Scuba Diving for Kids - Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids

Fantastic NEWS from the BLUE BLOCK  department

The most exciting part of our BUILDING BLOCK SYSTEM - AQUA KIDS PALAU - are our scuba diving lessons …

Add for each day of program one BLUE BLOCK and advance from PADI SASY - PADI BUBBLEMAKER  to PADI SEAL DIVER

Fish ’n Fins is Palau’s only PADI 5 Star Instructor  Development & Diving Center - offering highest quality since 1972 - Fish 'n Fins where quality and competence matter 

 Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids Palau - Seal Team 

The PADI Seal Team is for young scuba divers who are looking for action-packed fun in a pool by completing exciting AquaMissions. Have you ever wondered what it's like to dive with flashlights, take digital pictures underwater or float effortlessly like an astronaut? Beyond learning basic scuba skills, there are specialty AquaMissions, such as wreck diving, navigation, buoyancy, environmental awareness and more. PADI Seal Team includes doing some cool stuff in the pool, meeting friends and sharing in the adventure of the underwater world. To join the PADI Seal Team, a child must be 8 years of age or older. No prior experience with scuba diving is necessary, but kids should be comfortable in the water. Parental approval is required. 

The PADI Seal Team program teaches responsibility and respect for the aquatic realm. It’s broken into two parts.

Part one, AquaMissions 1 - 5, covers basic scuba diving skills, such as breathing underwater, clearing a mask of water, recovering a regulator and swimming around experiencing the sensation of being weightless. Each session takes about an hour. Complete these AquaMissions and become a recognized PADI Seal Team Member. Your experience may also count toward the PADI Open Water Diver course when you’re old enough to participate in the course.

Part two, 10 specialty AquaMissions, includes adventures like creature identification, search and recovery diving, and skin diving. Complete all of these and you’ll become a PADI Master Seal Team Member – joining an elite group of young scuba divers.

In the PADI Seal Team program, you learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, dive gauges and a tank.

Visit your local dive center to ask about gear and get advice about how to prepare from your PADI Seal Team Leader (a.k.a. PADI Instructor).

Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids Palau - Bubble Maker

Experience scuba diving under the direct supervision of a PADI Pro. Take your first breaths underwater in water shallower than 2 meters/6 ft. For children who are at least 8 years old.

Bubble Maker is as fun as it sounds – a chance for kids to blow bubbles by scuba diving. Children who are at least 8 years old can use scuba gear to breathe underwater and swim around in shallow water. A child must be 8 years old or older. Kids must be comfortable in the water, but no prior experience is necessary. Parental approval is required. 

Bubble Makers get a chance to:

• Experience scuba diving under the direct care and supervision of a PADI Pro.
• Take their first breaths underwater in water shallower than 2 meters/6 feet.
• Learn about and use scuba diving equipment made for children – not adults.
• Have lots of fun.

In the Bubble Maker program, participants get a basic introduction to how to use scuba gear, how to clear a regulator and mask, and an overview of breathing do’s and don’ts. Your local dive shop will advise you about anything else you need.

Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids Palau - SASY 

SASY Program (5yrs+) 

Can’t wait to turn 8 to try Scuba?  No problem!  Aqua Kids Palau offers kids as young as 5 years old their 1^st breath on scuba with the Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth (SASY).

In the SASY program, kids 5-8 yrs old wear a “BCD” and scuba equipment just like the older kids, but they stay on the surface, and experience breathing from a regulator while floating and without going underwater.

The BCD is like a life preserver, and it holds a real scuba tank with a functioning regulator and air gauge. However, the BCD is not weighted, so the child remains positively buoyant at the surface of the pool.  Kids wear a mask and fins just like the older kids, and they can practice “scuba” on the surface.

How Long Does It Take?

The SASY Experience takes a couple hours – it can be done in one fun, exciting afternoon!

The Learning Materials Your Child Needs

• Just your child’s willingness and undivided attention!
• To enroll in SASY, you must be at least 5 years old.

What are the Condition to Book Family Packages?

Booking Conditions:

Package rates are exclusively for families with children not older than 17 yrs. of age | Minimum booking - Book Accommodation with Fish 'n Fins and a mix of 8  Blocks - RED, BLUE or GREEN. 

Booking Period from February 01 until October 24, 2019. Travel Time from June 01 until October 31, 2019

Fish 'n Fins - Always one idea ahead

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Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids Palau - Eco Ranger Program

Fantastic NEWS from the BLUE BLOCK  department 

We have added an amazing BLUE SUPER BLOCK - put 3 BLUE BLOCKS together and be well on the way to earn Palau’s most prestigious AQUA KIDS title ever - the title of  E C O  R A N G E R  PALAU

E C O  R A N G E R S are independent adventurers - explorers who seek the special experience …

Far from their diving parents this elite group works on solutions for the future of our planet. 

