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Diving in Norway, – Svestad Brygge, Oslo

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Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Diving in Norway, – Svestad Brygge, Oslo

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Today we are diving in Norway, at Svestad Brygge near Oslo

WHY ARE WE DIVING IN NORWAY?

Norway is a beautiful Scandinavian country with stunning mountains, glaciers, and deep coastal fjords. These fjords were cut into the land creating inlets of water that are surrounded by steep cliffs and scenery.

With water, comes diving, and today we are going to Svestad Brygge, a place known as one of the best places for all certification levels when diving in Norway; from Open Water level to Technical Diving. Its close proximity to the capital city, Oslo, make it a favorite for Norwegians to practice their diving skills and to get their certifications.

Diving in Norway — Be prepared to wear a drysuit for the cold temperatures. Photo courtesy of Thomas.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

To get to Svestad Brygge, you can fly into Oslo, the capital of Norway. You can then take a ferry from Aker Brygge or if you have a car you can drive out there. The ferry is around a 30 minutes ride. After the ferry, you will need to take a short bus ride which will take around 25 minutes.

By car, it will be around 45 minutes from Oslo. There is also a dive center at Svestad Brygge.

Access to the dive sites at Svestad Brygge is super easy; you can walk into the water from your car or the dive shop.

WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

There is a dive center on-site and the location has many wrecks, platforms, and underwater mountain walls which can go down to 90 meters. The shallowest wreck starts at 12 meters and the deepest one is 60-70 meters deep. There is even a training platform at 6 meters in depth. This is amazing for beginners and also great for more Advanced divers who want to practice their skills.

Svestad Brygge has many house wrecks that are easily accessible from shore.

Lekter’n: Depth 9 – 22m for Open Water and Advanced levels

Bounty: 5-12m Open Water

Sinbad’s Armada: 12-18m Open water

Kaptein Sortebill’s Skute: 27-33m for Advanced divers

Long John Silver: 25m

Sortebills Skute: 25 – 30m

Hobby: 60-70 meters Tec trimix

A huge Vinsj: 40meters. Deep dive

A huge platform on land is built into the water where also you can practice some “cave diving”. There is no entry directly to the surface while going under, so this is only open to cave divers. Please do not dive out of your certification level. Always talk to the local dive shop.

Huge mountain walls stretching down to 90 meters deep.

All of this in one and the same location dive site.

TELL ME MORE

From Svestad Brygge it is possible to go on boat trips to other dives sites. This runs twice a week. This will be mainly for Advanced to Tec Divers. Most of the boat trips will go to old shipwrecks. These trips take around 20 to 40 minutes. Depths are around 20 to 90 meters.

DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

You can dive the beginner level sites with a single 12-liter tank. But it is normal to have a double 7, 8 or 12-liter tanks as a twinset.

You will need a drysuit because of the cold conditions of diving in Norway. Because of the tougher conditions and possible obstructions in the water, you need 2 cutting tools, 2 DSMB (delayed surface marker buoys) and 2 lights; a primary light and a backup light because of the visibility and the green waters.

In winter when diving in Norway, at Svestad Brygge, the visibility can reach 20 meters. And in the summer it can be as low as 0.5-meter visibility.

WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

You can be an Open Water level diver, but if you never dived the dive site before, you will need a guide as they can help you to navigate around. You will also need your drysuit certification when diving in Norway due to the cold temperature.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Drysuits.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

The diving at Svestad Brygge is all year around, so conditions will depend on the season, the water temperature, air temperature, wind, general conditions and so on.

You will need to prepare when diving in Norway, and dress warmly under the drysuit, even in the summertime.

In winter (December through to April) the average water temperature can be as low as 4°C/39°F.

In the ‘summer’ (July and August), the average water temperature can be as ‘high’ as 18°C/64°F.

Usually, the deeper you go the colder it is. But in the winter it gets warmer the deeper you go. However, stay away from decompression dives if you are not prepared for a long cold experience!

HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

If you have all your own equipment it only cost you money to fill the tanks. It is about 75 – 100 Norwegian kroners (NOK) per tank. And to rent a full set of gear it is around 750 NOK. If you are a member of the club they will give you some discounts.

WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?

There is accommodation available around the area. For example; a big house/old villa for rent. This can make for a great weekend of diving with your buddies! There are also some hotels nearby. If you are staying in Oslo you can take the morning ferry out to the dive location for a day trip.

WHERE DID YOU STAY?

I live in the capital and always drive out to Svestad Brygge.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

There is amazing diving in Norway, and in Svestad Brygge as it gives you a broad range of diving sites. You don’t have to be a tec diver to enjoy this dive site, as it has sites perfect for beginners or Open Water level divers. The dive center on-site offers courses for any level, so you can always continue your diving education when diving in Norway!

WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

The on-site dive center offers free coffee to all divers which is perfect after a cold dive. They also sell refreshments, such as drinks, snacks and of course, diving equipment in case you have forgotten a piece of diving equipment!

The nightlife in Oslo is known for its fancy clubs and wild nightlife. (I’m speaking from experience!). It also has incredible hiking tours, cinemas, opera, museums, and many many more fun activities.

Why do we need Weights in SCUBA Diving?

DTS Contributor

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Weights are an essential part of any scuba diver’s equipment. Put simply, the weights allow us to descend in a controlled manner, and more importantly, to ascend safely to avoid Decompression Sickness. However, the number of weights will be determined by several factors which you can learn more about. So why do we need weights in scuba diving and why are they so important?

Why do we need weights in SCUBA diving?

Despite many people’s fear of drowning, humans actually float quite well and are generally positively buoyant. As long as you are breathing, if you lie back and relax in the ocean you will float. This is mostly due to our body fat (fat will float more than dense muscle), and also because of our lung’s capacity for air – just imagine your lungs as big balloons that float when you inhale!

If you are wearing a wetsuit or a drysuit, then these exposure suits will also be positively buoyant in varying degrees. The thicker the wetsuit the more ‘floaty’ it is. And if you are wearing a drysuit, then you are basically a giant floating balloon!

What is a Drysuit and How does it Work?

Scuba divers, however, do not wish to float on the surface! As brave adventurers looking to explore the ocean floor, these handsome daredevils actually want to sink and find that sweet neutral buoyancy.

When you first put on a full set of scuba diving equipment on land, it will be heavy. The weight on your shoulders may give you the impression that you will sink the bottom when you hit the ocean. I mean just look at how heavy a tank cylinder is!

However, this is where the BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) comes in. This jacket or wing style bladder can be filled with air so that all of your equipment and yourself will float on the surface of the water. This keeps you safe before you decide to descend and go for your dive.

So how do you make yourself sink to the ocean floor (or your desired depth)?

Weights of course!

How do we use the weights to go up and down?

Weights are heavy so they will help you sink underwater. Too little weights won’t do anything, but too many weights will sink you like a stone. So determining how many weights you need is very important.

By releasing air from your BCD, the weights will pull you down. You can control this speed by releasing air slowly from your BCD or using your legs to kick and slow your descent.

Using an aluminum tank will change your buoyancy as you breathe and use your air. The tank will slowly get more buoyant, and this is when you will want to release more air from your BCD so that you do not float up too quickly. The weights will be important in controlling this.

By the end of your dive, you will need to make a 3-minute safety stop at 5 meters. Generally, your cylinder/scuba tank will be nearly empty at this point and wanting to float up. This is when those weights are very important. It allows you to stay safe and controlled at 5 meters without having to exert energy by swimming against your buoyant tank or having to exhale and empty your lungs!

Learn more about How Scuba Divers go Up and Down in the water.

