Discovering Palau's Diving Legacy With Fish 'N Fins
18 March 2024
Fish 'n Fins is Palau's original dive shop. But there's a lot more to the story than just being first. When a local man named Francis Toribiong started a fish export business in 1972, he supplemented his revenue with boat rides to local reefs for the handful of scuba divers who made their way to this then-little-known Micronesian destination. Ashore, his one-room business housed a dive compressor and a small collection of scuba tanks. Customers wanting to make a second dive would wait in the shade of a nearby tree while air supplies were replenished.
Today, Tribiong is known as The Father of Palau Diving; a pioneering environmentalist; and the man credited with putting Palau on the international tourism and diving map. The evolution of Palau into one of the world's most sought-after dive destinations played a major role in spurring the country's economic growth. During these years, Fish 'n Fins enjoyed similar prosperity, welcoming divers from around the world and becoming one of Palau's most recognized businesses.
An Expanded Operation
Now a far cry from the original compressor shack and shade tree seating, the Fish 'n Fins operation is a PADI 5-Star instructor development center housed in an expansive new facility opened in 2018. Facilities include a reception area, offices, classrooms, retail boutique and a rental equipment station. An adjacent drying room and gear storage area provide ample space for secure storage of personal items, wetsuits and dive equipment.
Adjacent to the shop is a fill station that houses several large compressors, a Nitrox membrane system and a technical partial pressure filling system. To ensure rapid and continuous supply, the shop maintains 28 large storage tanks for air and 32% nitrox, which is provided for free. The extensive scuba tank inventory includes more than 700 tanks in several sizes, along with specialty equipment such as sling tanks, double tanks, rebreather supply tanks and oxygen-clean tanks for technical diving.
Docks located directly behind the shop are wide, stable, and designed to accommodate the loading and unloading of up to six boats at a time. Also set on the waterfront is the BAR-RACUDA restaurant, serving Mediterranean cuisine, seafood, pizza, burgers, vegetarian, and vegan options. Divers can enjoy espresso and other coffee specialties before a dive, a casual lunch or afternoon snack upon returning, or reserve a table for a memorable evening dining experience with sunset views.
Fish 'n Fins operates a fleet of 11 fast, twin-engine dive boats of from 29-to-35 feet in length. All boats are fitted with forward-facing seats, dry storage boxes and full roofs for sun protection. To ensure trouble-free operation, these boats are meticulously maintained, and the shop takes pride in noting that in three decades there has never been a single day of diving canceled due to technical problems.
In addition to the daily scheduled boat dives that visit all areas of Palau, guests at Fish 'n Fins are welcome to explore the shop's house reef, which begins right at the dock. There is a small a small WWII to explore, a variety of tropical fish and a resident population of mandarinfish. Tanks for shore diving are provided free of charge.
Fish 'n Fins also operates the Ocean Hunter III. This 95-foot steel-hulled liveaboard was designed specifically for diving, underwater film making and ocean exploration, and can provide extensive support for photo and video projects as well as technical diving and rebreather use. With eight spacious staterooms furnished to luxury yacht standards, upscale dining, onboard entertainment systems and a sun deck with two Jacuzzis, the focus is on comfort, service and a high-end diving experience. Photo and video projects are fully supported with a powerful computer and video editing suite, and there is a separate climate-controlled laboratory that can be used for research and filming production. Eight and 11-day cruises across a wide swath of Palau waters take in top sites and can be customized according to group preferences.
A One-Stop Vacation Experience
Caradonna works with Fish 'n Fins to create a one-stop Palau vacation experience that includes not only diving but also accommodations, airfare and travel logistics. Packages are available with six of Palau's best-rated hotels, with customizable itineraries that can include a variety of additional land and sea adventure opportunities. Among these are snorkeling and free diving programs, swims in the famous Jellyfish Lake, guided kayak or SUP excursions to Palau's famous Rock Islands and mangrove forests, jungle and waterfall treks, cultural tours and visits to historic WWII sites.
To experience Palau at its best, get in touch with your Caradonna agent to create your own Fish 'n Fins vacation package. Call us at 800-329-9989 or send a note to sales@caradonna.com.