Met a bunch of people who've cruised into Palau expecting to stay a week or so and have never left. Understandable so far although we plan to spend only 3 more days or so exploring the island and surrounding waters. Diver Dave N, a prominent frogman and Roger R, a serious Abalone free diver have convinced Wade and me that we should really take an open water diving course as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience diving at its finest. Wade and I completed our first day of didactic course work and will spend tomorrow in a pool or the lagoon right here for a confined water session with emphasis on skills and safety, and the final day we will do an open water dive! June, not to worry, as sharks are well fed with their natural fare and don't pose a significant risk to divers and in any event, Wade is far more tasty tidbit than I am.

While we were in class, Dave and Roger explored with scuba an interesting limestone seacave within swimming distance of our mooring and plan to spend the day tomorrow on a guided dive to a wall dropping from the edge of the reef to ponderous depths beyond. Roger has 3 gopro hi def video cameras and has been taking unbelievable footage of the splendor 50 yards from our boat. Holy cow!!

We will fuel up here and do some reprovisioning of fresh goods and staples and head out towards the end of the week taking the East Channel headed to Pohnpei about 1200 miles away.

We are sitting in an open air restaurant/bar eating edamame and onion rings and watching the dive boats come back. Oil and filter changes are done and laundry is hanging from the rails. Thank you to John and Kathleen Douglas of Laysan, a Dieselduck sedan who made this passage recently and have given us great advice. You can check out their blog at www.roundtopdr.wordpress.com