Island Magic - a Gift from Palau

On a postcard day in March, a group of tourists were witness to one of nature's small miracles in the stunning Rock Islands of Palau.

A small group of guests of Fish 'n Fins dive shop left for diving at 6:00am to take advantage of the clear, calm mornings that Palau is blessed with this time of year. It's a time of awaking; the fish hungry and active, corals sending their tentacles out to the swift current, and sharks herding schools of fish to select their first bite of the day.

It was on their leisurely tour to one of Palau's famous Rock Islands that the magic of the day continued. While having lunch at the secluded beach, hundreds of baby turtles were hatching around them, wriggling their way towards the ocean for their first swim. The group was speechless as they witnessed an estimated 300 baby turtles hatch from their nests in the sand.

"We are fortunate in Palau that we are still able to retain a balance between our tourism industry and our delicate environment," commented Tova Har-El, owner of Fish 'n Fins and President of the Belau Tourism Association. "It's these small gifts from nature that remind us just how lucky we are to be in Palau."

Fish 'n Fins dive shop is renowned for their friendly environmental practices and personalized rock island and land tours. For more information, view their web site at www.fishnfins.com

Special thanks to Shibata San, whose love of Palau has brought him to Palau again and again. By allowing us to show his photos (right), turtle lovers can share this wonderful experience.