We have just received this News from Palau - Micronesia.

Shark Savers' "Thank you to Palau"
book presented to Palauan President Toribiong

Photo: Copyright PALAU HORIZON;
Courtesy www.sharksanctuary.com

You may recall that Shark Savers fielded two petitions regarding Palau. The first one opposed a bad shark fishing law and the second one thanked Palau for subsequently protecting sharks by creating the National Shark Sanctuary. We created a book consisting of your signatures and comments for presentation to President Toribiong. Today, our book was presented to the President on our behalf by our friend, Dermot Keane of the Palau Shark Sanctuary. Here is Dermot's report: Read the complete article @ Shark Savers' "Thank you to Palau" book presented to Palauan President Toribiong

I have just received this news from eyes2market in Germany, re. filming in Palau “Forgotten Islands”

© Gunther Deichmann - Courtesy palautours.com
Reef and Islands

Alii from snowy Hamburg,

As some of you already know Mr. Junker from MDR is currently filming in Palau for his broadcast "Forgotten Islands".
During the days of his filming he is blogging and MDR is showing his video diary (at least for the days where he is able to upload the film :-) )
http://www.mdr.de/junkers-tagebuch  (video diary)
www.mdr-junkers-tagebuch.de/

© Gunther Deichmann - Courtesy palautours.com
ancient stone path


© Gunther Deichmann - Courtesy palautours.com
Palau saltwater Crocodile

Adventure Travel with your
Digital Camera in Paradise...
one of Natures best kept secret!

No Photoshop! Natural reflection in the amazing Rock Islands
Palau Micronesia. Original Image is in color, converted into
Black & White using the Monochrome Mixer in Aperture 2.

For detailed information please go to GD Photo Workshops

June 18 - 25, 2010
Palau Micronesia
GD Photo Workshop in Palau...Natures best kept secret, final details to be announced shortly, "ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS" Only 7 spaces remaining! 
10 participant limit! This Workshop is filling fast! If you want to see "inside" Palau better book your space now! More info @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/gdphotoworkshop/index.html or contact Sam’s Tours @ http://www.samstours.com/

Excerpts from an article published on the Palau Visitors Blog Spot.

Francis Toribiong, a native of Palau, Micronesia, will be inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in January 2010. To date, there are only 54 individuals in the world that have been so honored, including such obvious inductees as Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his son Jean-Michel Cousteau as well actor Lloyd Bridges and Geri Murphy, one of the most published female underwater photojournalist in the world.
Francis was a true pioneer in the industry, developing Palau into the coveted diving destination it is today...read the complete article @ http://visit-palau.blogspot.com/

Latest NEWS...

Associated Press
Palau cites human rights in resettling detainees
Associated Press, 06.11.09, 12:44 AM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Palau's president says his tiny Pacific island state considered human rights - and not China's reaction - when it agreed to take in 17 Chinese Muslim separatists detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Palau President Johnson Toribiong says his country has agreed to a U.S. request to resettle the detainees out of humanitarian concerns and because their imprisonment is unlawful...more at;
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap

More links to this breaking story you find at the following links.

cites human rights in resettling detainees
Forbes - NY,USA
AP , 06.11.09, 12:44 AM EDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand --Palau's president says his tiny Pacific island state considered human rights - and not China's...
See all stories on this topic
agrees to take Uighurs held in Guantanamo
Ynetnews - Israel
The tropical Pacific island nation ofPalau said on Wednesday that it had agreed to temporarily take in 17 Chinese Muslims held at the US detention center...


United Press International - USA
WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) -- The Pacific island nation ofPalau has agreed to take 17 Chinese Muslims detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, US officials said...

Palau to Take Uighur Gitmo Detainees
FOXNews - USA
Two US officials reportedly said that the US was prepared to givePalau up to $200 million in development, budget support and other assistance in return for...