Gaining first hand knowledge in multiplying corals, reef ecology & trash recycling E C O  R A N G E R S spend three full days with their instructors, experienced marine biologists to achieve the unthinkable and to finally be awarded with highest honors and the title E C O  R A N G E R 

Regular Blue Blocks: Scuba Diving with Fish ’n Fins at  Palau’s world famous dive sites - click here to see the entire family program

Blue Super Block: 3 Blue Blocks combined to a 3 days kids super adventure and the title Eco Ranger Palau

Description of the E C O  - R A N G E R  - P A L A U  Program

After meeting at Fish ’n Fins our young E C O  - R A N G E R  - P A L A U apprentices will leave from our pier for a short trip to Dolphin Bay, an eco research center.

Dolphin Bay takes its name from the dolphins, which have been living there for the past 20 years - dolphins rescued from Japanese Taiji and brought to Palau to live free - to the surprise of the Japanese biologist team the dolphins came back after being set free - biologists have even taken the dolphins for long trips and were surprised that the animals would follow the boat out in the sea and back home. The head biologist suggested that the dolphins may enjoy safety and easy meals over exploring the ocean by themselves.

A sign of their content is that they have made babies -  E C O  - R A N G E R S will see adult dolphins and their babies and be able to feed and of course be in photos with them.

Here is our great program in detail …

Day 1 Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Planting & Dolphin Challenge

08:30 Check in of children & boat ride to Dolphin Bay Facility

09:00 Participation in the “Close Encounter Program”*

10:10  About our Ocean and corals - stories, lecture & coral planting

11:30 Lunch - provided by Barracuda Restaurants for booked children

13:00 Watching Dolphin's Show and playing the “Nature Game”**

14:30 Snorkeling

15:30 Back to Fish ’n Fins

Day 2 Recycling Challenge 1, Swimming and Snorkeling

08:30 Children meet at Fish ’n Fins and walk over to Dolphin Pacific

09:00 Tour of Recycling Center in Koror - learning about recycling

11:00 Visit to Long Island Park

11:30 Lunch - provided by Barracuda Restaurants for booked children

13:00 Children & Instructors will “clean the island”  

14:20 Wash the collected trash and recycle the item

14:40 Swimming & Fun at the Long Island Beach

15:30 Back to Fish ’n Fins

Day 3 Recycling Challenge 2, Building photo frame from recycling materials, Ecology, Snorkeling

08:30 Children meet at Fish ’n Fins and walk over to Dolphin Pacific

09:00 Boat Ride to Dolphin Bay Facility

09:15 Recycling program - children produce photo frames from trash

10:30 Break

11:00 Children and instructors will produce an original “Eco Bag” from trash

13:00 Children learn about the ecology of dolphins

13:30 Nature Game**

14:30 Snorkeling

15:30 Back to Fish ’n Fins

*Close Encounter (Definition)

This is one of the programs that Dolphins Pacific offers. The program includes a walking tour around the facility. At the end of the tour each kid will have the opportunity to touch the dolphin, do a handshake and signal the dolphin to jump. All procedures are done from the floating dock.

**Nature Game (Definition)

Together we will have fun and learn at the same time. We will teach about the environment, ocean and reef, how dolphins catch their fish and more ... 

Days of Tours

Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; every week; days can be moved according to flight schedule.

Inclusions in price

3 days program; 3 days insurance; Instructors/marine Biologists/Trainers from Dolphin Bay; all taxes and local fees.

Cancelation

No cancelation fee applies if canceled more than 24 hours prior to event. For cancelations less than 24 hours prior to event a fee of 1 blue block applies.

Minimum Number of Participants: 

Minimum number of participants is THREE  -  Age 6 yrs - 12 yrs. Maximum number of participants is TWELVE  -  Age 6 yrs - 12 yrs. Fish ’n Fins will provide one of their employees to support Dolphin Pacific staff members in their efforts during the program for 5 and more participants.

Lunch

Lunch for the children is supplied by Barracuda our in-house restaurant. Please let us know dietary restrictions ahead of time, we are happy to accommodate your needs.

Booking Conditions:

Package rates are exclusively for families with children not older than 17 yrs. of age | Minimum booking - Accommodation booked with Fish 'n Fins, a mix of 8  Blocks - RED, BLUE or GREEN. 