The History of Weights

In the very early days of scuba diving when it first became an interest for the general public in the 1950s, equipment was limited or expensive. People made use of what they could find. The BCDs that we currently use did not exist and regulators were in their infancy. Your whole kit may have simply consisted of an oxygen tank (super dangerous!) attached to a homemade harness with a regulator, some fins and a mask.

To get down to the desired depth, divers would find a suitably sized stone to hold on to which would drag them down to the point they wished to stop. They would then let it go and swim around for 10 or 15 minutes slowly ascending as they went.

Modern Weights

Newly created lead weights Photo: Denise McIntyre

As the sport became more popular and equipment was properly manufactured, divers required a way to remain at the desired depth. This is how the first weight belts were born. The number of weights you used would be based on experience and the depth you wanted to dive to.

Whereas before, weights were chosen to help reach the desired depth, weights were now used to make the diver neutrally buoyant at a range of depths making use of the addition and removal of air from the BCD.

Specially designed weight belts and lead weights to fit on them were created. The design has changed very little in the last 50 years.

Put simply, weights help to make a diver sink in a safe and controlled way.

What types of systems are there for carrying weights?

Weight carrying systems come in even more forms than weights themselves. The most common styles are:

Weight Belts

The most common method and taught to all beginner divers. Weights are threaded onto a simple 3-inch nylon strap with a quick-release buckle. Although a little uncomfortable for some, this is the most common and reliable method to weight yourself.

Find out How to Make a Weight Belt for Diving.

BCD Integrated Weights

The race to make the best-integrated weight system is still ongoing. Every manufacturer tries to outdo each other with technical complexity and ease of dumping the weights for emergencies. Watch out for bright red knobs, levers, handles and pinch buckles. Pulling these will most likely result in some weight being dumped which could cause a fast ascent. Some people include some of their weights in standard zipped pockets. If you do this, remember not to carry all your weight this way as you will struggle to release weight quickly in an emergency.

Tank Weights

Some BCD manufacturers include weight pockets on the tank strap. These are particularly common on “wing” style BCD’s that have a tendency to push the wearer slightly forward on the surface. The inclusion of a couple of weights on the band strap can help counterbalance this phenomenon. And also push you into a nice horizontal trim position underwater. Usually, in the form of double-ended (top and bottom) Velcro bags, a tab can be pulled on the bottom to open the pouch and drop the weights in an emergency.

Trim Ankle Weights

Some divers are unable to position themselves level in the water. They may find their legs naturally floating up. This is very common when cold water diving with a dry-suit. One option is to use small leg-mounted lead trim weights. While these are available from some dive stores, they are not commonly used in warm water diving.

Whichever method you choose to mount your weights, always make sure you are in a position to quickly release enough weight to bring you back to the surface. Make sure your buddy knows how your weights are dumped, particularly in the case of the more sophisticated BCD integrated weight systems. Telling your dive buddies how it works may just save your life.

Conclusion

So, why do we need weights in SCUBA diving? The main reason is so that we can dive safely and with control. The weights, along with the Buoyancy Control Device, will allow us to go down and stay at the desired depth. The weights are also important in allowing us to go up slowly and safely which prevents a ‘runaway’ ascent, which could increase our chances of Decompression Sickness. Weights are important in scuba diving and knowing how many weights you need will make your diving much more enjoyable and relaxed!

Diving in Sipadan / Mabul Island – Malaysia

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Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Diving in Sipadan / Mabul Island – Malaysia

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Today we are diving in Sipadan and Pulau Mabul (Mabul Island) in Malaysia!

school of fish diving in sipadan island — Photo by Manson Tan

WHY ARE WE DIVING IN SIPADAN AND MABUL?

Sipadan is an oceanic island rising 600 meters from the seabed. This means it was created by living corals that formed on top of an extinct volcano over thousands of years. This also means there is an amazing marine ecosystem which is why it is consistently rated as one of the top diving spots in the world!

