Travelnsj
Contributor
I was not looking forward to my 20+ hour-long trip to Palau. Upon Boarding in LA for my flight to Hawaii then on to Guam, the Captain made an announcement I would like to Welcome all the Iwo Jima reunion Veterans on board. I happened to be a very lucky American that day! There were over 100 USMC vets from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. Sitting in front of me was General Haynes; his regiment raised the flag on Mount Sirbachi. Across from me in the center isle was General Snowden, behind me was Colonial Wiedhahn
all veterans from Iwo. Next to me was Colonel John W. Ripley, former commander in the USMC and the Royal Marines now Director of the USMC historical center
WOW
.as I said I was a very lucky American that day to meet people who were involved in changing history and helped us enjoy the freedoms we have today
.Like Diving! Now my diving report.
Palau as usual wonderful! I was there from March 5 through the 16th. The water temps were always between 82 to 84 degrees. This year the weather was a little bit of a factor. I dove a total of 10 days. The first 4 days were overcast and rainy, the next 4 were the perfect March-Palau weather. The last two days were again cloudy and rainy. The last day we were at the Big Dropoff and a squall came in. We normally have a one-hour trip back to Sams. This boat ride was almost two hours and it was one of those trips that make you wonder is this worth it! Kevin veteran of Sams got seasick and said it was one of his worst boat rides.
This year I dove 9 of the 10 days with Keith Santillano of Dive Palau/Palau Dive. He recently left Sams to again work on development of his business. What a great time no more than 6 people on board and most of the time only 4 of us. This year I did a couple of new sites and revisited a couple of old ones which I saw something new. I have never been to Siaes corner, what a great dive! Ripping current for a reef hook up. Great Wall, Sharks, schools of Moorish Idols, Lionfish, Barracuda, Eagle Rays and a lot more. I also did Turtle Wall, again a lot of the same thing .Both wonderful dives. Probably one of the number one dive spots in the world is the Blue Corner! This year (due to the moon phase) no ripping current for a reef hookup on the five dives I did. But did I discover the Blue Corner wall and the Plateau! Saw a school of a dozen or so of the largest Bumphead Parrot fish I have ever seen, some looked like they could have been between 200 to 300 lbs. The largest Chevron Barracudas I have seen, Lionfish five at one time, Turtles ..and on two dives I saw Sharks, Giant Trevallys, Napoleon Wrasses all feeding at the same time. I did get much closer than 10 feet as well it did not look safe. Looking over the corner (that you normally hook up on) hundreds of swirling Barracudas and or Trevallys. WOW!
Palau will never disappoint cannot wait until 2007!
Palau as usual wonderful! I was there from March 5 through the 16th. The water temps were always between 82 to 84 degrees. This year the weather was a little bit of a factor. I dove a total of 10 days. The first 4 days were overcast and rainy, the next 4 were the perfect March-Palau weather. The last two days were again cloudy and rainy. The last day we were at the Big Dropoff and a squall came in. We normally have a one-hour trip back to Sams. This boat ride was almost two hours and it was one of those trips that make you wonder is this worth it! Kevin veteran of Sams got seasick and said it was one of his worst boat rides.
This year I dove 9 of the 10 days with Keith Santillano of Dive Palau/Palau Dive. He recently left Sams to again work on development of his business. What a great time no more than 6 people on board and most of the time only 4 of us. This year I did a couple of new sites and revisited a couple of old ones which I saw something new. I have never been to Siaes corner, what a great dive! Ripping current for a reef hook up. Great Wall, Sharks, schools of Moorish Idols, Lionfish, Barracuda, Eagle Rays and a lot more. I also did Turtle Wall, again a lot of the same thing .Both wonderful dives. Probably one of the number one dive spots in the world is the Blue Corner! This year (due to the moon phase) no ripping current for a reef hookup on the five dives I did. But did I discover the Blue Corner wall and the Plateau! Saw a school of a dozen or so of the largest Bumphead Parrot fish I have ever seen, some looked like they could have been between 200 to 300 lbs. The largest Chevron Barracudas I have seen, Lionfish five at one time, Turtles ..and on two dives I saw Sharks, Giant Trevallys, Napoleon Wrasses all feeding at the same time. I did get much closer than 10 feet as well it did not look safe. Looking over the corner (that you normally hook up on) hundreds of swirling Barracudas and or Trevallys. WOW!
Palau will never disappoint cannot wait until 2007!
