Diving Palau part 3

Third day and last day

Blue Corner and New-Drop-Off

The first dive today was the only one I would consider as worth it, I had so far in Palau.

Nothing really special, but a lot of fish. At no time you've been searching to see something.

Highlight (note the "" are missing ;-)): Melon-Headed Whales before Blue Corner and plenty of

Dogtooth Tuna.

So three days of diving Palau. 

They don't wanted to go with me and three other clients to Shark City. They told us, its only good 

on special times for example full-moon and exept that time, you only see a couple of sharks and the current is "super strong"

Mhh I only saw a "couple" of sharks (Grey's & Whitetip Reef), nothing special. Maybe for shark lovers, I was 

at the wrong place, wrong time of the year or been diving with the wrong company, I don't know. They also called 

Blue Coner "super strong" current. Compared to other pass dives I had, this was not even a quarter! Sissy's!!!

A older couple told me, 30 years ago they've been here and all the dives 

been at least 10m deeper and with more current. So whats that about? Making it more easy for the dive guides?

All the time I spotted bigger shadowws in the deep, and also spotted much more then the dive guide it self.

May I add "wrong dive guide" to the list above as well?

Anyway, definetely nice dive sites, but for me, not worth it going here again for diving!

For nearly the same money I can go to better places for diving and diving is cheaper over there too ;-)

I regret that I did not went there doing my travel, but i thought I try something else to find other nice places.

Some places are outstanding, some are not. I thought Palau is one of the outstanding onces, but not for me.

That's the bad thing when you already had one of the best diving at the beginning of your dive carier

Doggy style ;-)

One of a couple of Dogtooth Tuna I was able to shoot. Not very big, but still strong fighters.

Missed only one and a real big one (reminded me on the Fiji record) we spotted far away.

The reef is pretty much overfished. They shoot and eat everything they can, without an exeption.

Half the island of Falalop is protected, means spearfishing is banned. This banned area includes 

also a nice Doogtooth Tuna spot ;) But it is definetely nesseceary or they will run out of fish fast.

I'm pretty sure the blue is full of fish and if you come with a buddy who you can trust, fell

safe with and can share the boat/gasoline its a nice place, but for reef fishing, nearly empty.

If you are staying long enough in the water, you've been lucky that some Rainbow Runners are passing by

Exept the fishing it is really nice here. The people are very friendly and helpfull with everything

Turtles and Dogtooth Tunas

Today I finally had the chance getting outside the reef for some freediving

in the passages and it was absolutely brilliant, thanks to Reef to Sea for taking

me with them. Only three scubas and me, nice group. Not even 5min in the water and we had

the first Green Sea Turtle. Only a couple of minutes later, at a depth around 22m,

7 Dogtooth Tunas (first time I saw them). The reef was full of fish and I really

enjoyed my diving, exept that there where a lot of Jellyfish (As they had a lot of different Jellyfish 

on display in the Monterey Bay and Osaka Aquarium, even if the diving guide not agreed, I would 

definitely vote for a small version of box jellyfish with only four tentacles! So watch out!)

The second passage we've been was more shallow, between 5-15m but also turtles all

over the place. I also saw one Hawksbill Sea Turtle.

Highlight on that dive was the biggest Goliath Grouper I ever saw.

We all estimate it between 2,10-2,30 and at least over 150kg (probably more), a monster!!!

The head of that thing had nearly the size of my backpack! Sadly I saw it first during my ascent, so I only

 started recording on the surface, 10-14m above (estimated) the Goliath Grouper

There have been also plenty of Orangespine Unicorn Fish, never saw as much at

the same time. One of my favorite.

If you ever gona visit Rarotonga, do not leave without diving around the passages.