OCEAN HUNTER III

(1 customer review)

29m / 96ft MAX 16 NITROX PADI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 350

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE SPECIAL OFFERS APPLY

At a glance:

Cruises the Palau islands
All cabins with private bathrooms
Sun deck with Jacuzzi
Trimix and rebreather support
Cameras: 3 tables, computers for editing
Steel hulled boat

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Ocean Hunter III is a long-established, steel-hulled Palau liveaboard operating 7 and 10 night cruises around the islands of Palau, which include a night dive every night. Ideal for photographers, technical scuba divers and pure pleasure-seekers alike, this well-equipped liveaboard is a popular choice.

Up to 16 divers can be accommodated in 9 ensuite cabins on this 29m motor vessel. The main deck is where the principal relaxation zones are. There is an air-conditioned restaurant and lounge area where you can enjoy the TV, DVD and music system while sipping a coffee from the espresso machine. If you prefer to spend your time in the fresh air, you can relax on the sun deck either in the shade or under the sun or even while soaking in the Jacuzzi.

The facilities on board are what makes the Ocean Hunter III liveaboard stand out from the crowd. In addition to nitrox there is also trimix and rebreather support. There is a large working area for photographers with various electrical outlets and extra storage space. There is also an enclosed lab for film production, 3 camera tables on the dive deck and powerful computers for editing and CD burning.

Added quality comes from the long-established crew of the Ocean Hunter III who have a reputation for a high level of personal service and safety. The dive guides know the sites very well and insist on all divers using a safety sausage. They also allow you the freedom to enjoy your bottom time for as long as you wish. Ocean Hunter III is that rare type of boat, suitable for everyone from beginners to hardcore photographers, indeed for anyone seeking an unforgettable Palau liveaboard experience.

There are 9 cabins on board this liveaboard. There are 2 Master double/twin bed cabins and 1 Deluxe double/twin bed cabin on the upper deck. The lower deck has 3 Deluxe double/twin bed cabins and 2 smaller Standard twin/double bed cabins. All cabins have private en-suite bathrooms with hot water shower.

The spacious Master cabins have large windows for natural light and a sofa, desk and chair.

All the cabins have:

Air conditioning
Desk and chair)
Windows (main deck cabins), portholes (lower deck cabins)
Bathroom with toilet, hot water shower and hand basin
Bedding
Reading lights
Towels, toiletries and bathrobes

Cabinet
Hair dryer
Life jackets
Fire extinguisher
Mains outlet 110, 220 & 415 volts - 24 hours
USA 2 or 3 pin sockets

No. of bathrooms / showers - 8 / 8

Palau Islands

Trip highlights: shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: From Palau: German Channel, Big Drop Off, New Drop Off, Blue Holes, German wall, Barnum wall, Blue Corner, Virgin Blue Hole, Turtle Cove, Ngedebus Coral Gardens, Ngedebus Wall, Fairyland; Peleliu: Peleliu Wall, Peleliu Corner, Peleliu Coral Garden, Orange Wall, Peleliu Expressway, White Beach, Yellow Wall, Peleliu Cut; Ngerechong Island, Jellyfish Lake (snorkelling and hiking), Ulong Channel, Siaes Tunnel, Siaes Corner, Shark City, Iro or Chuyo Maru shipwrecks, Jake Seaplane and Chandelier Cave

Day 1
You will be picked up from your Palau hotel at around 12:30 hrs. The 29m steel-hulled liveaboard MV Ocean Hunter III is only 20 minutes away. Have lunch on board, listen to the boat and dive briefings, get your dive gear ready and by 13:00 hrs you are already in the sea diving around a WWII Japanese shipwreck! The 2nd dive at 16:30 hrs will be at German Channel with high chances to encounter mantas. Dinner will be either before or after the night dive, depending on the guests' preference.

Core Days
Wake up at 06:30 hrs with the smell of hot coffee, tea, and sweet rolls and cakes. A great day of diving is about to begin: 4 or 5 dives, depending on whether or not you wish to do so many. Expect to see grey reef, blacktip reef and whitetip reef sharks on almost every dive! Even bull sharks, leopard sharks and hammerheads have been seen in these waters. You will soon lose track of how many turtles and which kind you have encountered: hawksbill, green, leatherback are the most common. Bumphead parrotfish and huge Napoleon wrasse are also highlights of the amazing diving around Palau, while colored mandarinfish will entertain you during unforgettable sunset dives.
All the enjoyable diving will make you hungry! A full breakfast is served during the surface interval between the 2 morning dives, while 2 afternoon dives are planned to be after a buffet lunch. Dinner can be either before or after the last (night) dive of the day. Main meals are always a success, with international cuisines such as Palauan, Italian, Mediterranean, French and Japanese (fresh sashimi and sushi), and with a bit of the Ocean Hunter chef's unique style as well. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit will help you refuel fluids and stay healthy, as well as daily fresh fruit smoothies that are served in the afternoon, using papaya, pineapple and other local fruit. At night, a different gourmet soup will warm you up after the night dive, followed by fresh salad and a main course.
Please note that on the penultimate day of your vacation there will be only 3 dives before returning to dock at around 17:00 hrs. Divers can wash their gear before dinner is served.