Palau

Palau

UPI NewsTrack TopNews

US Money May Have Swayed

We have just received this information from the Duesseldorf Boot Show in Germany, attended by the Palau Visitors Authority PVA and other major Operators like Palau Pacific Resort, Sam’s Tours and many others.
SUPER NEWS!!!!!!!!!!! China Air just released the following information: FRANKFURT - TAIPEI - KOROR Roundtrip only EU 1,076 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUTBOUND: Monday:  Depart Frankfurt        11:20   CI062 Tuesday: Arrive Taipei        06:05 Non-stop Depart Taipei       07:00 CI7908 Arrive Koror        12:05   Non-Stop (noon)
RETURN:Tuesday Depart Koror       13:05 CI7907 Arrive Taipei        15:55 Non-stop Depart Taipei       23:55 CI061 Wednesday: Arrive Frankfurt   06:40 Non-stop GENEROUS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: Economy:        2 x 23kg each Business:         2 x 32kg each Non overnights. Baggage checked all the way thru. Includes Trainfare to Frankfurt More info:  info@china-airlines.de Tel: 069-297-0580 www.china-airlines.de RESTRICTIONS: Cannot be booked on-line at China Air (yet..not in system) Must call China Air or book through Travel Agent. Must originate in Frankfurt

Congratulation to the Management and staff at
Sam,’s Tours in Palau Micronesia for achieving
this outstanding Award!


Sam’s Tours location in Palau Micronesia

It's official.......Sam's Tours wins PVA's
Tour Operator of the Year Award!



Sam's Tours - TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR!

The Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), Palau's official tourism board, announced their selection of Sam's Tours as "TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR" for 2008. The announcement and award presentation took place during the Annual Christmas Gala of the Belau Tourism Association (BTA), Palau's private sector tourism industry association, recently held at the Palau Pacific Resort.
Awarding winning is not new to Sam’s Tours which has been consistently recognized over the years not only by government and industry bodies for their commitment to development of sustainable tourism in Palau but also by their customers for consistent service excellence. In 2007 Sam's Tours received a Top 10 Sponsor Award from PVA for "their continual support and sponsorship" and in 2006 the private sector Belau Tourism Association recognized Sam's Tours with their Outstanding Member Award for their "dedication, support and commitment over the years to Belau Tourism Association and its objectives.”
The readers of a leading international dive magazine have recognized Sam’s Tours more than any other dive center in Palau or Micronesia with seven “Readers Choice Awards” since 1997 including a Gold List Award for top dive center, top staff, and top value.
Sam’s Tours is the first and only dive center in Palau to receive the Palau Conservation Society “Ten Year Partner in Conservation Award” and is a Corporate Sponsor of the Palau Shark Sanctuary, a shark conservation organization founded in 2001 by Sam’s Tours General Manager, Dermot Keane, to help bring an end to the destructive practice of shark-finning by foreign fishing fleets operating in Palau’s waters. The Palau Shark Sanctuary received a PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Environmental Education Gold Award for their work.
“Sam’s Tours has consistently demonstrated their long standing commitment to responsible tourism development, environmental preservation, and excellence in customer service and while recognition is not what drives us to excel, we sincerely appreciate the acknowledgment of our efforts by our industry peers and our valued customers alike” said Dermot Keane, General Manager, Sam’s Tours.

Greetings from Palau Pacific Resort!

Weekly Theme night Buffet Dinner effective on November 17, 2008.

 

Thank you for your continued support in the Palau Pacific Resort.

Phone: (680) 488-2600 ext. 474
Fax: (680) 488-1606
Email: loreensugiyama@ppr-palau.com
Web: www.palauppr.com

This post has caught our attention...no Panic yet... but what can be done about it and how soon.
I hope it is not to late, an oil slick could spill disasters in Micronesia.

