30 May 2010
We were diving at Ulong Channel (the second dive of the day), one of the premier dive spots in Palau and my personal favorite. Before we entered, a pod of Pilot Whales decided to join us during our surface interval so we were able to slide in the water for a few moments to see them. That was only the start of this amazing dive.
We dropped in and a slight current guided us along the amazing coral filled walls teeming with fish until we reached the mouth of the channel. As we reached the mouth the incoming current started to pick up as we reef hooked in to watch the show. Sharks began to come from all around - to many to count - followed by Dog Tooth Tuna and Giant Trevally. It was quite the show, we stayed for 40 minutes just at the mouth of the channel.
Afterwards, we unhooked our reef hooks and the current swept us back into the channel for the ride of a lifetime. Ulong is a “false natural channel” lined with some of the most incredible lettuce coral in the world. On the incoming current you feel like you’re flying over these vast coral cities filled with life. As we come out the other side, our adrenaline pumping, we gradually ascend to our safety stop with smiles all around - but it is not over yet! As we continued to drift with the current we noticed some intense action below. Two large Giant Trevally’s have found a school of scad and are slowly working them into a bait ball. All of the sudden the attack begins as the GT’s attack the moving bait ball. The commotion and vibration bring sharks and other predators from all around creating a feeding frenzy. As the last fish is gobbled up the action subsides… our three minute safety-stop has reached six minutes. Quite the way to end the day.
Marc E. Bauman
Director of Sales and Marketing
Sam's Tours Palau
