Last Dives in Palau

As we get ready to leave Palau we did our last dives, other than the one to clean the prop and hull which is to be done today or tomorrow.  We did Chandelier Cave and the area around Sam’s Tours.  The cave was really quite nice and the marine life was pretty good even in this small nook of the island away from everything.  We saw lots of colourful fish and some rather dull but unique ones as well such as pipefish, razor fish and a small scorpion fish.  One of the other crazy things is there are still several unexploded World War II ordinances.  These are right amongst all the yachts.  There is even one next to our anchor chain however this one has corroded away and is no longer dangerous.  Throughout the Pacific Islands this is a real issue.  So many explosives were dumped or lost during the war that many which did not explode are still laying around and being unearthed by farmers or discovered by divers.  While here we met a couple whose job it is to help with the clean up of these devices.  They are clearing trails through the jungles etc. and collecting ones that they can for disposal.  Every now and then they go out and set off a big bang.  Kind of a cool job but I am not sure how you would train for it!  Certainly couldn’t get away with too many mistakes!  Anyway there will probably be a bit of a delay until our next post as we hope to be leaving for Guam shortly.  We do hope our position updates work but though the Pactor system is better it is still not so right.  Keep following the position button to the right but do not panic if we do not seem to move, as it is probably just not getting through via Sailmail.  I will update it for sure when we get email access in Guam.

Some photos taken during the dive in Chandelier Cave.

the exit from the cave underwater