DIVE PALAU DIVE TRAVEL GUIDEPalau - Cyber Diver Top 10 Dive Destination >>  alau is one of the most beautiful archipelgos on earth and with only 18,000 inhabitants, it is relatively undeveloped. It is far from pristine but many of the environmental problems that have plagued overdeveloped dive destinations in other parts of the world are not found here. Still, Palau has attracted the big corporate players in the tourist industry and sadly, development and all the problems that come with it, seem inevitable.
Most of Palau's 340 islands are situated in a huge lagoon which is surrounded by a massive reef system where steep walls plunge thousands of meters to the ocean floor. Add ripping currents, excellent visibility, over 1500 species of fish and 700 species of coral and anemone, and you have nature's perfect design for spine-tingling action when big deep water predators come in to feed on the reef dwellers. Thanks in great part to 200 mushroom shaped limestone islands within the lagoon, Palau is one of the few places on earth where above and below surface topography are equally beautiful. When to Go Best time to visit? If you want to avoid the crowds of Japanese divers flying in on direct flights from Tokyo, stay away during Japanese holidays including New Year, Golden Week (end of April - beginning of May) and Obon (mid-August). Click image to enlarge map |
Facts about Palau- Area: 180 sq mi (460 sq km)
- Population: 18,490
- Capital city: Koror (pop 12,300)
- People: Polynesian, Malayan, Melanesian
- Languages: English (official), Palauan (official), Sonsoralese, Angavr, Japanese, Tobi
- Religion: Christian (33%, including Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Assembly of God, Liebenzell Mission and Mormon), Modeknegi (indigenous faith)
- Government: Constitutional government in free association with the USA
- President: Tommy Remengesau
- GDP: US$160 million
- GDP per head: US$8,700
- Major industries: tourism, craft items, some fishing and agriculture
- Major trading partners: USA, Japan
- Eco policy: Colludes with Japan to block whale sanctuaries
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO :: SCUBA DIVING IN PALAU | HOT LINKS SCUBALINX™ :: Palau Scuba Diving CentersCDNN :: Palau Dive Travel NewsCYBER DIVER :: Worst 10 Eco Diving DestinationsWARNING At popular Palau dive sites such as Blue Corner, you may feel like there are more Japanese divers in the water than marine species so schedule your dives to avoid the crowds. Most of the boats, and there are far too many of them, all converge on the "designer label" dive sites at the same time. ECO ALERT While Palau promotes itself as an eco-friendly dive destination committed to the protection of marine wildlife including dugongs, dolphins and whales, it is colluding with Japan to block the establishment of whale sanctuaries and reverse the ban on commercial whaling. Such money-driven hypocrisy is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by the global scuba diving community. Join the diver-led boycott of Palau and make a difference. Go to CDNN ACT NOW: Boycott Palau |
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