Mabul or Semporna is considered a cheaper place to get your scuba diving certification. The main point though is, of course, the well known Sipadan Island with its amazingly vast biodiversity. Since 2004, the area is now a marine protected area which means you cannot find accommodation or stay on Sipadan. Thus, the closest island that you can stay in is Mabul.

Sipadan’s main attraction for diving are the 3 Storms. The Jack Storm, Barracuda Storm, and the Humphead Parrotfish Storm. These are the ones that you have a higher chance to see. Not to mention the white tips and grey reef sharks and lots of turtles. The visitors with more luck might see Hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. On the surface you might also get the chance to see Tropical orcas, sunfish, dolphins, and whales are spotted before.

scuba diving in sipadan island — Photo by Manson Tan

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

To get to Mabul Island, which is a great base for Sipadan, fly to city of Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. Then take a dive center transfer/bus/taxi/Grab to Semporna town which takes around 1 hour. You will then need a boat transfer from Semporna to Mabul – this will be around 45 minutes. Most transfers will be included in your diving package with your dive center.

You will require a permit for snorkeling and diving in Sipadan, so bear this in mind when organizing your trip! As there are only 176 permits given on a day, you should plan a few days in the area.

WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

Sipadan main dive sites are Barracuda Point, South Point, Drop off, Hanging Gardens and more. All of these are wall dives due to the geographic location of Sipadan, where all of the dive sites have a shallow part; the reef part which ranges to around 7m deep then a steep drop of a wall. Max depths are limited by dive companies, which are generally 30m. The north side of Sipadan goes down to 900m and the south side goes down to an incredible 2,500m.

Barracuda Point – World famous top-five and been voted as No. 1 for the past few years. Good chances of seeing the Barracuda storm and Humphead Parrotfish storm here. Lots of white tips, and some grey reefs and turtles. You can get oceanic current here as with other Sipadan dive sites, which can be quite intimidating sometimes. There is a huge variety of life, including corals which is what Sipadan is famous for. Turtle Rock was also featured in the Blue Planet II series which is located at this dive site at the channel part as well.

frogfish mabul island — Photo by Manson Tan

South Point – You get the chance to see the Jack storm here, they are at the shallows. You will get to a channel bit as well. Other things that you can see or have a chance to see are the same with every dive site here.

Drop off – Used to be the ‘best shore dive in the world’ as there used to be a jetty that you can walk there with your gear and jump down and it is straight away 900m deep. However, the jetty is not there anymore so it is now a boat dive. The famous turtle tomb is located here, however, you can’t go in if you are not a cavern diver.

Hanging Gardens – This dive site is one of the dive sites that we will try ‘blue diving.’ This means going out in the blue for a gamble of meeting the hammerheads! Bear in mind you can do that on any dive site in Sipadan, however, this dive site is the easiest to navigate back.

TELL ME MORE

Sipadan – All boat diving. Takes around 45mins boat trip from Mabul to Sipadan.

Mabul – A mixture of boat and shore. Shore diving will mostly be diving your dive shop’s house reef; literally on the doorstep! Other sites will be boat diving.

jetty in mabul island — Photo by Manson Tan

DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

Water temp ranges, coldest can get to 27° Celcius. So this will depend on how well you can handle the cold. A dry suit is definitely not needed. Rashies, 3mm wetsuit or 5mm wetsuit will do.

No reef hook and gloves allowed by our dive shop. Torch, I always bring one to enhance my dive 😉

You can get rental gear on most of the dive shops here. It’s mostly included apart from a dive computer.

WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

Diving in Mabul Open Water will be good enough. In Sipadan, we prefer Advanced Open Water, but we will still bring Open Water divers there. I would suggest at least AOW.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

turtle at sipadan island — Photo by Manson Tan

Mabul – Water temperature ranges from 27 degrees Celcius to above. Visibility really depends on the weather. However, Mabul and a nearby island are famous for its muck and macro diving. This means the visibility is not the most important factor.

Sipadan – Water temp ranges the same as Mabul. Currents can be strong due to oceanic current or could be none. Visibility ranges from 10m to 30m.