Booking Period from February 01 until October 24, 2019. Travel Time from June 01 until October 31, 2019

Family Vacation Example Package

7 Nights Double Occupancy including breakfast, all transfers & local taxes at the hotel/resort of your choice - parents sharing one blue package and buying RED and GREEN Blocks according to the number of children.

Day 1 - Both Parent Diving - Kids in ECO RANGER boot camp

Day 2 - Both Parent Diving - Kids in ECO RANGER boot camp

Day 3 - Both Parent Diving - Kids in ECO RANGER boot camp

Day 4 - Off Road Jungle Tour for the whole family 

Day 5 - Rock Island Tour with Milky Way for the whole family

Day 6 - Relaxed Kayaking Tour for the whole family 

Day 7 - Walking around Koror and relaxing at the beach/pool

All activities include transportation, guide & lunch/snack/water. Activities do not include state & national park fees.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Fish 'n Fins' Aqua Kids Palau Program | Accommodations | Eco Ranger Brochure | Scuba Building Blocks | 

--- Fish 'n Fins - Always one idea ahead ---

Diving Palau with Photographers & Journalists Udo & Rose Kefrig

We would like to introduce Rose & Udo Kefrig, two very good old friends who have been with Fish ’n Fins many time over the years and who have made many stories about Palau, Fish ’n Fins and our Ocean Hunter Liveaboards. I met them at the Fish ’n Fins/Ocean Hunter booth at Boot 2019 in Germany and I asked them if they would feel like being featured at FNF MAG and here we are.

Rose & Udo Kefrig are known in the diving scene as Team Oceanpics. For over 30 years, the couple has been traveling with the camera from native waters to tropical dream destinations. They have published various books and participated in television productions. In addition to underwater photography, they also shoot unique topside photography, which includes local highlights, people, cultures, and other feature themes.

Udo is a celebrated photographer, his photos have received many international awards. Rose is a writer and photographer, her reports and photos have been published in numerous national and international magazines. Both are permanent freelance editors of diving magazines like Unterwasser, online magazine HEINZ and Scuba Diver UK. Furthermore Rose & Udo are co-authors of various wreck, travel and diving guide books.

Photographic equipment

Udo has been shooting with a Canon 5D MK III in the SEACAM housing since 2016.

Quoting Udo, After all these years using SEACAM equipment I have to say, SEACAM is the Mercedes Benz amongst the underwater housings, it’s the best system there is.

The housings are easy to use, the levers and switches are in the right place and are still very easy to operate even with three-fingered gloves. Camera installation, change of different viewfinders, ports and lenses, everting works perfectly. I believe SEACAM’s creed to using only best materials and producing premium quality is unmatched.”

As lighting Udo uses two Seaflash 150D from SEACAM. Udo mentioned he is very impressed by the strobes TTL functions - “it works exactly to the point”. The flashes offer all important information for the photographer, as well as flash ready and underexposure display, two-stage pilot light setting, slave flash sensor and a very good wide-angle coverage. The replacement battery system is masterfully designed to allow the system always to be ready.

Photo Gear

1 SEACAM Housing silver for Canon EOS5D MKIII; 2 SEACAM strobes Seaflash 150Digital and 2 SeaCam Strobe Arms; 2 View Finders, both SEACAM S45 and S180; 1 SD Super Dome; 1 MIP Macroport plus wet diopter system 2,5:1; Canon EOS-5D-MARK-III DSL Camera; Canon EF 16-35 mm 1:2,8L III USM; Canon EF 15 mm f/2.8 Fisheye; Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8L USM Macro

Dive Equipment

Both have been using ScubaPro dive gear since the 1980s. They enjoy ScubaPro’s quality and longevity - some of their gear lasted for over 3,000 dives. Hence no discussion that Rose and Udo love their ScubaPro regulators and BCDs.

The couple was kind enough to send us an assortment of photographs to share - all taken in Palau, one of their absolute favorites - their all time favorite dive sites are Blue Corner, German Channel, Chandelier Cave and of course Ulong Channel. While taking these amazing photographs Rose and Udo stayed at several occasions at Palau Pacific Resort, Palau Royal Resort and Palasia Hotel. If you wish to get in touch with Rose & Udo Kefrig here are their FIRST WEBSITE - FACEBOOK - YOUTUBE - SECOND WEBSITE

Did you like their phots? Leave us a comments …

Ready to pack your camera and come to Palau - check out one of the following great Hotel/Dive Packages - if you don't find the right package there, send us and email or call us on WhatsApp :-)

