Palau, Coral Garden at the Short Drop-Off, April 24, 2024

The Short Drop-Off is a popular dive destination in Palau, so named because it is only a short distance from the capital city of Koror. In 1998, Palau suffered a catastrophic bleaching event that killed a huge number of corals. When I swam over this reef in 1999, I could not find a single living acroporid coral. Today this section of the reef is thriving with a healthy diversity of corals. We are all anxious to see how the reefs in Palau and elsewhere will respond to the high sea surface temperatures being recorded worldwide this year.

[@Jimlaud]

Great, healthy reef….thanks Bruce and Marj!

[@jasonjackson4528]

Very glad to hear this place recovered so well!

[@andrew_schoener]

Amazing!

[@Alex_Correa]

I've tried to find words for this video... it's just the real deal!
Do you happen to know the species of that blue staghorn and the flat green table around 0:56?
Lots of light! Great coverage and uniform growth!
I was late for the "like" this time... #3.
Thanks for sharing. This short video completed the great day I had.
Hope you're both doing great!
Aloha.
🙏