You can dive here all year long. Peak seasons are normally depending on holiday seasons, such as the Chinese holidays. Diving in Sipadan and Mabul will be popular around Christmas and New Year’s so be prepared for crowds.

HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

Most dive shops in Mabul and Semporna will offer a package to dive Sipadan too. This will be a 3-4 day package with 1 day Sipadan dive. This is due to the limited number of permits available. Other days you will be diving in Mabul or Kapalai or nearby islands.

If you are based in Mabul the packages will range from RM3000 to RM4000+ depending on your accommodation. These include dive equipment, accommodation and all meals in the resort, as Mabul is a small island, with not many restaurants out there.

Some dive shops offer discount if you have your own gear.

WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?

There is a wide variety of accommodation when planning on diving in Sipadan and Mabul. Dorms, hostel, fan or AC rooms, bungalows to terraces, water top fancy chalets. In Mabul, you will normally organize the accommodation with the dive center as it is an all-in package.

WHERE DID YOU STAY?

I’m working here. So staff accommodation. Basic and liveable.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Mabul and nearby islands are famous for muck diving and macro diving. So depending on your preferences. You will have a chance to see a lot of things, like flamboyant cuttlefish, blue ring octopus, ghost pipefish for example. There is a great range of marine life here.

Sipadan – You will get to see a lot. Your dive center will guide you to increase your chances to see the big stuff here as you will be spending time to do macro stuff in Mabul already.

WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

Mabul – No nightlife. Small Island. You can walk the whole island in 45 mins. You will be able to see the sea gypsies, the Bajau people living here. You can snorkel here as well.

Semporna – Small town. There are places to drink but really really simple bars. Don’t expect a full night-out. Island hopping is available from here as well. There’s a place not far from Semporna for hiking as well. Lately, there has been an increase in seafood restaurants to pull in Chinese tourists. Big chains, Starbucks, KFC, McDonald’s are here.

What Colors Attract Sharks, and Why?

OCEAN

DTS Contributor

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As a diver, you may have heard the expression “Yum Yum Yellow,” illustrating the common idea that sharks are more attracted by the color, yellow. But is there any truth to this, and where did this belief from? Since there are still many misconceptions and preconceived ideas about sharks, which unfortunately also extend inside the diving community, let’s take a look at all things sharks. Why are sharks important, how sharks respond to people, and what colors attract sharks.

DO BRIGHT COLORS ATTRACT SHARKS?

Sharks have been found to be ‘potentially totally color blind’ according to research from two Australian universities and that sharks may not be able to distinguish particular colors. So what can sharks actually see then? Sharks are known to see contrast very well. This means that any bright color against a murky background will be highly visible to them. Which may attract them to check out that brightly contrasted object. And since sharks don’t have fingers to prod new and interesting things, they use their teeth. This is where the belief that sharks are attracted to yellow objects comes from!

Read More: Q&A with a Shark Dive Instructor

WHAT COLORS ATTRACT SHARKS?

As mentioned, sharks are attracted to high contrast colors. And in murky waters, these colors will be bright yellow and orange. Just think of why we use these colors in our safety diving equipment! This is actually not the color itself that counts, but the contrast with its environment.

Does that mean we should stop wearing yellow and orange items underwater?

Scuba diver surrounded by sharks. He is wearing all black as we discover what colors attract sharks and whether wearing black deters sharks. — Photo by Gerald Schombs on Unsplash

No way.

These colors are great for safety. In highly murky water and low visibility, yellow fins on the instructor are great for following them around the dive site. There is also a reason why our spare air, the alternate 2nd stage, will be yellow in color and highly visible to anyone who is potentially running low on air.

Most divers will agree that safety is more important, and that the chances of attracting a shark are very minimal. In fact, as divers, we WANT to attract more sharks.

But if you are worried about sharks, and you do not want to attract their attention, then you can stick to wearing dark colors, such as black or blue. This will not contrast too much underwater and will help you blend in with the surroundings. You should also avoid wearing contrasting patterns too.