Book your Palau Dive Adventure

Book a Luxurious Dive Package with Palau Pacific Resort

Booking

Book a High End Dive Package with The Cove Resort Palau

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Book a Budget Dive Package with Palau Hotel in Koror

Booking

FUN & ACTIVITIES“BUILD YOUR OWN FAMILY VACATION PACKAGE”

Fish ’n Fins is Palau’s market leader in Adventure & Family Vacations. As such we are pleased to introduce our latest family vacation product AQUA KIDS PALAU - which provides great Family Vacation Packages to children and parents alike - and all that for very AFFORDABLE prices. The rates of this program are reduced especially for families. - Tova Harel Bornovski, Director

The Dive & Adventure Vacation Building Block System

The system is simple - choose the accommodation of your liking and add RED, BLUE & GREEN vacation building BLOCKS for are great and unforgettable Family Vacation.  

Blue Blocks: Scuba Diving with Fish ’n Fins at Palau’s world famous dive sites, Scuba Diving for kids - SASY, Bubble Maker and Seal Team, 3 Block together for 3 days of ECO RANGER program

Red Blocks: Snorkeling, Land Tour, Kayaking, Rock Islands &  Jellyfish Lake, Family Kayaking & Hiking

Green Blocks: 30 minutes Resort Scuba Dive at Fish ’n Fins House Reef, Full Day Trip with Off Road Jungle Tours

How much are these single Blocks worth?

All prices are in US Dollar per person, per activity | * Conditions apply | Kids 0-4 yrs. Free of Charge

The best thing is that all building blocks are interchangeable and can easily be transferred from one family member to another. 

Blue Blocks:

Scuba Diving with Fish ’n Fins at Palau’s pristine Reefs. Dive with dozens of sharks, mantas and schooling fish and enjoy drop offs richly covered in hard and soft corals. Each BLUE BLOCK represents one Double Tank Dive Day - 2 dives - from one of our speed boats and includes weights, weight belt, 12 liter DIN/INT tanks with air or Nitrox 32 for all Nitrox certified guests, lunch, water, your personal Fish ’n Fins drinking bottle to take home and all transfers. Not included is the Korror State Dive Permit - see permits.  

We are known for our premium services - we care that our boats are never crowded - each of our dive masters guides a maximum of 8 divers. 

Red Blocks:

Snorkeling 

Explore the stunning beauty of Palau’s shallow reefs, enjoy snorkeling with an abundance of small colorful fish. This fun event includes guide, boat, lunch on the beach and water. The best thing is - the whole family can be on the same boat - some diving, some snorkeling.

Kayaking

Glide silently on your kayak through the Rock Islands and enjoy one of our Relaxed Kayaking Tours to Nikko Bay and the Bat Cave with your whole family. The trip includes single & twin kayaks, guide, 

Land Tour

In one of our comfortable mini-buses, we can take you up the rocky dirt roads of Babeldaob Island (the Big Island) to see the sprawling, panoramic view on top of Palau's highest peak. Hike across the freshwater river, stopping to bathe in the mini-waterfalls and mountain pools along the stream, until you reach the big 80-foot drop waterfalls, and rejoice in that clear water. Head to the stone monoliths of Palau's old civilizations. You can visit WWII tanks, relics and monuments, and even include stops around town at museums and the storyboard shops.

Kayaking & Hiking

Take your kayak and meander through the rock island surrounding Malakal Channel. Hike the trail to the Japanese fortress and lighthouse. See the cannons aiming at Malakal Harbor and rediscover ancient Palauan caves. This experiences coms with guide, kayak & lunch.

Rock Island & Jellyfish Lake

Join us for a fantastic boat tour riding around and between the world famous Rock Islands of Palau and snorkel at the Jellyfish Lake with millions of non-stinging yellow jellyfish. An adventure for the whole family including boat, guide and lunch.

Palau’s National Park Permits 

There are generally 2 Koror State Permits - you will have to obtain one of them depending on activities. The Rock Island Permit (Koror State Permit = Dive Permit) costs USD50.00/per person plus USD3.00 processing fee and is valid for 10 days. The Jellyfish Lake Permit (which includes the previous Rock Island Permit) costs USD100.00/per person plus USD5.00 processing fee and is  also valid for 10 days. Children 6 years and below are free of charge.