Final Day
Breakfast before disembarking Ocean Hunter. Transportation to a local hotel or the airport is provided.

Palau Spawning Trip

Trip highlights: shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: From Palau: German Channel, Big Drop Off, New Drop Off, Blue Holes, German wall, Barnum wall, Blue Corner, Virgin Blue Hole, Turtle Cove, Ngedebus Coral Gardens, Ngedebus Wall, Fairyland; Peleliu: Peleliu Wall, Peleliu Corner, Peleliu Coral Garden, Orange Wall, Peleliu Expressway, White Beach, Yellow Wall, Peleliu Cut; Ngerechong Island, Jellyfish Lake (snorkelling and hiking), Ulong Channel, Siaes Tunnel, Siaes Corner, Shark City, Iro or Chuyo Maru shipwrecks, Jake Seaplane and Chandelier Cave

Day 1
You will be picked up from your Palau hotel at around 12:30 hrs. The 29m steel-hulled liveaboard MV Ocean Hunter III is only 20 minutes away. Have lunch on board, listen to the boat and dive briefings, get your dive gear ready and by 13:00 hrs you are already in the sea diving around a WWII Japanese shipwreck! The 2nd dive at 16:30 hrs will be at German Channel with high chances to encounter mantas. Dinner will be either before or after the night dive, depending on the guests' preference.

Core Days
Wake up at 06:30 hrs with the smell of hot coffee, tea, and sweet rolls and cakes. A great day of diving is about to begin: 4 or 5 dives, depending on whether or not you wish to do so many. During Full and New Moon, different species of fish gather in huge, mind-blowing aggregations to spawn. Orangespine unicornfish and Moorish idols spawn in December and January, sailfin snapper between April to June, bumphead parrotfish just before New Moon, twinspot red snapper just before Full Moon, These events usually attract Palau's biggest predators as well. Expect to see grey reef, blacktip reef and whitetip reef sharks on almost every dive! Even bull sharks, silvertips, blacktip oceanics, leopard sharks and hammerheads have been seen in these waters.
All the enjoyable diving will make you hungry! A full breakfast is served during the surface interval between the 2 morning dives, while 2 afternoon dives are planned to be after a buffet lunch. Dinner can be either before or after the last (night) dive of the day. Main meals are always a success, with international cuisines such as Palauan, Italian, Mediterranean, French and Japanese (fresh sashimi and sushi), and with a bit of the Ocean Hunter chef's unique style as well. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit will help you refuel fluids and stay healthy, as well as daily fresh fruit smoothies that are served in the afternoon, using papaya, pineapple and other local fruit. At night, a different gourmet soup will warm you up after the night dive, followed by fresh salad and a main course.
Please note that on the penultimate day of your vacation there will be only 3 dives before returning to dock at around 17:00 hrs. Divers can wash their gear before dinner is served.

Final Day
Enjoy breakfast before disembarking Ocean Hunter. Transportation to a local hotel or the airport is provided.

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

"Very well organized, clean, friendly, professional and accommodated our requests. Also was small and intimate, which was helpful. Was my first liveaboard and very happy about the experience." - Anita Venkiteswaran, USA, 23 May 2024 ...

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS

Dive experience: Divers must be open water certified although an advanced certification is recommended. There is no minimum required number of dives. Guests just need to show their diving card upon check-in. Refresher course is required if divers have fewer than 20 total dives and their last dive was over a year ago, or if their last dive was 2 years ago or longer.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, fruit juice, transfer to and from the boat, dives, experienced English-speaking divemaster, tanks, weights and weightbelts, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental including computer USD 75 per day, safety sausage and reef hook, dive insurance, Koror state permit (valid for 5 days) USD 50, Peleliu permit (valid for 5 days) USD 60. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air divers (7 nights USD 199, 10 nights USD 285, 12 nights USD 340), torches. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: It is recommended by the operator that you overnight in a Palau hotel before joining an Ocean Hunter III liveaboard cruise. At Koror airport, you will be picked up by your hotel and transported to your accommodation. You will be picked up on the opening day of the cruise from your hotel at 10:30 hrs (for 10 nights trip) or 12:30 hrs (for 7 nights trip) and be transferred to Ocean Hunter III for lunch on board.
After breakfast on the final day you will disembark the boat at 08:00 hrs and be transferred to your hotel or airport. The last dive of the cruise will be in the morning of the second last day. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. For more details, including airlines, see our Palau travel information section.

Non-diver rate: USD 100 off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 100% of the normal published price. June to September the single supplement is 90%.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Equivalent to pay for 7 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 8 guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 14 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 16 guests).

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