Scuba Diving

On Tuesday night at 7pm, I finally returned to my apartment in Brooklyn from a nine-day excursion through the beautiful islands of Palau. Well, six days were spent in Palau, the rest were traveling. To be honest, I had never heard of Palau before I went, and now having been there, I can’t understand how it has remained such a hidden treasure for so long.

As part of Micronesia, this archipelago of islands is literally a paradise of wonder and full of history for such a nation of small, beautiful islands. Gaining its independence finally in 1994, Palau was explored by the Europeans, ruled by Spain, sold to Germany and invaded by Japan. Many artifacts from World War II remain, lying in decay and nestled within the beautiful tropical scenery. It is hard to imagine that such an atrocity took place in such a beautiful environment. Sunken war ships and rusted cannons quietly whisper stories of horror and despair while nature slowly chafes away at the evidence.

Palau is made up of only about 25,000 Palauans, as most have left to work or serve in the States. A big issue now with elections coming up is how to get Palauans to return or stay to help their own country. With a minimum wage of about $2.50 per hour and the influence of television and video games, it is hard to convince them to stay. However, the small population leaves a beautiful, naturally preserved cluster of islands filled with the most spectacular variety of fish, animals, coral and habitats.

Jellyfish Lake is a fresh/saltwater lake in the middle of a limestone island. Filled with nearly 11 million jellyfish, this lake once had an outlet to the ocean. Over time, the lake became closed off from the ocean, isolating the jellyfish from any predators or even prey. Having no need to defend themselves, the jellyfish slowly evolved, losing their stinging tentacles, leaving them completely harmless to human contact. The lake itself is more dangerous to tourists as it contains sulfide, and diving deeper than two minutes would result in suffocation. But a tourist can happily snorkel in this lake surrounded by 11 million pulsating organisms that approach you like curious little puppies (even though they have no brains). The jellyfish feed off of algae inside their membranes, leaving them completely dependent on the sun.

For scuba divers, Palau is a paradise. I had never been so close to so many sharks while scuba diving and snorkeling. One of my favorite dive sites was the Ulong Channel, filled with a variety of corals and marine life to observe as you drift along, following the current. Helmet Wreck was another favorite, as it is the remains of a Japanese ship. Helmets, bullets and saki bottles lay untouched, almost frozen in time.

Six days allowed me to get a taste of what these beautiful Pacific islands have to offer. I can only wait for another opportunity to return!

 Courtney Centeno, Account Executive

 *  Global Traveler remembers and honors all those who were affected by the attacks of 9/11 — those who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, the heroes on United Flight 93, the rescue workers,  the families who live with the losses of 9/11 every day, and many more. And for those who continue to fight for our freedom, thank you.