Green Blocks:

Off Road Jungle Tours - Great fun for the whole family - we’ll take you around Palau and through the mud wherever we’ll find it. Be ready to get back muddy from head to toe ;-) - our full day tours depart from Fish ’n Fins Dive & Activity Center at 9:00 am - stop at Japan Palau Bridge (formerly Koror Bridge) - visit Aimeliik rain forest , look at various flora & fauna under the forest canopy - Optional with extra fee, Option#1: Taiwan Farm with $5.00 per person

Option#2: Famous Terraces & Malsol Tomb $10.00 per person - Lunch - Visit Aimeliik waterfall.  After that either off roading on one of the beautiful hills of Aimeliik State or Hiking and swimming at the waterfalls with rope swing. Return to Fish ’n Fins Dive & Activity Center at 3:00 pm. A trip your family will love! Drive your own vehicle ;-)

Resort Dive with Fish ’n Fins - One of our experienced instructors will introduce you to dive equipment, breathing from a scuba tank and basic dive skills like mask clearing before taking you for a dive at Fish ’n Fins House Reef. Follow your instructor on a shallow dive along a Rock Island and explore Palau’s sea life. This activity includes all dive gear, instructor and transfers.

Accommodations from Budget to Luxury - your Choices …

Palau Hotel

.... is a small hotel with only about 40 rooms, located in Koror’s center, next to Palau’s two main malls. It is ideal for your family if you wish to be close to shopping opportunities and a variety of restaurants along Koror’s main road. The hotel offers a very attractive room rate and comes with daily breakfast for three. Get information and photos to Palau Hotel.

Seasonal Rates from Jun 01-30, 2019, Sep 01-30, 2019 & Oct 08-31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Seasonal Rates from Jul 01-Aug 31, 2019, Oct 01-07, 2019 

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Kids 12 years old and below are free of charge sharing room with parents and using existing beds. Breakfast is at extra charge for the 4th person.

Palasia Hotel

... is a bigger hotel with great amenities. It has it’s own duty free shop, swimming pool, a very nice Gym, coffee house and restaurant with a good variety of international dishes. The hotel is in Koror, about 4 minutes by foot from Palau’s 2 biggest shopping centers. Rooms are very spacious and the daily breakfast very nice. Get information and photos to Palasia Hotel.

Seasonal Rates from Jun 01-October 31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply 

Kids 12 years old and below are free of charge sharing room with parents and using existing beds. Breakfast is at extra charge from the 3rd person on.

Palau Royal Resort

... is located in Malakal, about 3 km from Koror center and a short distance - about 400 meters from Fish ’n Fins Diving & Activity Center. It offers about 160 rooms and all amenities you could wish for. From Coffee House, Restaurant, SPA, Gym, Pool to a private beach facing Palau’s famous Rock Islands. There are a couple of restaurants in reach including our Barracuda Mediterranean restaurant :-). Get information and photos to Palau Royal Resort.

Seasonal Rates from Jun 01-Aug 31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Seasonal Rates from Sept 01-Oct 31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply 

Kids 12 years old and below are free of charge sharing room with parents and using existing beds. Breakfast is at extra charge for the 4th person.

Sea Passion Hotel

... is only about 200 meters from Palau Royal Resort and 120 meters from Fish ’n Fins Diving & Activity Center. Its 70 spacious rooms offer 2 double beds per room and big bathrooms. Ocean View Rooms provide fantastic views of sea and Rock Islands. The hotel’s beach is lovely and extremely inviting for a relaxing family time and snorkeling around Rock Islands. Get information and photos to Palau Royal Resort.

Seasonal Rates from Jun 01-Oct 31, 2019, Aug 21-Sept 30, 2019, Oct 08-31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Seasonal Rates from Jul 01-Aug 20, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply 

Kids 12 years old and below are free of charge sharing room with parents and using existing beds. Breakfast is included for 2 persons in rooms with 2 beds and 3 persons for rooms with 3 beds.

Palau Pacific Resort

... is located in Meyuns in a picturesque bay and is Palau’s most luxurious resort, offering restaurants, pool, SPA, spacious & luxurious rooms and a large private beach for relaxation during the day and wonderful beach BBQs featuring fresh fish and lobsters at night. This is the right place for your family if you enjoy a more upscale travel experience. Get information and photos to Palau Pacific Resort.

Seasonal Rates from Jun 01-30, 2019, Oct 07-31, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Seasonal Rates from Jul 01-31, 2019, Sep 01-27, 2019

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Seasonal Rates from Aug 01-31, 2019, Sep 28-Oct 06, 2019 

All prices are in US Dollar per room, incl. Breakfast & local taxes | * Conditions apply

Kids 12 years old and below are free of charge sharing room with parents and using existing beds. Breakfast is free of charge for room sharing kids.

What are the Conditions to Book Family Packages? 

