After a dozen trips in the past 30 years, we are happy to report that Palau is as good as ever. If you haven’t been there yet, make sure that this one gets on your bucket list. Our trip started with a little rest and relaxation to adjust to the time difference at the famous Palau Pacific Resort. We have been staying there since it was first built in the mid 80’s and it is as beautiful now as it was when it first opened. How nice is it? When the President of Palau entertained a group of Saudi Sheiks that week, he did it at this resort. Although we didn’t dive from there, they do have a wonderful dive operation, Splash, located on site. We also spent a short time there for a decompression stop after our week of diving on the Palau Aggressor.
Our group consisted of the normal group of suspects, plus the addition of Carl and Betty Hubinger of Hemlock, MI and Chris Konyn of Waterloo, WS. Congratulations to Chris on the completion of her Nitrox certification. As normal with this group, everyone dived with Nitrox to add a bit of safety margin to the week’s intensive dive schedule. Carl Lund, Oak Park, MI, showed up on the trip with one of Rec Diving’s new 35th Anniversary T-Shirts. We do have to say that he is one that can proudly wear it, as he has been diving with Rec Diving for that entire 35 years, including the first Palau trip in the late 70’s. Karl met his significant other, Juanita Fanto, Warren, MI, on one of Rec Diving’s Cayman trips. Mark and Ellen Bramson, San Diego, CA, marked their 25th year diving with Rec Diving, along with one of Mark’s many birthday celebrations on a Rec Diving trip. The most significant was probably his 50th that was celebrated in Truk Lagoon on the 50th Anniversary of Operation Hailstone. We were also honored to have with us Her Honor, Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly and her husband, Dr. Don Newman. Marilyn was honored in Palau with a special dinner with the Chief Justice and his staff of the Palau Supreme Court along members of our group. Colette Witherspoon, Port Huron, MI, Assistant Chief of the St. Clair County Sherriff’s Dive Team and retired commercial diver kept the group in line. She did have her hands full with Capt Pete Lindquist, Munising MI, the owner of Shipwreck Tours. We are sure that many of you have dived with Capt. Pete on his famous Glass Bottom Boat, the Fireball.
As for the diving, we will let you read about it below direct from the Captain’s Log for the Palau Aggressor II. We would be remiss though if we didn’t tell you that the crew aboard the Palau Aggressor II was one of the finest that we have ever had on any trip. Congratulations to Capt Mike and his entire staff for giving us one of the finest weeks of diving that we have ever had.
Mike and Linda Kohut, Group Leaders
Palau Aggressor II Log Date: Sunday, February 14th, 2010 Entry By: Palau Crew
Air Temperature 80-90 deg Water Temperature 80-82 deg F (26 Celsius) Visibility 50-120 ft
Wetsuits: 3 mil, bring a hood or vest if you get cold easily
Crew this week: Captain Mike, 2nd Capt. Martin, Instructor and video pro Amanda, Divemaster Mark, Divemaster and Engineer Hector, Skiff driver Nick, Chef Scott and Stewardess Loly.
This week we had a fabulous group from the Royal Oak, Michigan area USA. Mike and Linda of the famous "Rec Diving" brought a great group of divers. All divers were very experienced and most had been in Palau several times before with Rec Diving. Mike and Linda have been running groups for years with Aggressor Fleet and it was a pleasure to finally meet and dive with them. If you live in their area "or not" contact these guys. They take great care of their divers and you could not ask for more from a team that has been in the industry this long. Don and Marilyn were great fun; the only problem was when you gave a dive briefing in front on Marilyn you felt like you might have been on trial! Just kidding Marilyn! Pete and Chris had a wonderful time but every time they even came close to the area of a giant clam the clams would hide, so they never did get to see one. Good reason to come back again Pete. Happy Birthday once again to Carl and Mark and we hope to see you on many more trips! Colette had some great stories but one thing I do know is she can dive with me anytime. Ellen we hope you finally feel better and we are awaiting your return to make up for all the dives you missed this week.
Sightings: This Monday we started with Ulong Island and Ulong Gardens where we had a manta come calling on the first dive with schools of goat fish, grey reef sharks, schooling jacks and numerous butterflies. We warmed up on Siaes Wall before moving on to the German Channel area where we finished off the day with Big Drop Off and German Channel where we had small baitballs, red anemone, giant clams and beautiful hard corals. Tuesday we started with the famous Blue Corner and New Drop off with plenty of shark action as well as schools of barracuda, jack and black snapper. The divers were able to watch the Napoleon wrasse in the middle of their mating rituals. The Napoleons did not seem to mind! We finished the afternoon with Ferns Wall and Ngedebus Corner both bringing great soft corals and seafans, giant clams, fusiliers and the rare and ever allusive pyramid butterfly fish. Wednesday we were back at German Channel for a morning dive that was spectacular! We had mantis shrimp, twin spot gobies, lion fish, a giant bait ball being chased by grey reef sharks, Spanish mackerel and huge dog tooth tuna and we finished up the dive with a manta ray cruising over everyone's head! We went for Blue Holes next and made it down the wall to Blue Corner, Dexters Wall and Turtle Cove showing off the great macro diving Palau has to offer. Thursday back to Blue Corner and what a dive it was! Napoleon wrasse, turtles, schools of jacks, lion fish, leaf fish, anemones fish with their eggs and all the shark action you could ever wish for! We finished off the afternoon by going over to Ngerchong Island and we could hunt for the cuttlefish that sometimes reside in the Ngerchong coral garden and we were not disappointed as we saw and were able to take photo's with 3 cuttlefish. Friday we were back at Ulong Island to dive the famous Ulong Channel and Siaes Tunnel for some more great dives! Ulong Channel was filled with sharks and giant clams and we had wonderfull rides through the channel with the current flowing in our favor. Saturday we finished up with Jellyfish Lake, Wonder Channel and Chandelier Cave. SPECTACULAR WEEK!!
Weather: The weather was beautiful all week! The waters were calm. The currents just right. We had winds that reached 20-30 knots at times. And the sun was out all week. Please keep in mind that the weather can change in a moments notice so it is a good idea to bring windbreakers and a warm sweatshirt. Of course there is our boutique full of things that can keep you warm if you want to take a souvenir home with you.
Thank you, Mike & Linda, Marilyn & Don, Pete & Chris, Mark & Ellen, Betty & Carl, Karl & Juanita, Colette, Bill & Vickie, Dave & Linda for a truly wonderful week of diving and company.
As always Safe Diving
Capt. Mike