Page 124 - Micronesia
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gerchong North Coral Garden - Ngerchong outside wall is a proximately 25 feet and enjoy the show
N steep drop-off. It gets shallow and wide at the entrance to O range Beach - Orange Beach was the main invasion beach in
an effort to recapture Peleliu Island. The reef is littered with
Denges Channel, also known as Ngerchong Channel. The reef is many artifacts left behind from the WWII American invasion. Divers
shaped like a horseshoe and with a sandy bottom, Ngerchong delight in discovering the enormous anchors, pipes, hoses, cables,
inside curves toward Denges channel & is protected by the outer artillery shells, guns, etc. Reef Formation: Peleliu Coral Garden is a
reef wall. The wall is covered with a variety of soft and hard cor- beautiful coral reef to explore. The reef formation starts at Peleliu
als. Look for Gray Reef Sharks, Black Tips, White Tips & sometimes Corner and runs north for approximately 6 miles (9.7 kilometers)
Leopard sharks. From September-November Ngerchong Outside toward Ngedbus Island. The coral garden begins in the shallows,
is a nursery for baby Gray Reef Sharks. Look for large schools of just a few feet below the water; during low tide the top and upper
juvenile sharks around 10 inches long at around 60 feet, accom- reaches of the reef is exposed. At the outermost edge of the reef
panied by an adult female. Cleaning stations can be found along (55 feet/18 meters), the reef falls steeply to approximately 70 feet
the face of the reef wall around 60 feet. You may see shrimp, Crab, (23 m). Here the reef changes to a plateau constructed mainly of
Nudibranchs, Feather worms, Garden eels and many shells, Turtles sand and broken corals before falling away again. Many deep can-
and occasionally Mantas or Sting rays. yons and crevices cut this slope and offer shelter to a large variety
of marine life. Many species of tropical fish and large selection of
N gerchong South Coral Garden - There is usually no current invertebrates can be found here. Marble Rays, the well-camou-
present. Visibility is best on an incoming tide. This location is flaged Crocodile Fish and big schools of Bumphead Parrotfish are
know for Crocodile fish, Stingrays, Cuttlefish & the Ornate Eagle seen regularly. Cuttlefish can also reward the observant diver. At
Ray are commonly seen. Along the reefs edge Pyramid Butterfly the edge of the reef, due to the proximity of Peleliu Corner divers
fish and myriads of Red-toothed Triggerfish congregate. Schools may encounter large pelagic fish such as sharks, barracuda, sailfish
of Barracuda, Rudderfish, Snappers, Napoleon Wrasse, Lion fish, and blue marlin.
Emperors, Puffers, Turtles, as well as big pods of Spinner Dolphins
can be seen. Corals include Sea fans, Whip & Wire coral, healthy
soft corals. If the current is strong, hook on to the plateau at ap-