© Gunther Deichmann - WWII shipwreck in the
Truk Lagoon, Chuuk Micronesia

WWII wrecks 'threaten Micronesia'
By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney
Micronesia's main sources of revenue are
diving and fishing

Australian scientists are warning of an environmental disaster in Micronesia as World War II wrecks start to leak fuel into the region's pristine lagoons.
The wrecks attract tourists from all over the world but now appear to be a serious pollution threat.
Thousands of Japanese and US vessels are scattered on the sea beds in the area and have become home to an abundance of marine life.
Micronesia is in the western Pacific Ocean and consists of 600 islands.
Diving and fishing are the region's main sources of revenue, but both could be severely damaged by a toxic threat that lurks in the tropical waters.
Scientists have said that an oil slick from a submerged ship is already contaminating the Chuuk lagoon, where dozens of Japanese vessels were sunk by American bombers...
read more @
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-
pacific/7603993.stm

Tags: WWII Wrecks in Micronesia, Marine and Conservation, Oil Spill, Polution, TOURISM, Fishing, Pacific Ocean, Operation Hailstone, Japanese WWII Wrecks, Chuuk Lagoon

Palau Tours very first YouTube appearance...check out this small slideshow...a lot more in the coming weeks on YouTube and Palau Tours...stay tuned or subscribe.
For more Photos on Palau please visit our PhotoGalery @ http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L_Ll7gVg6k

Tags: YouTube, Reisen, Tauch Urlaub, Unterkunft, Hotels, EXPLORE

Palau Micronesia one of the TOP 10 Dive Destinations quoted by Forbes Traveler in 2007
Blue Corner, Palau, Micronesia
Forbes Traveler
Blue Corner, Palau, teems with all manner of sea life—from turtles to barracudas and sharks. There are WWII wrecks, too. The current is fairly strong here, and most divers use a reef hook so you can "just kinda hang out and watch the action in front of you," says Tom Morrisey. "If you're lucky you'll see lots of sharks feeding naturally right in front of you… a lot people call it the best dive in the world." The best time to dive Palau is from October to early June.”

Your browser doesn't support JavaScript or you have disabled JavaScript.

Tags: Aktivitäten, Unterkunft, Pressemitteilungen, PALAU REISEN, Tauch Urlaub, Unterwasser

We picked up this very interesting article today...

With sufficient public support and resulting political will,
we can turn the tide.
Nicholas Dulvy, SSG

Sharks swim closer to extinction
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Sharks Swimming into trouble...
an Environmental message from
palautours.com
Protect our OCEAN & Natural Resources



© Gunther Deichmann - Blue Corner Palau, Micronesia.
"How much longer can we and our Children enjoy these
amazing creatures?"

More than half of the world's ocean-going sharks are at risk of extinction, a new analysis concludes.
Specialists with IUCN (formerly the World Conservation Union) found that 11 species are on the high-risk list, with five more showing signs of decline.
Sharks are particularly affected by over-fishing as they reproduce slowly.
The scientists are calling for global catch limits, an end to the practice of removing fins, and measures to minimize incidental catches (by-catch).

"There's this idea that because these are widely ranging species, they're more resilient to fishing pressure," said Sonja Fordham, deputy chair of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG) and policy director for the Shark Alliance conservation group.
"In fact they're becoming species of serious concern because there are no international catch limits for sharks. There are intense fisheries on the oceans, and they remain pretty much unprotected."

New threats

The SSG assessed data on the 21 species of sharks and their close cousins, the rays, that swim in upper portions of the open ocean where they are exposed to fishing fleets.
Of the 21, one - the giant devilray - is assessed as Endangered, and 10 are Vulnerable.

A further five are listed as Near Threatened, which means the signs of decline are not serious enough yet to merit a full listing...
please read the whole article with photos @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7413948.stm

Tags: Science, Protect THE SHARKS, Extinction

It is easy NOW to travel to Palau Micronesia, we have updated our BLOG PAGES applied a little make up like added the actual weather info on Palau and fixed a few other things, but most important added some sponsored links.
Furthermore we have updated our main site with more nice photos and filled in some missing text...

How You get to Palau? Where is Palau?
Very easy with the Filipino Travel Center in Manila
We like to introduce you today to one of our first Travel Agencies…Filipino Travel.



http://www.filipinotravel.com.ph/

They have years of experience and could help you also to spend some extra days in the Philippines if you arrive from abroad and like to continue to Palau Micronesia, click on the link for more information.
If you living in the Philippines go and see them and you find they can make all your travel arrangements to and from Palau plus a lot more.
Traveling to PALAU & to all other destinations in MICRONESIA from the Philippines has just become a lot easier.

