Joel BergsmaUnderwater photographer · Expedition diver
Underwater photograph by Joel Bergsma

Republic of Palau | Western Pacific07°21'N 134°29'E2011 to 2022

Palau

Six trips to Palau since 2011, diving with Sam's Tours and Neco Marine through the Rock Islands. Blue Corner, German Channel, Chandelier Cave, Jellyfish Lake and a string of WWII wrecks, including the Helmet Wreck and the Iro Maru, fill the catalog.

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Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaManta Ray2012-02-07 Ngerechong Outer Drop-Off (4).JPGThe Coral Bridge, a divesite west of Babeldaop Island.
2012-02-05 Dives (2).JPGWhitetip Shark with full tailfin.A school of Trevally swirls above me.Trevally school on top of the reef. This formation is referred to by divers as a "bait ball" because it attracts attention from larger marine predators.
Port Hole.Photo taken on the Main deck of the WWII Wreck Nagisan Maru.Looking toward the Bow of the Japanese LST wreck, which lies upside down in two large pieces and some smaller items. The LST is a "292-foot long Japanese landing ship, designed to carry landing crafts, tanks, midget submarines, cargo and troops. Lies at 20m/66ft to 30m/99ft."Shark
Des;ending from the sole reef top entry to the Virgin Blue Hole, PalauBlacktip Shark whose dorsal fin has been bitten off by another shark.Looking out of the cavern from its largest exit point to the vertical reef wall. On this dive, we entered the cavern through this hole because high surf precluded a reef top entry.Manta Ray
Cornetfish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 400.Return boat ride through the Rock Islands, Palau.Triggerfish. (Two blades on the tail.)Traffic Jam. Divers descend through one of the blue holes.
Blotcheye Soldierfish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 108.White-Spotted Hermit Crab. See Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification - Tropical Pacific (2010) at page 162.Palau's new capitol bulding, housing the 3 branches of its federal government.2011-01-23 Palau Pac Resort (1).JPG
2011-01-20 Sam's Wall Dive (6).JPGLooking up toward the opening of the blue hole as we descend toward the cavern below.Bow of the wreck is being reclaimed for the ocean by hard coral and oysters.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. We were told that each Nautilus diving day the Nautiluses are brought up slowly from 200 meters. After the dive, they are returned to that depth and released. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.
2011-01-15 above water view of Jellyfish Lake (1).JPGA beautiful Golden Jellyfish with six nematocyst-bearing tentacles. Jellyfish Lake, Palau, 2011. See Paul Humann, et al, Reeff Creature Identification (2010), page 17.Photo opp. A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. Note its tail is curved behind it as it circles.A blue clam disguises itself by reflecting the color of the blue coral to its right. A "clam has no head, and usually has no eyes, (scallops are a notable exception), but a clam does have kidneys, a heart, a mouth, and an anus." [Wikipedia.]
2011-01-14 Ulong Island for lunch (1).JPG2011-01-14 Chandelier Cave. Divers, dive guides, captain and boat used.Continental is merging into United, so the flight is designated a United flight.Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Underwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel BergsmaUnderwater photograph by Joel Bergsma
Manta RayA Many-Spotted Sweetlips takes refuge in a large sea fan found along the Ngerechong Island Outer Drop-Off. The small deep blue and yellow fish swimming above the Sweetlips is a cleaner wrasse.Approaching the Coral Bridge.2012-02-05 Dives (6).JPG
Whitetip Shark missing the top pointed portion of her tailfin.A school of Trevally swirls around in a funnel shape above meClearfin Lizardfish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 296.Penetrating the wreck's cargo holds. The silt in the water causes back scatter from my flash.
Support Beam Wreckage. Photo taken on the Main deck of the WWII Wreck Nagisan Maru.The LST's very large rudder lies upside down on the ocean floor. The LST was bombed, split in two, and sunk upside down.Napoleon Wrasse aka Humphead Wrasse. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 193.Looking from the cavern up at the entrance to the Virgin Blue Hole, Palau, from about 90'.
Greasy Grouper with its bulging eyes.Looking toward an entrance to one of the blue holes from inside the cavern.Manta RayA Clark's Anemonefish and a rare pink sea anemone live symbiotically near the German Channel. Orange-finned Anemonefish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 64.
Many-Spotted Sweetlips.Whitetip Soldierfish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 239.Looking up at a solo diver descending from one of the blue holes lit far above.Orange-finned Anemonefish. See Gerald Allen, et al, Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific (2003) at page 64.
White-Spotted Hermit Crab. See Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification - Tropical Pacific (2010) at page 162.Korean memorial to its citizens who died in Palau during World War II.2011-01-23 Palau Pac Resort (2).JPG2011-01-20 mandarinfish.JPG
Looking up as two divers prepare to enter the cavern through one of the blue holes. At the depth at which this photo was taken, the water's surface is no longer clearly visible.Oysters are abundant among the coral on this wreck explored during a night dive in Palau 2011.

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