Safety Tips in Palau

As is likely common in many tropical islands you will find a fairly consistent weather pattern in the summer. The wet season in Palau is from May to november. In the early morning hours it will downpour for several hours in what feels like monsoon rains. The rain is warm and in walking in it is nearly as warm as a shower. After that clears up the sun will come out and the temperature will go from 70/80 to 90/100 degrees F (23 - 35 C). The humidity feels well beyond 100% and leaves you feeling sticky. The best advice is to just live with it after a few days it is not that bad. Wear thin loose fitting clothes and expect lots of rain. The annual rainfall per year is 150 inches (3.81 m).

When driving to the northern part of the island, it is important to understand that the roads are not finished and they can be very diffucult to travel.
On the first expidition north I went to see a waterfall called the Ngatpang Waterfall about 5 miles north of Koror. The roads did not seem too bad relative to the rest in Palau. They were bumpy but it made for a nice adventure, and the scenery made up for it.
The second expidition north was not so easy. I got brave and thought that further traveling north would be equally rewarding. I was headed for the Ngardmau Waterfall and on the way it started raining. The roads became mud pits and I lost traction going down a small hill.
Long story short, the rental car was stuck in a deep mud hole for 2 hours before a stroke of good luck. Governors from the northern states who were checking on the roads, helped us out of the ditch and were very friendly.

The roads in the north are more than difficult to travel in the rain. They are nearly impossible to travel. I thought that I was ready for some rough roads. I live in Washington State and I have been driving in snow since I learned how to drive. The muddy roads of Palau however were too much. I was going down a hill and started loosing control when I tried to brake and to stop the slide I drove with it but that sent me even further into the ditch. Result, car got very stuck.

You may ask, which the plethora of sharks around Palau, why there aren't any shark attacks reported...

I think the answer lies in the abundance of what can be termed "other stuff that tastes better to eat".

While a hungry shark might be tempted to go after a diver, there is more than enough fish to keep these big guys fed.

Whilst the sharks appear to be well behaved in the waters around Palau, best to beware of the Napoleons....

This big guy looks like he is about to make a tasty treat of of this poor unsuspecting diver....