For all other info we have also added the Palau Visitors Authority PVA as a permanent link.



http://www.visit-palau.com/

Tags: Filipino Travel, PALAU Travels

This information is been brought to you palautours.com

Did YOU Know? Fast flying fish glides by ferry
Courtesy of BBC

Click the screenshot or this link to watch the video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7410421.stm

The flying fish takes to the air...watch the video @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7410421.stm
Some remarkable footage of a flying fish has been captured by a TV crew filming off the southern tip of Japan. It is claimed to be one of the longest recorded flights of this acrobatic animal.

The fish was completely airborne for 45 seconds. This beats one previous, impressive report from an American researcher in the 1920s of 42 seconds. The animal is seen travelling parallel to a ferry, which itself is motoring at about 30km/hour (20mph).
The fish was able to continue flying by occasionally beating the surface of the water with its tail fin. The footage was shot by an NHK crew as it travelled to Yakushima Island.
According to Junji Yonezawa, at the Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Outlying Islands, the animal's flight-time of 45 seconds must be close to its physical limit, as brachial respiration is impossible while moving through the air.
There are some 40 species of "flying fish" in the family known as Exocoetidae. The animals are found worldwide in warmer waters. Their flight ability comes from a glide rather than a powered flapping.

Tags: Flying fish, Marine, Science

We are happy to announce that the following updates have been completed on the PalauTours.com website:


© Gunther Deichmann - Blue Hole
Palau Micronesia
http://www.palautours.com/

More than 60 dive sites with descriptions (click on the image above) have been placed now, we are still working on some of the images in the right order but all the information is now there.

Completed the Wreck Diving pages

Updated also the Research & Conservation page have added detailed info (see below or click on the image)



Under Hotel accommodation PPR is now available.
Under Other Business establishments Palau Helicopters is now offering their service we also added the Palau Shop
A few pages still being worked on but will be available very shortly, in the meantime enjoy the site.
Your Palau Tours Team
http://www.palautours.com/

Tags: Hotels, Helicopters, Conservation, DIVING, Shopping, Wreck Diving,

We have just received this very interesting information regarding this article from our friend and supporter Mr. Walter Ty, thanks Walter.

Whales are 'cheetahs of the deep'

A pilot whale was seen to surface with squid in its mouth Super-fast pilot whales have been observed sprinting after prey, likely to include giant squid.
The rapid pursuit has brought comparisons with the fleet-footed land predator, the cheetah.
The cetaceans even use the same, highly specialized hunting strategy that cheetahs use, scientists report in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
They say it gives the lie to our perception that deep sea whales are slow, energy-saving creatures... more on this fascinating story @
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7400788.stm

Tags: Marine, Mammals, Conservation, Save our Planet, Science

A conservation issue...just arrived from Palau...see also the previous blog from Palau re.Ban on Live Reef Fish Ban... NEW Law signed in by the the President of the Republic of Palau.

I am very delighted to report that Palau’s Legislative and Executive Branches have come together to support individual states in bringing an end to the controversial practice of “Live Reef Fisheries” in Palau with the recent signing in to law of a bill outlawing the destructive practice. The people and leaders of Palau’s northerly states of Ngarchelong and Kayangel sought the assistance of the national government to help protect Palau’s environmentally important Northern Reefs.
The issue of Live Reef Fisheries first came to public attention through postings made on this blog dating back to 11/19/07 and continuing through 12/08/07. After the story on Live Reef Fisheries first broke on this blog a great deal of public debate and very close scrutiny took place on the environmental impact caused by this unsustainable and destructive fishing practice. States then appealed to the national government for assistance in ending the practice.
President Remengesau, Senator Alan Seid, Members of the OEK, and the leadership of Ngarchelong and Kayangel States are to be commended for their actions to protect Palau’s natural resources and marine environment from unsustainable exploitation.
For more on the issue of Live Reef Fisheries, please refer to these earlier posts on the subject on this blog

Tags: Conservation, Protect, reef fish, export ban, PALAU

More updates have just been implemented including the ff. Conservation Society, Hotels, Bar and Restaurants, Event calendar and you might like to have a sneak preview what is coming for the Palau Dive sites...we are almost there. A street directory with a supporting Map is also on he way.

