Rock Islands Aggressor (Tropic Dancer) dive boat review
The ‘Rock Islands Aggressor’ is one of the impressive vessels from the famous Aggressor Fleet. Formally known as MV Tropic Dancer, she is a spacious, modern vessel complete with excellent facilities.
Famous globally for amazing diving and snorkeling sites, Palau is a group of approximately 500 islands in the Western Pacific where on some occasions divers can be lucky enough to dive with wealth of marine life; from critters to large pelagic life such as sharks and manta rays.
You can check the availability, schedule and prices for this Boat here.
The Rock Islands Aggressor Liveaboard was sturdily built to be up to the task in hand. Complying with US Coast Guard standards, 32m in length and 10m in beam, she is comparably sized with competition from MV Atlantis Azores.
Cabins and Vessel Layout
Rock Islands Aggressor / MV Tropic Dancer has accommodation to cater to 18 guest across her cabins.
There are 8 ‘Deluxe Stateroom’ cabins located on the main deck. Each features and Queen bed on the lower level with a single upper ‘bunk’ style bed.
There is one ‘Double Stateroom’ cabin next to the dive deck which features 2 double beds; lower and upper and port hole for viewing onto the dive deck.
Each cabin has private bathroom facilities, wardrobe, hair dryer and individual air-conditioning so that you may set the temperature to your liking for a perfect night’s sleep.
Outside of the cabins you’ll find areas where you may relax. Rock Islands Aggressor/ Tropic Dancer features and an entertainment centre with TV, DVD, stereo for music fans. There is also an assortment of films and books to distract you in quiet moments.
Other facilities onboard include a partially covered, furnished sun deck with music and ‘wet bar’. A BBQ or grill area. And, if you’re still aching to be in the water between dives, there is a superb swim platform with freshwater showers, entry/exit ladders and somewhere to store fins.
Being a remote area, wi-fi in not complimentary and generally available onboard. However, satellite phone and email are available in urgent cases.
Food is a combination of western and local cuisine and hot and cold drinks are available throughout the day.
Scuba Diving Onboard Rock Islands Aggressor / Tropic Dancer
Diving is the goal in such a beautiful location and Rock Islands Aggressor diving boat does not dissatisfy in this area. Up to 4-5 dives a day are available from the spacious skiff/dhoni which accompanies her.
The dive deck features rinse tanks for photographers and individual gear lockers and a camera table. Nitrox is available – super important on repetitive dives – and DIN adaptors and spare/loan equipment is available as required. Please be aware, however, that nitrox and rental equipment carries a supplement.
Itineraries
7 and 10 day ‘Best of Palau’ voyages are available taking in (conditions permitting) all the most famous sites such as ‘Blue Corner’ and ‘Ulong Channel’.
Expect to budget around USD2,746 and upwards for a 7 day diving itinerary depending on season and cabin selection.
More information about the diving in Palau here and about the Palau Liveaboard reviews.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Yap & Chuuk (Truk)
Yap for the Manta Rays or Chuuk for the shipwrecks? So hard too choose!
Palau
Palau is within the coral triangle and is one of the “Seven Underseas Wonders of the World".
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Micronesia & Palau, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip .
I was on the Tropic Dancer 10/15. The crew was excellent. The diving was very good, but Blue Corner and other sites were too busy. There are too many day boats full of divers from China. The food was very good, however the corporate office failed to notify the crew that this was a 60th birthday for me. I did not even bother to tell the crew. Had a nice dinner the final night with some of the divers off the ship.
Went in nov 2017. The crew was great. Only twice did we run i to divers from others boats. General we where done with our 1st dive and heading to the boat by the time the shore boats where heading out.
The crew did a great job, andy was a excellent chef. And picked up that i wasnt a fan of fish, and without saying anything they served me chicken instead.
Looming forward to diving with this boat and crew again.
Well maintained, cabins always kept clean, dry towels almost every day. Captain and crew all muck in even with washing up, very attentive in boat, skip and in the dives. Loved the hot towels after every dive. Can do as many as 5 dives a day, they do eat then dive, I prefer dive and then eat, just my preference. The water temp sometimes was only 24 degrees would recommend 5 ml suit at all times. We did 17 dives in the week, 10 were quite good the rest visibility was very poor, not the boats fault. Popular dive sites were very busy. The food on board is plentiful but don’t expect fine dining although the spare ribs were good. Cannot highlight any of the crew specially they all went above and beyond to make sure we all had a good time.
Hi Margaret!
I’m super happy you’ve had a great experience on this boat and I simply wanted to thank you for taking the time to leave a review here on Divezone! That’s much appreciated and sure will help other divers plan their trip!
Wishing you stunning visibility on everydive (or so! haha) for your next liveaboard!
Safe bubbles, always!