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WHAT ELSE ATTRACTS SHARKS?

In a high shark environment, we would recommend avoiding wearing shiny metallic objects when you dive. These objects could reflect the sun and create very visible flashes that could be interesting for a shark. Sharks see these flashes of light and assume it is the sun reflecting off the scales of a fish; their usual dinner. You can also wear your dive computer under the sleeve of your wetsuit so that the face of the computer does not reflect the sun.

SO, WHAT IS A SHARK?

Answering this question in details would require dozens of pages, so allow me to oversimplify the answer. Sharks are fish, living for the vast majority of them in seawater even if some rare species are known to able to live also in freshwater.

Sharks been swimming the Earth’s oceans for more than 400 million years and have evolved to thrive in all the seas over the world, from shallow waters to depth of more than 2000m.

Sharks are carnivorous, although different species have evolved to eat different food. Some will feed only on plankton and small fishes, while other will snack on crustaceans and some will target bigger fishes or even some sea mammals.

Sharks can be apex predators in their environment, but many are also being hunted by bigger predators. However, the biggest risk for sharks is fishing and it is estimated that yearly more than 100 million sharks are killed for commercial or recreational purposes.

HOW MANY SPECIES OF SHARKS ARE THERE?

There are presently 470 species of sharks known, out of which almost a hundred are considered as extinct.

The smallest one, called the Dwarf Lanternshark, is only 20cm long while the biggest one, known as the whale shark, can measure more than 10m and is actually the biggest fish in the world, whales being mammals and not fishes.

They come in wide variety of shapes, some being really mind blowing like the aptly named Hammerhead Shark and his hammer-shaped head, or the Angel Shark and its flat body similar to a ray.

Out of all those species, only 9 are known to have ever been responsible for a human casualty: Great White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Mako Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Blacktip Shark and Blue Shark. And among those sharks, only the first 4 species are responsible for more than 10 human casualties worldwide.

Does it seem a lot to you? Well, just consider that the gentle and friendly Labrador Retriever, this loving family dog, has also been responsible for more than 10 human casualties as well, but in the US only.

A hammerhead shark approaching in The Bahamas — Close up of a hammerhead shark in The Bahamas. Photo courtesy of Paddy

WHY ARE SHARKS IMPORTANT TO OUR ECO-SYSTEM?

Any ecosystem is a balance between numerous factors. As predators, sharks are guardian of this precarious balance by keeping the population of species below them in the food chain at a sustainable level for their environment, ensuring thus a healthy diversity of species.

But they do not only help the environment, they are also important for the well-being of the prey population by removing the sick and the weak but allowing the strongest and healthiest to survive and pass on their genes.

WHY ARE SHARKS SO SCARY?

Between 1958 and 1968, there have been an average of 7.3 fatal shark attacks per year all over the world. On the other hand, National Geographic informs us that worldwide about 3,000 people are killed by lightning every year. So, looking at the facts, why are we so scared by sharks and we don’t really mind when a storm is coming?

This comes from our primal fears, deeply rooted in us since we were competing with other animals for food and shelter in prehistorical times. Shark attacks are a constant reminder that we are not always the apex predator. Other animals can also turn us into a prey, but sharks are also the master of an environment where we don’t feel that confident: the water. That’s why our mind will always be more scared by the idea of a shark than of a lion, even as a seasoned diver we feel more confident in our ability to react and defend ourselves on land rather than underwater.

Read More: How Far Away Can Sharks Smell Blood?

To top it off, those fears have been fueled by the over sensationalism of some isolated shark attacks and have been used by popular movies like the Jaws movies.

A lemon shark showing its nares. The nares help figure out how far away can sharks smell blood. — A curious lemon shark showing off its’ powerful nares. Photo courtesy of Paddy / Peach Snaps

IS DIVING WITH SHARKS SAFE?

