When in Palau - DIVE

Finally, we have begun our underwater exploration of Palau.
Nope...the water maker still is not working.
Nope...the income taxes are not quite done.
We dive, nevertheless; three dives yesterday.

We were joined by Stuart, an attorney from London and Kirk Hunt, a retired dentist from... of all places....Lodi, California. The four of us made a very compatible dive group as we dove the German Channel, The Blue Hole and the Blue Corner. We will do a night dive this evening at the Short Drop.

The Blue Corner is the underwater point furthest to the west in the above photo. One of the world's most famous dive sites, it did not disappoint us. Hanging from reef on a reef hook and floating like a kite in the current about 70 feet below the surface, we watched the passing parade of sharks (silver tip reef and gray reef), Napoleon Wrasse almost as big as we are and countless Red teeth Trigger fish, Unicorn fish and others unknown. Angel fish that were rare and cautious in Micronesia run around in pairs and allow you to approach within inches.

On the way to the "corner" we swam along a patch of sand about 50 feet below the surface filled with Garden Eels that stick their heads from the sand like so many blades of grass. No mowing is necessary as they slowly but surely disappear into their holes when approached. We have not seen these eels since the Caribbean and the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.

The Blue Hole was also phenomenal. Located about 1/2 mile northeast from the "corner", the holes can be seen on Google Earth. Descending through the top of the reef at about 20 feet, you drop through the hole to its sideways exit at about 80 feet. The walls of the hole are covered with life and as you exit the fish are swimming upside down, a most peculiar sight.

After leaving the hole a steep wall presents itself along your left. Pyramid Butterflies seem to be everywhere between 40' and 60'. The wall is covered with soft and hard corals and even under overcast skies was very colorful. We could hang on the wall motionless for hours looking at all the forms that life takes, but that will have to wait for another dive.

We will dive these sites again and again. In the future we will have our new underwater camera and we will bring close-ups of the action.

Until tomorrow, B and L.