• Booking Conditions: Children 10 and below are not eligible for the Resort Dive | Package rates are exclusively for families with children not older than 17 yrs. of age | Minimum booking - 7 Nights Accommodation, 4 RED Blocks & 4 BLUE Blocks per adult 
• Booking Period from February 01 until October 24, 2019 
• Travel Time from June 01 until October 31, 2019

How do you get to Palau & Where can you Book? 

China Airlines

It’s very easy to get to Palau. We have daily flights to/from Palau. The best connections are with China Airlines via Taipei to Koror. China Airlines offers very reasonably priced flights from Sydney, Australia - Los Angeles, California - Frankfurt & Vienna, Europe to Koror, Palau. 

United Airlines

If you come from close by or want to arrive via Manila, Philippines - Tokyo, Japan or Guam, USA you should clearly have a look at the website of United Airlines, which offers daily flights to Korror, Palau.  

Korean Airlines & Asiana Airlines

For all our guests coming from/via Seoul, Korea you ideally connect to Koror, Palau several times a week with either Korean Airlines or Asiana Airlines. 

If you wish to book your flights online please do not forget to choose “Multi City” - if you wish to book your flight through Fish ’n Fins Dive & Activity Center, please let us know - we’ll be delighted to find the best connection for your Palau Family Vacation. 

Example Family Vacation for 7 Nights

7 Nights Double Occupancy including breakfast, all transfers & local taxes at the hotel/resort of your choice - parents sharing one blue package and buying RED and GREEN Blocks according to the number of children.

Day 1 - 1 Parent Diving - 1 Parent Snorkeling with kid/s whole family on the same boat

Day 2 - 1 Parent Diving - 1 Parent  Rock Island & Jellyfish Lake Tour with kid/s 

Day 3 - 1 Parent Diving - Relaxing Family Day at the hotel beach or pool

Day 4 - Off Road Jungle Tour for the whole family 

Day 5 - 1 Parent Diving - 1 Parent  Island Tour with kid/s

Day 6 - Relaxed Kayaking Tour for the whole family 

Day 7 - Walking Koror and relaxing at the beach/pool

All activities include transportation, guide & lunch/snack/water. Activities do not include state & national park fees.

Contact us for your BOOKING - Fish ’n Fins  - PADI 5 Star IDC & Activity Center, PO Box 964, Koror, Palau, Phone: (680) 488 2637 - WhatsApp (680) 775 5416, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*** DOWNLOAD AQUA KIDS PALAU BROCHURE ***

Portrait of Franco Banfi a Pro Photographer from Switzerland

I know Franco since many years and admire his great photos. It was no surprise to me to see, when starting my job with Fish 'n Fins that Franco had been one of our happy customers. Hence it was very easy to get him to agree to be featured on FNF MAG and display some of his underwater art.

Franco Banfi Biography

Franco was born in Switzerland in 1958 and started diving in 1981. Although in Switzerland there is no sea, there are many lakes and rivers. In one of these lakes Franco learned how to dive and one year later was immersed in the Maldives shooting his first roll of film.

Although the rivers aren't colorful as many tropical seas, in these waters Franco learned to compose images, looking more at the form, shadow, reflections and light. After a while he started to enter photographic competitions where in some years he won more than a hundred prizes all around the world: Europe, Japan, America and New Zealand.

In 1992 Franco was invited to participate at the World Champion in Cuba where he won first prize World Champion in underwater photography. After this he started to work with magazines and publications. In 1996 Franco published two books about Papua New Guinea edited from White Star Overcall. I like almost every kind of picture, from macro to wide-angle, but my favourite shots are wide-angle, underwater landscape with animals and model, light and colours. 

Franco started an underwater photographer career 35 years ago and in 2000 left his job to become a professional photographer, specializing in underwater and wildlife images. Recently he founded a company skilled in running trips for micro-groups of enthusiasts, traveling to enjoy wildlife above and below the surface.

The basic elements that characterize his pictures are curiosity, attention to details, movements, innovation. When Franco records the changes in life-forms and the interactions with humans it is not to convey the concepts of static conservation of exotic ecosystems but as a becoming, a perpetual mutation of existing biological diversity, the result of an evolution that consistently adds new variants to all ecosystems, a never-ending mutation.

Franco is an ambassador for Canon Italy; he is member of IEPA.org (International Environment Photographers Association) and of the Wild Wonders of Europe.

As mentioned before Franco is an award-winning photographer (World Champion in underwater photography in Cuba) and he regularly gets top honors at the more prestigious international photo-competitions as Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY), Nature’s Best, International Photography Awards (IPA), etc.

