Sundive's Palau Expedition 2011

Sundive's Palau Expedition 2011

After three flights we arrived at Sea Passions Hotel Koror, Palau. Sea Passions is not your ordinary dive trip accommodation, it was a very comfortable up market hotel.

Our first dive was German Channel and we were joined by two friendly Mantas. Some of the other dive sites we visited were Blue Holes, Blue Corner, Sias Tunnel, Ulong Channel,  Chandelier Cave, The Wreck of the “Iro” a 140m Japanese navy fleet oiler and a Jake seaplane.

It was fun to hook onto the reef at Blue Corner and Ulong Channel, hang on and watch the passing parade of sharks, Barracuda, Trevally , Humphead Napoleon wrasse , Mackerel and other pelagic fish. There is too much going on here for a diver to cover in one dive. After unhooking from the reef we drifted over the plateau of coral. The walls were home to colourful soft corals, fans and numerous fish and small creatures. The highlight of the trip was the huge Great Hammerhead shark which came up out of the deep swam past us very close for some and down the Ulong Channel. Later in the dive as we drifted down the channel the shark returned on its way back to the deeper water. Annette managed to get a video clip of the shark.

The Blue Holes are four holes in the top of the reef through which divers descend into a large cavern where you are met by natural light from the skylights above, exiting at 30m onto a wall and drifting towards Blue Corner.

Sias Tunnel entrance is down a vertical wall. Helfrich’s dartfish, Colin’s anglefish and burgess butterflyfish are some of the interesting creatures that can be found in the tunnel.

Chandelier Cave gives divers a chance to experience the rock island from the inside. The entrance is just under the water and the cave extends 100m or so into the rock island. Four large chambers allow the divers to surface and see the crystals that make up the hanging stalagtites.

Jellyfish Lake is something everyone should experience it is amazing swimming with thousands of jellyfish and no stingers. The jellyfish follow the sun around the lake all days and descend to the depths of the lake at night.

The diving didn’t stop on our return to the dive shop in the afternoon as we could dive on the wall in front of the dive shop which was alive with small critters like pipefish and of course the colourful mandarinfish.

There was also cold beer and hot snacks at the bar overlooking the water for those who just wanted to relax and relive the days diving.

At the end of our trip we were all reluctant to leave the warm clear waters of Palau and head back home but all good things have to come to an end.

I would like to thank Ben, Andrew, Janet, Gary, Dave, Annette & Mel for joining Paul & I on this wonderful trip and helping to make it the success it was and hope to see them on future trips.