One of the unique and special features in Palau are the amazing Jellyfish lakes...yes, there are more than one but due to the fragile environment only one has been made accessible for the public.

© Gunther Deichmann- Aerial view of Palau's Jellyfish Lake,
special thanks to Palau Helicopters and Matt the cool Pilot
click on the image or the link for more photos on Palau.
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html

Jellyfish Lake is one of about 70 marine lakes found within the Rock Islands of Palau. This is a marine basin surrounded by a limestone island but connected to the inner lagoon by small and large channels or tunnels that course their ways through the rock. Some basins are connected to the lagoon by relatively wide channels that boats can navigate and others are almost completely isolated, connected only through microscopic cracks and fissures through the limestone
There are actually several marine basins in Palau...read more @ http://www.palautours.com/tour-jellyfish.html

Tags: Conservation, Hotels, TOURS, Marine, Bio Diversity, Jellyfish

Late breaking NEWS from PALAU Micronesia!
...brought to you by palautours.com

Ban on live fish export becomes law in Palau Micronesia
a step in the right direction to preserve Palau's natural
environment and unique Bio-diversity.

See below excerps from a News Paper article by the
Horizon News Staff

With a stroke of his pen, president Tommy Remengesau, Jr. has put a stop to the export of live reef fish yesterday in Bai Mengeliakl,
Ngarchelong. Remengesau signed into law the Senate Bill.
President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. makes it clear, the significance of stopping the exportation of live reef fish yesterday.

Tags: Conservation, Nature, Protect, Environment, Bio Diversity

PalauTours.com Now... Welcome to Micronesia!
The colors of the Pacific...
(FSM - The Federated States of Micronesia)


Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) - Yap - Kosrae & Pohnpei
Click the image or the link below
http://www.palautours.com/micronesia.html

As promised... we have just updated the
palautours.com site changes and NEW additions are as follow;
Micronesia section is updated see the screenshot on this blog - a Palau and Regional map has been added -
in the Photo Gallery we have now provided caption on all the images for easy identification - Getting here is
been updated - some pages have additional text - plus we have changed some photos in various categories.
More to come by this weekend and an incredible update is in progress for the Dive sites of Palau, we will feature
most of the dive sites and not only the popular ones, a big undertaking but I am sure you enjoy it once that is done.
We try very hard to have our first listings up also by Sunday, please stay tuned or start subscribing.
Your Palau Tours Team

Tags: PALAU, MICRONESIA, FSM, Federated States of MICRONESIA, Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Island hopping

PALAUTOURS.COM
Your Tour Guide to Palau and Micronesia



© Gunther Deichmann - Kayaks in the Rock Islands, Palau
click the image and go to our Gallery @
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html

PALAUTOURS.COM is a unique and very informative site for
all Your requirements before traveling to Palau in Micronesia.

The site is fully up and running but we have to fix some minor glitches
and add some more exciting pages for you.
By this coming weekend we should have everything just about in place.

The interesting part is, not only Palau will be represented but we include
islands like Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae in due time.
Just stay tuned or subscribe to our RSS feed for the latest developments.

With these addition we bring you a lot closer to this amazing part of the world, You dont get any closer to Nature...above and below the waves.

To some extend these islands are still unexplored in parts hence the recent discovery of some unusual inhabitants (see our last blog) the scientist are still debating who and where these small people came from. PalauTours.com is trying to keep you well informed from this part of the World, not only on leisure activities, but news on Marine life, Science projects, discoveries and of course environmental related issues. If you have any interesting stories please dont hold back, send it to us, we love to publish it.



