Discover Palau’s Underwater Wonders And Thrilling Adventures

26.01.2024 - 16:52 / forbes.com

As we paddled along the edge of the hilly limestone islands blanketed with green foliage and occasional Rock Island white lilies, our small group of kayakers didn’t encounter another boat or person in the crystal-clear waters. It was so quiet you could hear the reef crabs tottering on the outcrops and the calls of birds swooping above.

It’s a challenge to find any undiscovered corner of the world, but Palau comes close. Of course, it’s not new (its first settlers arrived in 1000 B.C.), but travelers aren’t as familiar with the remote country between Guam and the Philippines. Yet they should be — Palau’s beauty is astonishing. The best way to see the archipelago’s more than 340 islands (only nine are inhabited) and the thriving marine ecosystem beneath them is aboard the newly renovated Four Seasons Explorer.

After flying into Palau International Airport in Koror, you’ll get picked up and driven to a dock, where a Four Seasons speedboat will bring you to the ship in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon for underwater adventures. The island nation has the world’s highest concentration of marine lakes and one of its most diverse coral reefs.

The 128-foot catamaran is like your own personal yacht — there are only 11 cabins for a maximum of 26 passengers, one restaurant and a bar. This intimate ship is great for cruise-averse travelers or those who don’t like crowds. But above all else, this is a special vessel for divers and snorkelers exploring Palau’s turquoise waters on their bucket-list-worthy trip.

Water Activities

The Explorer, which first started its Palau cruises in October, is a floating PADI 5-Star Dive Center. The stern is outfitted with diving and snorkeling equipment to make heading out for the included excursions easy (the accompanying dive boats and tenders help, too). You’ll set out on numerous trips with expert diver or snorkeler guides as well as your own paparazzi that record your underwater exploits.

Palau has more than 1,400 fish species, 500 coral species and several shipwrecks, making it a prime destination for underwater explorers. It was a treat to grab breakfast and hit the waves early for a snorkel, return to the vessel for lunch and then venture into the ocean for another round. The ship’s guides bring you to the best spots where you will be the only ones gliding through the water aside from the marine life. At our stops, we spotted juvenile hawksbill turtles; neon jellyfish; cobalt-blue starfish; gigantic, vibrantly patterned clams; and many schools of fish amid coral that resembled veiny brains, ginger knobs and avant-garde bowls.

The scuba set on our voyage also embarked on nighttime dives, which made for compelling video. Plunging to lower depths,