Franco about his Palau Experience and diving with Fish 'n Fins

Fish & Fins is a great company to work with - skilled experienced friendly and very helpful people.The atmosphere is great and easy going, which is a must for everybody, from tourists looking to enjoy a great vacation to professional photographers in search for the more elusive animal in crystal clear water.Palau underwater offers something for everybody, from beginners to experienced divers. I especially liked Blue Corner, where I found unbelievable visibility when I took pictures of the sharks, and Chandelier Cave a fairy-tale location, which can transform to a magical place when lighted correctly.

Franco is using Canon cameras in underwater housings of Italian producer Isotta.

If you wish to connect with Franco Banfi click one of the following links - WEBSITE OF FRANCO BANFI - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM

Book your Palau Dive Adventure

Book a Luxurious Dive Package with Palau Pacific Resort

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Book a High End Dive Package with The Cove Resort Palau

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Book a Budget Dive Package with Palau Hotel in Koror

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Currents

Incoming tide: the current will flow from the open ocean into the lagoon. Outgoing tide: the current will carry murky debris laden water from the lagoon to the open ocean. For more information regarding the tidal patterns in Palau, refer to the Blue Corner tide and current section.

General Information

German Channel is the only channel in the area to funnel the outgoing and incoming tides from the inner lagoon. The result can be very strong currents through the mouth of the channel and in the channel itself. Due to fast moving water, a shallow bottom and speeding boat traffic the channel itself does not offer any diving. The southwest mouth of the channel is known as the German Channel Dive Site.

Reef Formation

German Channel runs from Northeast to Southwest. The cut through the western barrier reef between Ngemelis Island and the shallow reef that stretches north of Ngercheu Island (Carp Island) was done during the German occupation (1899 to 1914) of the islands . The channel connects the inner lagoon with the open ocean. The open ocean floor, between the two islands, rises sharply from 1000' (330 m) to 120 feet (40 m) and than gradually to 30 feet (10 meters). The northern and eastern slopes that border the diving areas are covered with large variety of hard corals. The mouth of the channel has a sandy bottom spotted with numerous coral heads and coral formations.

Marine life

German channel is known for Manta Rays, schooling sharks and an abundance of tropical fish. Almost every form of marine life can be seen here. Thousands of jacks will school here along with barracudas, trevaly and snappers of numerous species. The sandy bottom is home to garden eels, blind Gobies and Mantis shrimps, to name but a few. During the incoming tide Manta Rays can often be seen inside the shallow channel. In the late afternoon, the Manta's can usually be found feeding on plankton and krill at the mouth of the channel. Reef sharks are also known to come to the cleaning station at the mouth of the channel. It is the lucky diver that gets to see a shark standing vertically with its head thrown back while cleaner wrasse and butterfly fish hurry to clean its body. Sighting cuttlefish is another reward for the observant diver. Important Note: Mantas will approach a cleaning station a couple of times before they hover over the station. At this time the cleaner wrasses and the butterfly fish do their job. If divers chase the Mantas, the Mantas will leave and not come back!!! Be very patient, let them come and go; eventually you will get the photo opportunity of your life. Remember, patience is the name of this game. Keep a distance from the station and let them come to you. The rewards are worth the wait.

Diving

Two moorings mark the north and south border of the diving area. Your dive guide will decide where to start the dive according to the current, weather conditions and other boats in the vicinity. The dive usually starts from the southern buoy. On descent you will see the shallow reef to one side and a steep slope on the other side. Follow the slope down about 50 feet (17 meters), keeping the reef to your right. Soon the slope will turn into a very wide sandy plateau. At 60 feet (20 meters) there is a cluster of large rocks. This is a cleaning station. Swim 15-20 feet away toward the shallows and wait for the Mantas or sharks. While waiting, look around, if you see large craters in the sand or between small rocks, you could be in a nesting area of the Triton Triggerfish. Triton triggerfish are probably the most aggressive fish in theocean.

When nesting Triton will attack any fish or scuba diver that unknowingly enters the nesting area. Looking down at the sand you can also see blind shrimp lodging together with the Brown Gobi. Watch carefully and you will see how these two (2) fish work together for mutual benefit. Upon leaving the area swim to the coral heads and follow them along the sandy bottom. At this point, you will start to sense the German Channel experience as you are surrounded by schools of fish and patrolling sharks. A wonderful sight!!!!! Continue along the bottom at 30 to 40 feet (10 to 13 meters) until you reach the slope on the other side (northern buoy). If the current is strong do not fight it; let it carry you toward the lagoon. You will, literally, fly over patches of lettuce corals and Giant Tridacna Clams. Before you surface, listen carefully for the sound of approaching boats. Use a safety sausage to alert boat drivers to your location in the water. Night Diving: German channel is one of the best areas for night diving. Both moorings offer excellent vantage points to see night critters. CAUTION: German Channel is a major passage to the southern dive sites. Dozens of speeding boats cross this narrow pass daily. Be extremely cautious while ascending to the surface, always mark your spot with a safety sausage during safety stop.

