It only stands to reason that I would choose the best photo from our photo class to represent Palau. That, and the fact that Palau is one of the premier dive sites of the world. Both Scott and I made giant strides in our underwater photography. Scott is hoping to get going on some underwater videos. I'm still in a steep learning curve building my diving skills and confidence. But, hey, It's all fun! OH, and Nemo's real name is pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) and he lives in bubble coral!

Here we are out in the dinghy exploring the area around the anchorage.

Scott's driving us down to a little place shaped like a crab pincher, called "Pincher's."

Here are a few shots from under water: On the right is a pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)

These jellyfish are from an isolated lake where these non-stinging jellyfish live.

On the right, a moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus).

Besides my favorite idol here's another jellyfish shot I thought you'd like.

These underwater monsters (left) really scared us! Just kidding, it's Kimberly and Larry!

These giant clams are pretty amazing. There's quite a big push to increase the population of these beautiful creatures, as they provide food and other industry (snorkelers and shops like to sell them to tourists.).

On the left a sex-banded angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriantus).

AND on the right a beautiful manta ray (Manta birostris).

Palau has some pretty neat places to eat also. Left is Scott & I with Kim & Larry.

On the right are some of my little girlfriends that we became acquainted with in Palau. The two little blond girls were on a boat from Australia. They finally were grounded on a reef in Yap, but were able to repair their boat (from what I understand). I'm not aware of their trip after that.

The two little Chinese girls belong to an American couple whose friendship we rekindled in Hong Kong, China. The family toured part of China, spending their time at an orphanage where one girl had lived as an infant. They went on to Japan where Mom had to return to the States to be with an aging father. Linzie and MeiMei rose to the occasion becoming exemplary crew for Dad as he continued their cruise through Japan.

Joel arrived in Palau shortly before our trip to the Philippines. We took our dinghy with a guide and lots of fuel to a site that was the source of Yap stone money in times past. Joel is standing on a huge piece of stone money. Not only was the money interesting, but being on one of the outlying islands was also pretty interesting. The Palauans call the surrounding islands "rock" islands. Now I get it! There is nothing on the islands except rocks and some trees and bushes that have managed to eek out an existence over to centuries. There's very little ground cover, some ferns, bracken, leaf debris and almost no top soil. So, no humans could survive on these islands without outside support.

On the way back to the boat the tide had shifted and our engine could not work for lack of depth. So, here's our guide and Scott paddling and pushing the boat over the shallows.