Page 87 - Micronesia
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10’ (3m) deep and 1200’ (365m) long, and it was cut through squirrelfish.
the reef by the Germans in the early 1900s. The main attraction
is not the myriad of reef fishes, the interesting shells, nor the YELLOW WALL Named after yellow tube corals that cover the
leopard sharks, but the parade of manta rays that use the chan- wall. Schools of jacks, snapper, triggerfish, and yellow pyramid
nel to go from the open ocean to the inner lagoon. The view is butterflyfish are common. Occasionally pelagic species are
especially good as the clear inflowing tide waters run through seen. Currents can be strong.
the channel. Good night dive.
PELELIU EXPRESS Advanced divers only. Currents can be severe
MANTA RAY CLEANING STATION 50’-60’ (15m - 18m) Just out- and unpredictable. At this site, divers may encounter blue mar-
side of German Channel in the sandy slope there are numerous lins, sailfish, pods of whales, barracuda, turtles, giant groupers,
coral heads where little cleaner wrasse pick the parasites off of and more. Caution: This is a challenging dive, recommended for
behemoth manta rays, as advanced divers only.
well as a few other customers, such as turtles. Mantas come
here to mate in the winter, but sometimes do not show up dur- AIRPORT WALL Maybe the best visibility in Palau is found here
ing the summer. Summer brings aggressive triggerfishes, which in the northwestern corner of Angaur Island. Large schools of
lay their eggs at the coral heads. tuna and jacks are seen. The walls are deeply creviced, and full
of invertebrates.
TURTLE COVE 10’-50’ (3m-15m) This sandy cove is a traditional
hawksbill turtle nesting site, but human encroachment has all TURTLE REEF The corals form overhangs, under \which large
but eliminated this phenomenon. The shallow reef flat has two green sea turtles like to rest.
swim-through tunnels leading to the outer reef wall. One lets
out at 25’ (7.5m), and the other at 50’ (15m). The wall is loaded
with soft corals, sea fans, pyramid butterflyfishes, and cute
