Underwater Wonder of the World — Palau

Since Anna and I moved to Guam last year, we have become better acquainted with the underwater world.
This past week, we had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to and SCUBA dive in the #1 Underwater Wonder of the World that is the Republic of Palau (at least as ranked by the Smithsonian).
Wow.
Ok, That about sums up the trip. No need to say anything else.
Alright, I will say a little more. If you are curious what the other wonders of the underwater world are though, here they are:
1. Palau
2. The Belize Barrier Reef
3. The Galapagos Islands
4. The Northern Red Sea
5. Lake Baikal
6. The Great Barrier Reef
7. The Deep Sea Vents
First, what is Palau? Good questions….it’s a small island nation in the southwest Pacific. In relation to Guam, it’s about 1000 miles to the southwest. Guam is 13 degrees north and Palau is 7 degrees north. So, as you can imagine the climate is rather similar. Although, we noticed less humidity, compared to Guam.
Palau has a similar history to most islands in the western Pacific. It was occupied by the Japanese in WWII, and liberated by the Allies. After the war, it joined the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands administered by the US. However, instead of eventually joining the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau chose to remain independent. In 1994, it was admitted to the UN, after signing the Palau Compact with the US (after a decade of debate). The compact assured virtual independence with the US providing economic aid and defense for the 20,000 inhabitants. Ironically, the issue that held up the approval was Palau’s desire to be the first nuclear weapon free state (including those carried on US warships/aircraft). That issue resolved, the main struggle now (as with many small islands) is developing a sustainable economy and infrastructure. While there is much to improve on, Palau has realized protection of their splendid natural resource is paramount to their future. As such, the people and government work to develop a compromise in harvest and protection of the underwater bounty surrounding the islands.
It’s interesting to note that there are more than 300 islands in Palau, only 17 nations have a smaller population. Palauans are a proud people with a proud history. It was fascinating interacting with them and viewing their world.
Before I get into our trip though, I will include some pictures taken by a photographer we met in Palau, and American named Kevin Davidson. He also took some video and photographs of us, but that’s the next story. So, while not taken by us (or even while we were there), they do a great job giving a glimpse at the beauty of the archipelago of Palau.
Here is an aerial view of one of the many islands….


Some of the underwater inhabitants around the islands:




Yes, we saw plenty of his brethren.


Ok, hopefully that whets your appetite, as the next post will detail our trip to Palau.
Until then.
–Jim