Solitude Gaia
Solitude Gaia Liveaboard Dive Trips
The Solitude Gaia is a cutting-edge 40-meter scuba diving liveaboard that redefines ocean exploration and adventure. Completed in 2023, this innovative vessel exemplifies top-tier craftsmanship and design. Its robust steel hull ensures unmatched stability and safety, while the aluminum superstructure enhances comfort by lowering the center of gravity. Designed with meticulous attention to detail, the Solitude Gaia offers a secure and enjoyable diving experience, reflecting both structural excellence and thoughtful design.
Beyond its remarkable construction, the Solitude Gaia is committed to providing a welcoming and immersive environment for its guests. Adhering to the highest standards of the BKI classification society, the ship features elegant, neutral-toned décor that promotes virtues such as humility, gratitude, and patience. This design approach aligns with the vessel’s mission to celebrate the ocean’s wonders. With a cruising speed of 10 knots, nine luxurious cabins, and an opulent spa suite, the Solitude Gaia accommodates up to 18 guests comfortably. Explore the depths of the sea while embarking on a journey of self-discovery, blending adventure with introspection in a truly unparalleled setting.
Solitude One provides a range of diving trips around Palau, from 7 to 11 nights, operating from late September to March. Onboard, guests are treated to exceptional service from professional staff and experienced dive guides. Enjoy 3 to 4 guided dives per day, including a night dive, on this luxurious liveaboard.
Palau offers some of the most diverse diving opportunities in the world, including thrilling wreck dives, dramatic walls, captivating blue holes, expansive cavernous hollows, and intriguing swim-throughs. Experience the unique marine lake teeming with non-stinging jellyfish, or explore the five chambers of the Chandelier Cave, where you might encounter the elusive Mandarin fish. Immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of the vibrant reef system, featuring lettuce, staghorn, and brain corals, located behind the WWII Helmet Wreck dive site..
Year built: 2023
Length: 40 meters (131 feet)
Beam: 9 meters (29 feet)
Draft: 2.3 meters (7 feet)
Hull: Steel Mono-Hull
Top speed: 14 knots
Cruising speed: 10 knots
Engines: Twin Yanmar 829HP
Maximum guests: 18
Number of cabins: 9
Number of bathrooms: 10
Dive Skiffs: Two 6m (19ft) Purpose-Built aluminum Boats (with 100HP Outboard Engines)
Support Skiffs: 6m (19ft) Purpose-Built fiberglass Boat (with 100HP Outboard Engine)
Water capacity: 63,000 liters
Fuel capacity: 62,000 liters (Diesel)
Freshwater maker: On-board water maker
SAFETY is Solitude’s top priority; we take every precaution to ensure the safety of our guests and crew. As we operate in remote areas, we ensure that we are well-equipped to handle any emergency scenario.
During your stay onboard we provide our guests with a complimentary Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS to provide that peace of mind when out diving in the remote parts of Palau and the Philippines.
Our Features & Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipped with:
- Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
- Life Rafts
- Emergency Survival Packs
- Semi-Automated Fire Suppression Sprinkler System
- VHF/SB Radios
- VSAT Satellite Phone & Internet
- Inmarsat-C
- Local Navigation Maps with Furuno GPS Chart Plotter
- Radar (Long/Short)
- Weather Plotter
- Depth Sounder
- 63,086L Water Storage with On-board Water-Makers capable of producing 280L of fresh water per hour.
Do we have WIFI? Is there internet? Can I get Mobile Data?
Internet access is available via Satellite Broadband (VSAT K-Band). You can purchase data packages in multiples of 50MB (please refer to the Know-Before-You-Go document). Internet can be accessed through your own device via Wi-Fi or through the provided desktop computers.
Palau recently introduced 4G services, but most areas we visit do not have mobile signal coverage. Therefore, the use of a local SIM card is limited, and we do not recommend purchasing one. The cost of a SIM card and credits is around 40 USD, and new regulations require SIM card users to register personal details at the time of purchase. It is more economical to use our satellite phone, which costs 3 USD per 60 seconds or 2 USD per email/SMS (limited to 140 characters).
What additional costs should I expect for a 7-night itinerary (excluding personal expenses)?
Diving Permits
- Peleliu Diving Permit: 60 USD
- Koror Diving Permit: 50 USD
- Total: 110 USD (payable on board during the first briefing)
State Bed/Cabin Tax: 70 USD (e.g., 100 USD for 11D10N, 120 USD for 13D12N)
Jellyfish Lake & Rock Island Permit: 50 USD (optional, if you choose to take this tour)
These permits and taxes are subject to change upon embarkation and must be paid in cash to the respective authorities.
What currency is accepted?
Can I pay with a credit card?
The official currency of Palau is US Dollars. We accept credit card payments for most incidentals, such as alcohol, equipment rentals, and EANitrox. However, permit fees and gratuities must be paid in cash. Credit card payments are processed via Stripe.com with a 4.5% facilitation fee.
Is Nitrox available, and what is the cost?
Yes, we offer EAN30% instead of EAN32% to ensure a safer maximum operating depth (MOD), particularly for dive sites with strong currents. This mix provides a depth buffer, especially in the event of down currents, while still offering sufficient bottom time. Nitrox is priced at 8 USD per dive or 20 USD per day.
Optional add-ons
Many travelers choose to extend their Palau vacation with a visit to the island of Yap, just a short one-hour flight away. Yap offers a unique experience, being one of the few places in the world with resident manta rays. If you visit between December and April, you may witness these majestic creatures performing their spectacular mating dances.
Click here for more information on Yap!
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Ready for an Amazing Dive Trip
(800) 786-3483
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