A Conservation Area made permanent

Threats from overexploited fisheries, non-sustainable forest practices and increasing development  Palauans to recognize that action must be taken to protect their environment for future generations due to a critical balance between the need to use their natural resources today and the need to sustain those for future.

Palau’s government has taken towards to protect their natural resources with the creation of a comprehensive Protected Areas.

One of the last MADE PERMANENT has been: The Ngederrak Conservation Area, which includes a inner lagoon, sea grass beds, coral reef, channels, and a critical nursery habitat for many kinds of juvenile reef fish and provides a very important feeding place for the endangered and vulnerable species of dugong.

In Palau we have the world’s most isolated population of this relative of the manatee.

An Adult Dugong

Protecting this area will mean juvenile fish can grow and move to other areas outside the conservation area.

The legal restrictions are no fishing, no disturbance, no boats in approximately 5.8 square km in size. It is located to the southeast of Malakal Harbour in Koror

Our help is really important, for example being a volunteer to take part in conversations activities, report violations, respect the boundaries of the area.

Others Conservation Areas are: Ngerukewid,  Ngerumekaol, Ngemelis.

Palau thanks to his biodiversity and beauty is name as one of the  “Seven underwater wonders of the wold” 

Taking care of the ocean, we are taking care of us!

A Spanish affair about Life in Palau and Solitude One!

Our Cruise Director, Silvia Perez has been blogging on her life in Palau! It's in Spanish but I am sure non-spanish readers will find a way to enjoy it as well! - http://palauybuceo.blogspot.sg/

English Blog.. will soon follow!

See you at DEMA 2014!

Solitude will be attending and presenting its flagship Solitude One at DEMA this year which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada USA (19 to 22 Nov 2014) ! You can find us at Booth 423. Andrew and Sol will be there to promote Solitude and diving in Palau!

If you would like to make prior appointment to meet them, please do not hesitate to write to andrew [at] solitude-liveaboards. com

More more information on DEMA Show - www.demashow.com

New Deposit/Payment Terms! You have been heard!

Jelly Fish Lake Photo by Nu Parnupong

We hear you! We have had a few consistent feedback with regards to our deposit and payment terms especially for Charters and we have decided to alter our payment terms to facilitate more advanced bookings. 

With effect from 1st September 2014, All bookings (Individual or charters) will have the new payment terms for deposit as follow

• Minimum deposit of 15% of the total cruise fare payable must be received by Solitude within 14 days from the invoice date to confirm your reservation.
• Additional 20% of the total cruise fare must be paid no later than 300 days (total of 35% is required if departure date is less than 300 days) and 
• the remaining balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the embarkation/departure date of your cruise (full payment is required if departure date is less than 60 days).

Cancellation Terms have also been changed to reflect the deposit payment terms. For the complete Booking Terms and Conditions, download a copy here

The new payment/cancellatino terms will not affect current bookings with deposits paid. These bookings will have their final balance due no later than 60 days before the embarkation/departure date.

For further clarification and/or information, please emailus [at] solitude-liveaboards.com

Solitude will be visiting Beijing and Shanghai in September 2014!

The Dive Shows in Beijing (12 to 14 Sept 2014) and Shanghai (19 to 21 Sept 2014) will see Solitude Liveaboards making a show visit (not as exibitors) to see our agents, meet our previous guests and especially make new contacts!

Hope to see you there!

Solitude One's Cruise Schedule Updated - 08 August 2014

Recent bookings were made and the cruise schedule has been updated with a new layout and format... Please download the latest available schedule as well as updated Fact, Data and Layout Sheets on our public Google drive.

Please review our Booking Terms & Conditions

Solitude One has Joined the DivEncounter Alliance!

   

Alfonso, Andrew & Peter
(L-R, March 2014 in Palau)

Solitude is pleased to announce their affiliation with DivEncounters Alliance – a conclave of like-minded individuals who own and operate top-rate, luxury diving liveaboards combined with amazing dive destinations to make sure their guests have an unforgettable holiday.

Operating in the world famous Rock Islands of Palau, flagship MV Solitude One has had a major facelift and now this 52-metre, steel-hulled beauty carries 10 luxury en suite cabins, a thoughtfully designed dive deck, is a certified Official Bauer PureAir Station, a well appointed camera room, a big sun deck  and even a jacuzzi! She can be reconfigured easily to provide for exploration and research expeditions as well while still keeping all the modern comforts.

“I am proud and honoured to be part of this Alliance. I have always believed the epitome of good service is paying attention to detail and focussing on clientèle who appreciate this service,” says Andrew Lok, managing director.

Palau as a diving destination with sites like the Blue Corner, Peleliu, Blue Holes, German Channel were a powerful attraction for Andrew, from its azure waters and its renowned shark sanctuary to its topside beauty and its ideal location in the Pacific, he saw much potential in placing Solitude One there. “It thrills me to be able to offer and deliver these simple luxuries. I'm constantly looking for ways to make it better and better,” he adds.

After the completion of her reconstruction in the Philippines which Andrew and his project team of naval architects and designers oversaw, Solitude One set off from her final stop in Cebu and arrives in Palau on 09 December 2013. Since then, Solitude has already hosted guests from Australia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, the US, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Malaysia, France and Canada.

About DivEncounters Alliance

Founded in 2011 by Peter Hughes, their mission is simple: to provide a reliable, professional and safe diving live-aboard experience that meets or exceeds expectations and enhances their guests’ scuba experience. All Alliance partners are carefully vetted and aim to be the “best in the world” in the world’s most exciting dive destinations like the Indonesia, Galapagos, Soccorro and Guadalupe Islands (Mexico), Cocos Island (Costa Rica), Bay Islands, Honduras, two regions in the Maldives, and now in the land of rainbows, Palau.

www.DivEncounters.com