Fascinating Facts

During the German occupation of Palau, guano (phosphate) was mined on the southern island of Angaur. In order to bring the guano to town, for trans-shipment to Europe, a channel had to be excavated. The Germans blasted and dredged a channel through the barrier reef between Ngemelis and Ngercheu. Today only speedboats and shallow draft vessels can transit the shallow channel.

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Update of our Privacy Policies

Effective date: October 25, 2018

Fish'n Fins & Affiliates ("us", "we", or "our") operates the www.fish'nfins.com website and the Fish'n Fins mobile application (hereinafter referred to as the “Service").

 This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. Our Privacy Policy for Fish'n Fins & Affiliates is managed with the help of Privacy Policies.

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Information Collection And Use

We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.

Types of Data Collected

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While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

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We may also collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Service or when you access the Service by or through a mobile device ("Usage Data”). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data. When you access the Service with a mobile device, this Usage Data may include information such as the type of mobile device you use, your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of your mobile device, your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser you use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

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We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information. Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service.

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Transfer Of Data

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction. If you are located outside Palau and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to Palau and process it there. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer. Fish'n Fins & Affiliates will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.

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Fish'n Fins & Affiliates may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

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We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service ("Service Providers"), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used. These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

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Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

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Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 ("Children").

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At Fish 'n Fins we take very good care of Underwater Photographers. Our boats are spacious providing ample room for photographers and camera rigs, no matter what size and make. Our dive guides know every inch of Palau's reefs and are very enthusiastic to find great photo opportunities or be models in wide angle shots with sharks, WWII wrecks or colorful corals.

In our FNF MAG segment about semi-Pro and Pro Underwater Photographers who have been diving with Fish 'n Fins we'd like to introduce German photo journalist Gerald Nowak.

About Gerald Nowak

Gerald Nowak was born in 1964 in the five-lake country south-west of Munich. At the age of 12, he had contact with a photo camera for the first time. At that time borrowed from his parents, he already got his first own SLR camera when he was 16 years old.

In 1981 at the age of 17 he began to dive in Bavarian lakes. In 1989 after a stay in tropical waters it became his hobby and shortly afterwards he combined his two passions into his current profession. Among other things, he has worked continuously for the German and international diving press for many years and is a regular photographer for German magazines TAUCHEN, UNTERWASSER, SILENT WORLD and DIVEMASTER.

As a photographer, Gerald is always on the quest for news and has won prizes in several national and international photography competitions. In the 90s he was an Indonesian champion at a competition in Kalimantan.

Since 1994 he has been working full time as an underwater and travel photographer for various travel and special interest magazines as well as internet portals and travel book publishers.

Gerald Nowak has been working together with Mares since the mid-1990s.

In 1997 he gotten to know his wife Sibylle Gerlinger. Since that time they have been working as travel journalists together. Sibylle writes the stories and Gerald shoots the pictures. Sometimes it`s the other way around......

Both are able to swap their work.

Whether tropical, temperate or cool waters, everything that promises exciting reports or great pictures awakens his interest. His special commitment is to the threatened shark species. His most favorite marine animal being the graceful hunters of the ocean: fox- and blue- shark, but also the sublime tiger shark. For the protection of the sea and the animals, he is active in several animal protection organizations and supports them with information and photo material, which he collects on his worldwide journeys.

Photo Equipment

Nikon D800, Panasonic GH5, Seacam Underwater Housings, Seacam and Subtronic Strobes, Orcatorch lamps

More of Gerald's photos

Follow Gerald Nowak

Tova arrived at the office with a smile on her lips, telling me that we were preparing our liveaboard Ocean Hunter III for a very special group, she added Mission Blue is heading to Palau to investigate MPA successes and challenges.

Mission Blue had chosen Palau for good reason - not only is Palau one of the “Last Great Places on Earth” according to National Geographic, a place of the world’s most remarkably vast biological diversity and home to more marine life species than most any other area of comparable size on Earth, it is also a place where people and government are dedicated with heart and soul to environmental protection and conservation.