© Gunther Deichmann - Hotel, Resorts, Restaurant and Bar
Guide/Information
on Palau...click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html



© Gunther Deichmann - Duty Free & Retail stores, Tour Operators
Government offices, Conservation & Medical services
plus a lot more...click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html



© Gunther Deichmann - the World famous Blue Hole and
Blue Corner, Palau, plus many more different dive sites in our
Dive section including Dive Centers & Dive Resorts...
click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html

We like YOU to use Palau Tours as your Resort, Hotel, Restaurant, Dive & Tour guide... YOU be amazed how beautiful this part of the world really is.
The Editor

Tags: MICRONESIA, Hotels, Resorts, Information, TOURS

WELCOME TO THE PEARLS OF THE PACIFIC
...one of Natures best kept secrets.



© Gunther Deichmann - special thanks to Palau Helicopters
and Matt the Pilot, view at the 70 islands.

Click on the Images and go to our completed
Photo Gallery on Palau

The official launch of the PALAU TOURS Website…
some more fine tuning has to be done and a few glitches
have to be ironed out, however our Blog is out to keep
you posted and informed around the clock.

The Palau Tours website is totally independent and
neutral, conceived more than 12 month ago with the
aim in providing YOU up to date information
on Palau and Micronesia. Information on the Environment,
Hotels, Resorts, Diving, Tours, Shopping and much more.
Soon we provide you with a complete list of Establishments,
Government Services and local Operators.



© Gunther Deichmann - Palau Pacific Resort,
PPR, Your place in Palau.

At present we are going through our test phase and work
around the clock improving the site as we go…
The site will also be in different languages once the
English part is all finalized and has been approved by
the management.
Our aim is to show YOU Palau like you have never
seen it before, not only with stunning images but also
with good and informative text, so that when you
arrive in Palau you are all set to go, be it under or
above the waves.

We are AWARE of Palau’s fragile Environment and
support the Palau Conservation Society for it’s never
ending efforts in preserving Palau’s natural resources.

The Editor

Tags: Hotel, RESORTS, Places To Stay, Activities, Rock islands,, Diving,

As mention above in my headline we are working non stop to give you the ultimate site from Micronesia, please have patience but soon, very soon we are finished a few more days...now we have to get some rest and sleep...I think you understand, Thank you.Soon we bring YOU amazing articles from this fantastic region.
from the Palau Tours Team Good, night... or G,morning...


© Gunther Deichmann - Pinchers Lagoon, Palau Micronesia

Tags: Soon Available, Palau, Micronesia, Website, Travel info, Diving,

We are almost there...the Palau Tours website almost completed ready for you to use...the most comprehensive and informative site on the NET soon for YOU to browse. Please stay tuned or subscribe to our Blog. Visit Palau Tours @ www.palautours.com

GD

© Gunther Deichmann - Milky Way, Palau Micronesia

Tags: Diving, Travel, Websites, Palau, Nature

Walter Ty has done it again...thanks so much...from what I have heard the spawning is over...you lucky divers who had been in Palau during this time. Maybe the visibility was not so great to see all the other marine life...but then the coral spawning is something not to be missed...natures gift to man and a reminder that we have to take care of our environment...ironically the month of April is suppose to be the green month...I guess Palau has both, above it is green and below during the spawning it is all pink.
What a contrast!
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - Is this what it looked like in Palau???
For some real images go to the link provided below...
this is only an artist impression.

The annual mass spawning of corals on the Palau archipelago in the western Pacific has occurred right on cue. With Sunday night's full moon, coral polyps let forth a huge swathe of sperm and egg, to seed the next generation.

The event was short-lived - only about 30 minutes - but so vast in its scale that it turned the sea water pink. Scientists from Palau, Australia and the UK are studying the practicality of collecting coral larvae to help restore damaged reefs elsewhere.

See what a mass spawning at Palau looks like (Reefvid.org)
As we got into the boat for our trip to Luke's reef, I admit I was not really expecting to see the mass spawning on the exact night of the full Moon. All the visiting scientists here thought it was more likely the reproductive extravaganza would happen the next evening or the following one - based on what had happened the last two years. The only person who seemed sure it would happen on cue was Steven Victor, the Palauan director of the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Local knowledge was spot on, as it turned out.
Almost as soon as the boat engine switched off, we got a sense that something might be brewing... you have to see and read the whole story...and images
@ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7358423.stm