Contents(8)
- How to +1: Add Your Impact
- Palau's Citizen Scientists — We Want You
- Dive Into Palau's Ocean — Let the Value Live On with Every Breath
- From the Sea to the Shore — Discovering Palau's Life in Harmony with the Ocean
- Start Online — Dive Into Palau's Unique Ocean Language
- Support Local — Let Your Spending Drive Sustainable Action
- In Summary
- Campaign Links
An international model for marine conservation, Palau was the first country to establish a shark sanctuary and designate more than 80% of its waters as a marine protected area (MPA). These efforts have created a dream diving environment where marine life seems illuminated under a spotlight — abundant and awe-inspiring.
Since the establishment of the shark sanctuary and the ban on shark fishing, sharks have become a species divers are highly likely to encounter on any dive in Palau.
Yet even as Palau works tirelessly to protect its ocean, it cannot hold back the tide of global warming. Rising sea levels, typhoons, and ocean acidification have become the most pressing challenges of daily life there.
As divers who love the sea, is there more we can do? As a platform dedicated to sharing diving knowledge and promoting marine conservation, how can we draw on our expertise to make both the environment and the dive industry more sustainable?
And so the concept of sustainable dive travel was born!
Drawing on the frameworks of the blue economy and ocean literacy, we have built our dive travel offering around three pillars: Citizen Scientists, Local Empowerment, and Partner Alliance — extending the reach of divers from Taiwan all the way to Palau.
Within a blue economy framework, we integrate ocean literacy to raise conservation awareness among divers and strengthen the professional skills of local dive professionals.
Whether you've already been to Palau or are getting ready to go, you can take action with us right here!
How to +1: Add Your Impact
- Already visited Palau and have underwater photos?
Join our Citizen Scientist campaign — upload your photos of marine life. Once identified, these images will be shared with a local research centre to build cumulative biodiversity data.
- Book a sustainable dive travel package through our platform.
Watch the online courses "Your First Step into Citizen Science" and "An Introduction to Sustainable Travel in Palau," and explore Palau more deeply alongside us. You can also add on curated land-tour packages to support local development.
- Already booked a Palau trip elsewhere (diving or otherwise)?
Visit the campaign page to pick up discount vouchers and support our partner businesses with your spending. Land-tour packages can also be purchased independently through our platform.
Want to know more about how we collaborate with local partners? Keep reading!
Palau's Citizen Scientists — We Want You
We're bringing our Citizen Scientist submission campaign to Palau! This time we're partnering with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), a local academic organisation. There are no restrictions on when the photos were taken — any underwater images of marine life captured in Palau are welcome. These photos will be provided to PICRC for biodiversity data accumulation and research.
Building on the spirit of the "AI Ocean Biodiversity AI Data Center" developed in collaboration with Taiwan Mobile, we believe citizen science can bring ever-greater positive momentum to marine conservation.
With support from GARMIN and ATMOS, we are launching two Citizen Scientist activities:
- Friends of Palau's Ocean — Sechelil a Debel Belau
No restrictions on when your photos were taken — upload any wildlife photos shot in Palau. Upload five photos and receive an exclusive physical certificate with an unmistakably "Palau" feel. The more you upload, the greater your chances of winning an ATMOS Mission3!
- Ocean Star Award — Ulsemuul er a Kereker
A themed challenge set by PICRC, inviting participants to upload the marine life photos that best match the designated theme. Next year, PICRC will select one winner, who will receive a laser-engraved certificate and one GARMIN DESCENT MK3I 43MM dive computer!
The campaign is launching soon — stay tuned to our campaign page and social media channels.
Dive Into Palau's Ocean — Let the Value Live On with Every Breath
Want to dive in Palau? BlueTrend has you covered! We offer the most flexible, human-centred itinerary arrangements, fully legal and compliant, in partnership with professional local dive shops. For every dive travel package sold, 1% of the proceeds will be allocated to an education fund dedicated to empowering local young divers.
Our inaugural Palau group trip will take you to witness Humphead Wrasse mating! The trip is led by Jerry, a certified group tour leader at BlueTrend. If you prefer to travel solo, we also offer 6-day/5-night and 5-day/4-night itineraries.
Why empower local young divers?
