Frequently Asked Questions

• How do we find Eclipse? When can we move onboard?

We will pick you at the airport or your hotel and take you to the boat at Sams Tours.

Guests move aboard Wednesday afternoon so that unpacking, checking gear and discussing objectives and options while relaxing over a couple beers doesnt cut into your six action packed days.

• How rough are the waters typically in Palau?
If we are prone to seasickness will this be a rough trip for us?

Not rough at all. The prevailing winds and waves from November through June are out of the northeast, opposite the side of the islands where all the best diving is found. That is the reason for Palaus "high season". Eclipse does not do dive trips from July through September, only occasionally in October, since that time of year the wind blows from the southwest, onshore at Palaus most celebrated dives, occasionally hard enough to disrupt diving a week at a time.

• Is there a generator on board such that we can use our laptops to download pictures in such?

Yes, we have a generator and can run everything, 12 volts, 110 volts or 220 volts. We also have power inverters so that we can charge batteries and run laptops without the generator running all night. The generator is used principally to power the scuba compressor, which runs quietly below decks.

• Will we have lights so we can read or play games at night?

Yes, there is a bright light over the cockpit table and reading lights over each berth.

• Is it possible to do Jellyfish Lake while touring with Eclipse?

We go there every week.

• With 4 people, can we do as many dives as we want per day? We would probably like to do 4-5 per day.

You are welcome to dive as much as you like. Most guests do four dives aday, five is achieved by some. But the first and last days of the trip involve four hours or more travel time so the number of dives is necessarily less. We do great night dives, too, on Palaus famous walls, something not offered by the dive shops in Koror because of the distance.

• Is Nitrox available?

No

• How bad are the bugs that bite?

Non existent, for the most part, there is no standing water in the Rock Islands or near any dive sites. Mosquitoes are only found where people live, Koror and Peleliu, and we can protect you there in any event.

• Will there be opportunities for stops on land to hike around, relax on a beach or mingle with the locals?

Yes, we are often anchored near uninhabited beaches and islands that you are welcome to visit by kayak, on foot, or snorkeling. But locals are only encountered in towns, like Koror and Peleliu,or on passing boats.

• Can we increase the trip to 7, 8, 9 days or does it have to be 6 or 10 days?

No, intermediate length trips mess up our scheduling. But there is so much to experience aboard Eclipse that ten or twelve day trips are superb.

• What kind of food will we be eating?

Fabulous,a bit spicy, definitely exotic, Charlie is great with fresh caught fish. In addition to her native North China cuisine Charlie does great Mexican, Japanese, Korean and Thai specialties. Vegetarian or low carb cuisine is no problem either, there are lots of fresh local veggies available, just tell us ahead of time. Check out the Guests Comments for their descriptions of the cuisine.


• Will we be freezing the whole time...is it cold or warm at night?

Hey, we are only seven degrees north of the Equator, if not for the ocean it would be too hot to live! Seriously, we have electric fans over each berth to insure comfortable sleeping, and fortunately air conditioning is not necessary aboard Eclipse.

Do bring a light rain jacket or wind breaker, also a long sleeve shirt,big hat, and polarized sunnies, cheap onework fine. Dive booties are adequate for the hike to Jellyfish Lake.

• Is there bottled water and sodas available in addition to beer and rum punch?

Always, ice cold, too.

• We like camping and such, but is this going to be a ton of work? How much work do we have to do on the boat?

No dishes to wash, or floors to sweep, or tanks to fill,that's my job,and Charlie does most of the cooking (I occasionally do breakfast). But with four or five people diving four times a day, it is helpfulifone of you can assist in swapping out tanks between dives.They don't have to be carried anywhere, we fill them right on deck.

• How do we get in and out of the water with dive gear? Is there a small zodiac or some similar smaller boat to take to dive sites and for easier entry/exit?

While we have a large inflatable with outboard along side for safety, we have found it much easier to dive directly from Eclipse.We have a ladder extending wellbelow the surface for easy climbing out.

• Do you have life jackets or a life boat in case the boat gets crushed by some strange Micronesia whale or something?

Yes, plus four kayaks and the above mentioned hard bottomed inflatable.

• Do we need to bring towels?

No, but it is helpful if you hang up towels after use, we have lots of cloths pins.

• Is there somewhere where we could safely lock up luggage that would not be going on the boat with us?

Yes, the rental locker at Sams Tours has secured space for luggage.

• How does the divemaster thing work? Is he/she on the boat with us the whole time and ready to dive whenever?

Charlie is divemaster, too, one of the best in Palau, and loves doing night dives.

• Are there ever opportunities to stop on land during the week to get a good full shower in? Is the shower onboard fresh water?

No, wedive inwilderness areas, 20 to 30 miles from town. Our sun warmed showers are fresh water, always available after dives, and remarkably refreshing. Shampoo is included.

• Did the prices go up? The things I have found online in reports and such had lower prices mentioned.

Yes, our prices are higher for 2008.

An exclusive trip for two on Eclipse costs about the same as two would pay on Palau Aggressor to dive in a group of twenty. For four of you our price is way less than four aboard Palau Aggressor or Ocean Hunter.With Eclipse you will probably never see another diver underwater even at the most celebrated dive sites in Palau. Best of all, you get to choose the dives and activities, every day.