KOROR STATE GOVERNMENT MARINE TOUR GUIDE ... - C3

Yikrel a Bub (Blue Holes)
This site has a large cavern with four holes on top of the reef allowing natural light to
filter in. The cavern and holes were formed years ago when water levels were much
lower than today. When the sea is calm, divers usually enter the cavern through one of
the holes on top of the reef flat and descend slowly through a wide tube that has many
lace hydroids growing on the walls. Soldierfish and fairy basslets are found inside the
tube. Once divers descend to about 18m inside the cave they will notice thick beams of
natural light entering from the four skylights above. The bottom of the cavern consists
mainly of sand and rubble. No current is present inside the cavern. Two exits are
readily apparent. The larger one is between 20m and 60m and the other exit is around
15m. Divers usually spend 10-15 minutes inside the cavern, and then begin drifting with
the wall on the left towards Blue Corner (only possible during outgoing tides). There is
almost always an eddy of water just outside the holes. Divers will have slight current
against them for 10 minutes before being pulled towards the Corner. Going slowly
divers will notice lots of large marbled groupers, purple queen anthias, nudibranchs, one
spot and humpback snapper along the wall. Whitetips may often be found sleeping in
crevices along the wall. If the tide is incoming then divers may spend more time inside
blue holes and drift with the wall on their right once exiting. Towards the back of the
cavern there is a small entrance to a cave (called the Temple of Doom). The cave goes
back almost 100m into the reef and no natural light can be seen once entering. Two
lines have been set inside the cave. The silty bottom drops to 40m and the top goes up
at least 18m. There are two complete turtle skeletons inside the cave that are the only
attraction. Proper cave diving training is recommended for all divers.
Yikrel a Cheleu (New Drop Off)
There is a shallow plateau south of blue corner along the barrier reef. Drop in with the
wall on your left. There are Dendronepthya soft corals, sea fans, and large anemones
along wall. Gray reef sharks and white tip sharks cruise with the current along the edge
of the drop-off. Schools of redtooth triggerfish, pyramid butterfly fish, and fusiliers are
out in the current along the wall. After several minutes of drifting, divers come upon
several cuts in the reef where circular currents called eddies occur. Divers feel the
current for a minute or two, and possibly a down draft inside these cuts. Divers may
hook in on the edge of the plateau, from 15m to 18m to watch shark aggregations.
Large Spanish mackerel are commonly found with the sharks. On top of plateau, that is
about 10m, there are schools of blue-lined and long-spot snapper, clown triggerfish,
peach fairy basslets, Napolean wrasse, and blackspot barracuda. Leaf fish can be
found in sand/rubble cuts and flame angelfish are uncommon. Divers must be
especially careful of nesting triggerfish around full moon, as they get aggressive and are
known to nip at fins.
Bkul a Chomruchel (Peleliu Corner)
The southern reef in Peleliu extends far outward from the island, and eventually slopes
to a sharp corner. On the western side of the plateau, there is reef cut at a depth of
15m. At this site, high currents hit the wall and go up and over the edge onto the
plateau. Sharks aggregate at the cut surfing the currents along with king mackerel,
yellow-fin surgeonfish, and redtooth triggerfish. It is the rather strong current that brings
all these predators to this area. At the start of the dive, divers generally drift along
Peleliu wall for a short distance, and then use the reef hook at the cut to watch the
action. After unhooking, divers usually drift into the shallower part of the plateau, also
known as the Peleliu Aquarium. When the current is right, divers may begin their dive at
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