Palau

When Palau is mentioned in conversation, the first questions generally asked are "Where is Palau?" and "How far is that?" The questions are understandable; the country consists of an isolated cluster of small islands huddled together over 500 miles from the nearest major land mass. Still, Palau routinely ranks among the top dive spots in the world. Throngs of mask-wearing and tank-toting tourists from all over the globe make it their destination each year and discover its treasures. So, why would a non-diver spend more than 20 hours traveling to one of the world's most pristine dive destinations? Because Palau is packed with adventure above and below the water, its thick jungle hillsides are full of history from a terrible and bloody war, wildlife is beautiful and bountiful, and because an ancient and mysterious archeological site is awaiting exploration. Palau is a perfect slice of the Micronesian region of the South Pacific and an excellent place to get very, very far away.

Palau garners attention mostly for its sharks and the colorful fish that reside in its coral reefs, but there are other intriguing waterborne creatures swimming in and around the islands that deserve a second look. Dolphins are commonly sighted swimming along with dive and fishing boats alike