Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is made up of around 300 islands, small green mushrooms bathed in turquoise waters, pristine beaches of snow-white sand and vegetation as intensely green as it is lush. Its seabed is unique for its transparent waters, its rich flora and fauna, and for the traces of the Second World War that are still there, reminding us of what must not be repeated. It is a region of the planet where great ocean currents converge, loaded with a large amount of nutrients and attracting many animals. Sharks, mantas rays, large batteries of barracudas, turtles and even marlins, the fastest fish in the sea, are common on every dive. But if anything is truly surprising, it is what comes next.
The Jellyfish Lake
Located on one of the "rock islands", this lake was cut off from the sea a long time ago and the jellyfish that lived there are trapped here forever. In the process of adapting to their new environment, with no prey to feed on and no predators to defend themselves against, these jellyfish (unique in the world) have lost their ability to sting. So what do they feed on? Well, what they could find: algae. This allowed us to enjoy a unique and impressive session with animals that are as rare as they are fascinating. To be able to experience such a beautiful scene is something that is hard to put into words.
Peleliu Express
A unique experience both in and out of the water - the combination of natural paradise and war history makes this island a must. Peleliu was the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II between the Japanese and Americans, in which 20,000 people died in three months. It is hard to imagine that such a terrible battle could have taken place on such a small island. On land, the remains of bombed-out bunkers, tanks and amphibious vehicles inevitably take you back to that moment. Underwater, seaplanes and the dreaded Japanese “zero” fighters become a natural refuge for the clownfish.
But the most special attraction is a particular point where two major ocean currents meet. This time we can't stay on the surface. We all jump into the water and dive down to the seabed to avoid being separated by the current. Equipped with a harness, a rope and a grappling hook, we anchor ourselves to the rocks, let go and... we fly! I remember a moment during the dive when the current was so strong that when I turned my head, it ripped the regulator out of my mouth. And that's when I realised I had a shark next to me, looking at me in amazement, as if thinking... "What is this tourist doing stuck to the rocks?" What struck me most at that moment was that the shark was completely still, swimming against the current. If I had let go, the current would have taken me away at full speed without me being able to do anything. The shark wasn't even flapping its fins. It was basically 'surfing' the current. The hydrodynamics of sharks are undoubtedly perfect, I couldn't help thinking. The Republic of Palau is an absolutely unique experience not to be missed. You can read about it, but it is much better to experience it first-hand.
