flown drone up and around the boat one day and we had to stop the boat as he cannot land drone on moving boat. At least that what I was told at dinner, sitting at my place as apparently I was the only one who sat at the same place whole week.
The week was great and diving excellent, now is time to leave and move on as every good thing comes to end and as we took the final group photo, we laughed. A4 sheet of paper laying on the bar was getting filled with email addresses and social media contacts so we can swap the details and keep in touch. We did have few drinks at the last dinner on the land as we all sat at huge wooden table, made from solid planks ten centimeters thick. Everyone after week pulled out the phones and after hooking up on wi-fi conversation died down as thumbs and fingers start sliding and swiping. What a bless, week without signal and wi-fi.
So now the leaving cocktail party, watching the photos and video of the week, before we leave the boat next morning for good and depart to our homes. Since we were already oiled from dinner, we just topped up at the dining room with beer and wine and watch the photos. I believe that mostly everyone purchased the video as it was good and again after three liveaboard this was the best video of them all.
Exchanged numbers with Cameron who was the friendly guy from the staff, not that others were not but we had understanding and clicked as mates. Meno the chef also changed numbers since he was offering to help me introduce me to Dermot from the Sam’s since he was working for them in past. Also he said he knows people from property management who have quite lot of apartments so he will introduce me to them too.
Morning is here and luggage in the corridor, last breakfast and we are on the move to the skiff and to the land. This time only two amigos walking towards the hotel through hole in the fence as Billy moved to downtown. As we entered hotel lobby, bus pulled in outside and Kim and Bill arrived too 😊 One night and flying out of this paradise for short break until come back for IDC at Sam’s.