Diving with sharks can be very safe.

The majority of scuba divers, freedivers, snorkelers and people who enjoy the ocean will most likely think they are lucky to see a shark; marveling at the grace and elegance of this beautiful animal. When you see a shark, you might have a bit of fear or nervousness. But then you’ll probably feel slightly disappointed when the sharks swims off, and just ignores you.

Without a doubt, the immense majority of divers will remember seeing a shark as one of their best diving experiences.

But then, you will have some divers who might get scared by the approach of a shark. Instead of keeping calm, they may start to panic and might hurt themselves against rocks, drop their mouthpiece or even try to resurface quickly. But luckily for them, their buddy and/or instructor will be there to keep them safe and by the time they calmed down the shark will be long gone.

However, we can’t deny that every year there is a diver that unfortunately has a fatal encounter with a shark.

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Please note: This may reduce risk of shark interactions but there is no 100% guarantee that interactions will not take place. Always exercise caution when swimming with sharks!

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HOW TO AVOID BEING BITTEN BY A SHARK

Shark attacks usually occur by accident despite being known as a dangerous marine animal. Sharks can get confused, and mistake a surfer or swimmer as a seal on the surface. They take a cautionary bite to check it out, realize we are full of bones and not much meat, then swim off. Of course, though, that little taster bite can be fatal to the human.

To avoid attacks by sharks we would recommend the following:

Always dive with a local expert. Especially when diving during a feeding period. Sharks can get into a feeding frenzy and you will need to make sure you are not in the thick of it!
Avoid low visibility and murky waters. Again, sharks can get confused and you don’t want to turn around and suddenly be face to snout with a bull shark!
Move around calmly and slowly. If you are thrashing about underwater, then you will look like a sick or wounded prey; perfect for a hungry shark. Work on your buoyancy and stick to slow movements. This is also very important when on the surface.
Limit the time on the surface or in mid-water. Kicking on the surface during a surface swim can also look appealing to a shark. If you are on a shark dive, most dive operators will tell you to descend quickly down to the seafloor. This is the safest place when observing sharks.
And now that we know what colors attract sharks because of the contrast, try to limit contrasting colors and patterns with your equipment

COLORS THAT ATTRACT SHARKS VS CONTRAST

Sharks are not a real risk for divers. The number of sharks that could potentially be dangerous for humans is incredibly limited, and even those ones will not attack divers in normal circumstances. Knowing what colors attract sharks can help you prepare when planning a dive with sharks, but as we now know, it’s the contrast rather than the actual color that attracts them. Diving with sharks is an exciting experience, not always a scary one, and getting to know those wonderful animals is highly recommended to those who would like to enjoy even more their underwater experiences.

After all, if diving with sharks has become so popular, there must be a good reason.

Diving in Palau – Micronesia, Pacific Ocean

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Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Diving in Palau – Micronesia, Pacific Ocean

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Today we are diving in Palau, Micronesia, a country that is made up of 600 islands spread across the Pacific Ocean.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

To get to Palau, you need to fly into Koror airport. From there it’s about a 30-minute drive to “town”. Most Liveaboards will arrange to pick you up from the airport. For shorter dive trips, you may need to arrange your own transport or ask for an added transfer with your dive operator.

Flights to and from Koror are pretty expensive, with direct flights from Taiwan, Seoul, and Manila. Manila only has flights coming in 2 times per week so you will need to be aware of this when scheduling your trip. A round trip flight from Manila is around 1,000 USD.

scuba diving in palau micronesia — Chandelier Cave, Diving in Palau – Micronesia

WHY ARE WE DIVING IN PALAU?

Diving in Palau is known for current hook diving, sharks and manta cleaning stations, and pristine coral. There is a seasonal aggregation and spawning of red snappers (every full moon), bumped parrotfish (every new moon), Moorish idols and Orange spined unicornfish (January and February). Fish life is by the hundreds, sometimes thousands!