Due to policy and economic development factors, Palau's dive industry is currently operated predominantly by foreign nationals. The tourism shutdown during the pandemic further accelerated the loss of local workers. On top of that, the high cost of diving means most Palauan residents rarely get the chance to explore the beautiful underwater world through scuba diving.
Although divers travel from around the world drawn by Palau's reputation, the revenue generated from dive tourism rarely flows back into local communities to support economic development.
That's why we are partnering with the local NGO Friends of PNMS — the very organisation that created the Palau Pledge — to train young local residents and enhance their professional diving skills. In the future, these individuals will have the opportunity to become professional dive guides, instructors, and even marine scientists.
From the Sea to the Shore — Discovering Palau's Life in Harmony with the Ocean
Palau's rich marine resources stem from the deep bond between its people and the ocean, a relationship that has given rise to a vibrant and layered ocean culture. We have curated three land-tour packages that go beyond diving, offering you the chance to uncover the many ways Palauans have always lived alongside the sea.
- Storyboard Workshop: The Palauan language has no written form; knowledge has always been passed down orally, and the storyboard became the medium for preserving ocean legends. Carved onto these boards are not merely images, but stories. Under the guidance of Ling Inabo, Palau's most renowned storyboard master, you will learn basic carving techniques and create a one-of-a-kind personal keepsake.
The storyboard workshop takes place on master Ling Inabo's farm, where you'll enjoy sweeping views and may even get to taste fresh fruit from the farm. This is a 6-hour workshop; a 3-hour option is also available.
- Bai (Men's Meeting House) In-Depth Tour: In Palau's matrilineal society, the Bai is the place where chiefs gather to deliberate on public affairs. The exterior of the Bai is adorned with paintings of various marine creatures, each carrying a distinct meaning and telling a chapter of Palauan history. Join a tour of 3 hours or more and you'll also get to savour the most traditional Palauan cuisine!
- Palau Aquarium: Here you will learn about Palau's five major ecosystems — mangroves, seagrass beds, nearshore coral reefs, offshore coral reefs, and the deep sea — as well as PICRC's conservation efforts. Groups of five or more can book a free guided tour.
Start Online — Dive Into Palau's Unique Ocean Language
Want to learn more about Palau before you go but don't have time to do the research? Leave it to BlueTrend! We offer two online sustainable travel courses: "Your First Step into Citizen Science" and "An Introduction to Sustainable Travel in Palau."
The video content covers local culture, ecology, and how to become an effective citizen scientist. Topics include underwater photography tutorials, tips for observing dive sites and marine life, Palau's ocean culture, and its climate challenges. The realities of Palau's ocean culture and the impacts of climate change will be presented authentically throughout.
You've heard about rising sea levels for years — but how exactly do they affect daily life on a Pacific island nation? (Residents actually have to take off their shoes and wade home every night.) And did you know that decisions about which fish species are off-limits to fishing are made collectively by the chiefs inside the Bai?
For the "An Introduction to Sustainable Travel in Palau" course, our team travelled deep into local communities to witness firsthand the most tangible, everyday impacts of rising sea levels.
Purchase one of our Palau dive trip packages, or have your participation in the "Friends of Palau's Ocean" Citizen Scientist activity approved by our team, and you'll receive both courses — valued at NT$2,000 — completely free of charge.
Support Local — Let Your Spending Drive Sustainable Action
Palau has strict regulations on sunscreen. If you need sun protection, we highly recommend the local brand PURA RIDA PALAU — all-natural and handmade, with lemongrass being the scent most popular among Taiwanese visitors.
Your spending can also make a difference for the environment! Every partner in our "Sustainable Tourism Partner Alliance" has been personally visited and selected for being locally owned and sustainability-minded. From eco-friendly products to the most authentic local souvenirs, we've done the vetting for you! Simply visit the link, screenshot your discount voucher, and present it in store to enjoy exclusive deals at participating shops — no BlueTrend dive package purchase required.
In Summary
BlueTrend is committed to building a sustainable diving ecosystem. Starting from the dive industry we know best, and in resonance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) principle of "No one left behind," we are working to gather the challenges we observe, and develop solutions that can cycle continuously. Going forward, we hope to grow our education fund through increased dive travel revenue — channelling greater influence into the causes we care about most!
Campaign Links