There are also a lot of Japanese shipwrecks from World War 2. With a lot of historical significance with the country belonging to Japan during WW1, then taken by the USA during WW2. There is recent independence, and a previous occupation by Germany as well. This area has a lot of history that is not very well-known.

Palau’s Rock Islands were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2012 by UNESCO. This includes an amazing 445 islands of volcanic origin which is what encourages the unique reef system.

In 2009 Palau also launched the first Shark Sanctuary which encourages the fight against the shark fin trade.

WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

Blue Corner, Siaes Corner, Big Drop off, Peleliu express, Peleliu cut: These dives are ‘reef hook’ dives with strong currents. There are lots of sharks relaxing in the current. The average depth is 18 meters. Max depths see some walls go down to 200+ meters.

German Channel: Manta and shark cleaning station. Mainly dive on incoming current. Sometimes get the mantas feeding in the blue, barrel rolls and all. Max depth: 20 meters.

Blue Holes, Siaes Tunnel, Turtle cove: Tunnels in the reef wall. Max depth 30-35 meters. Very pretty architecturally, can spot various macro and electric clam. Usually ends on a wall dive with the current.

Jake Seaplane: WW2 Japanese seaplane wreck. Shallow at a max. of 12 meters. Iconic. Also accessible for snorkelers.

Iro wreck: WW2 cargo boat wreck. Max depth 40 meters. Historical significance, and very well preserved. For divers who are certified to penetrate the wreck, you can spot beds, toilets and a bathtub inside.

TELL ME MORE

There are 10 liveaboard companies in Palau. Most dive sites are around a 10-20 minute skiff ride from the liveaboard.

You can also dive with dive shops on land that do day trips, but you will go to very crowded dive sites. These dive sites are often the same most days and will need to spend all day on a small speed boat and travel over 1 hour to get to the good spots. A liveaboard is our recommendation!

DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

The water temperature here is 27 to 29° Celcius / 80.6 to 84.2° F during the open season. A 3mm wetsuit is great, but some people will go with just a rash guard or even a 5mm wetsuit. This will depend on your comfort level.

Check Out: Wetsuit Temperature Guide for Scuba Divers

We suggest bringing a reef hook and torch. The hook is very handy in stronger currents, and a torch is great for spotting critters.

Be aware that gloves are illegal here.

WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

AOW / Advanced level with over 50 dives is better. Some diving can be challenging with strong currents.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

Often 20+ meter visibility
Water temperature between 26 and 29° C. Can have fairly cold thermocline currents down to 21° C. But rarely.
Generally current and reef hook diving
Good season from November till April.

chandeliercave-scuba-diving-in-micronesia — Diving in Palau – Micronesia. Photo courtesy of Gen

HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

Diving here is quite expensive. Liveaboards are generally around 3,000-4,000 USD for 7 days which includes 20 dives.

Day trips will run you around 70 – 80 USD per dive, with most trips being 3 dives.

Courses are quite expensive too.

WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?

If you are not staying on the liveaboard, you will stay in hotels with an of average of 100 USD per night.

WHERE DID YOU STAY?

I work on a boat and live on the boat!

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Diving here is pristine and amazing. Great visibility and the coral is in fantastic health. There is abundant life, lots of sharks, mantas. Not a good place for macro though. If you time your dives with the full moon or new moon you will get some amazing aggregations and spawning.

Not a great place to get your beginner certification as it is quite expensive and you will enjoy the dives here much more with more experience. You can choose a place like Gili Air to get your certification and training before embarking on your Palau adventure!

Absolutely recommend it for experienced fun-divers looking for somewhere a bit off the beaten track!

WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

There is a local market every Friday. There are some cool land tours you can do: waterfalls, ATV, etc. There is no shopping and not much nightlife to speak of. This is all diving. There are lots of Chinese food restaurants and Chinese massage places.

Palau has a predominant Chinese, Korean and Japanese clientele due to its proximity and the flight schedules.