An international model for marine conservation, Palau was the first country to establish a shark sanctuary and designate over 80% of its waters as a marine protected area (MPA). These efforts have created a dream diving environment where marine life seems to be lit up under a spotlight — rich, spectacular, and abundant.
Since the establishment of the shark sanctuary and the ban on shark fishing, sharks have become a common sight on almost every dive in Palau.
Yet as hard as Palau works to protect its oceans, it cannot hold back the tide of climate change: rising sea levels, typhoons, and ocean acidification have become the most pressing challenges of daily life there.
As divers who love the ocean, is there more we can do? As a platform dedicated to sharing diving knowledge and promoting marine conservation, how can we combine our expertise to make both the environment and the dive industry more sustainable?
This is how the concept of sustainable dive travel was born!
Grounded in the blue economy and ocean literacy, we have developed three pillars from within the world of dive travel: Citizen Scientists, Local Empowerment, and Partner Alliance — extending the influence of divers from Taiwan all the way to Palau.
Within the 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 planning your first trip, you can take action with us right here!
How to +1: Join Us and Make an Impact
- You've been to Palau and have underwater photos
Participate in our Citizen Scientist campaign — upload your photos of marine life. Once identified, the images will be submitted to a local research center to build biodiversity data.
- Book a sustainable dive travel package through our platform
Watch our online courses — "First Steps in Citizen Science" and "An Introduction to Palau's Sustainable Journey" — and explore Palau more deeply with us. You can also add on our curated land tour experiences to support local development.
- Already booked a Palau trip elsewhere (not limited to diving)
Visit the campaign page to claim a discount voucher and support our partner businesses through your spending. Land tours can also be purchased separately through the platform.
Want to learn more about how we work with the local community? Read on!
Palau's Citizen Scientist Campaign — Ready for You to Join
We've brought our Citizen Scientist initiative to Palau! This time, we're partnering with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), a local academic organization. There's no restriction on when the photos were taken — any underwater shots of marine life captured in Palau are welcome. These photos will be provided to PICRC for biodiversity data accumulation and research.
Continuing the spirit of the "AI Ocean Biodiversity AI Data Center" developed in collaboration with Taiwan Mobile, we believe citizen science can bring even greater positive impact to marine conservation.
With support from GARMIN and ATMOS, we are launching two citizen scientist campaigns:
- Friends of the Palau Ocean｜Sechelil a Debel Belau
No time limit on when photos were taken — any photos of marine life captured in Palau can be uploaded. Upload five photos to receive a one-of-a-kind physical certificate with the most authentic "Palau" feel. The more you upload, the better your chances of winning an ATMOS Mission3!
- Ocean Star Award｜Ulsemuul er a Kereker
A themed challenge designated by PICRC, inviting participants to upload their best photos that match the theme. Next year, PICRC will select one winner who will receive a laser-engraved certificate and a GARMIN DESCENT MK3I 43MM dive computer!
The campaign is launching soon — stay tuned to our event page and social media.
Dive Into Palau's Waters — Let Your Impact Live On with Every Breath
Want to dive in Palau? BlueTrend is the place to start! We offer the most flexible, personable itineraries — 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 empowering local young divers.
Our inaugural Palau group tour takes you to witness parrotfish spawning! The trip is led by Jerry, a licensed tour leader from BlueTrend. For solo travelers, we also offer 6-day 5-night and 5-day 4-night packages.
Why empower local young divers?
Due to policy and economic development factors, Palau's dive industry is currently operated predominantly by foreigners. The pandemic dealt a particularly heavy blow — tourism came to a standstill, accelerating the exodus of the local workforce. On top of that, the high cost of scuba diving means most Palauans rarely get the chance to experience the beauty of their own underwater world.
Despite the many divers who travel here 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've partnered with local NGO Friends of PNMS — the very organization behind the Palau Pledge! — to train local youth and elevate their professional diving skills. In the future, these young people will have the opportunity to become professional dive guides, instructors, and even marine scientists.
From the Ocean to the Shore — Discovering Palau's Deep Connection to the Sea
Palau's extraordinary marine richness stems from its profound relationship with the ocean, a bond that has shaped a vibrant and deeply rooted ocean culture. We've curated three land tour experiences that go beyond diving, uncovering the many threads of a civilization that has always lived in harmony with the sea.
- Storyboard Workshop: Palauan has no written form — knowledge is passed down orally, and the storyboard became the medium through which ocean legends are preserved. Carved into each board is not just a picture, but a story. Under the guidance of Ling Inabo, Palau's most renowned storyboard master, you'll learn basic carving techniques and create your own one-of-a-kind souvenir.
The storyboard workshop takes place at Master Ling Inabo's farm, surrounded by beautiful scenery — with a chance to taste fresh fruit straight from the farm. This is a 6-hour workshop; a 3-hour option is also available.
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Bai (Men's Meeting House) In-Depth Tour: In Palau's matrilineal society, the Bai is where chiefs gather to deliberate on public matters. The exterior of the Bai is adorned with paintings of various marine creatures, each carrying a different meaning and telling stories of Palauan history. Join a tour of 3 hours or more and you'll also get to enjoy a traditional Palauan meal!
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Palau Aquarium: Here you'll 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 Before You Go
Want to learn more about Palau before you leave but don't have time to do the research? Leave it to BlueTrend! We offer two online sustainable travel courses: "First Steps in Citizen Science" and "An Introduction to Palau's Sustainable Journey."
The course content covers local culture, ecology, and how to become an effective citizen scientist. It includes photography tips, dive site and marine life observation techniques, as well as Palau's ocean culture and climate challenges — all brought to life on screen.
We've all heard about rising sea levels for years, but how exactly does it affect daily life on a Pacific island nation? (Apparently, residents have to take off their shoes to wade home every night.) And did you know that decisions about which fish are off-limits are made collectively by the chiefs in the Bai?
For the "An Introduction to Palau's Sustainable Journey" course, our team went deep into local communities and spoke with residents directly, capturing the real, everyday impact of rising sea levels on their lives.
Simply purchase one of our Palau dive trip packages, or participate in the "Friends of the Palau Ocean" Citizen Scientist campaign and have your submission approved by our team — and you'll receive both courses, valued at NT$2,000, completely free.
Support Local — Turn Every Purchase Into a Sustainable Act
Palau has strict regulations on sunscreen. If you need sun protection, we highly recommend the local brand PURA RIDA PALAU — 100% natural and handcrafted. Lemongrass is the scent most loved by Taiwanese visitors.
Your spending can also make a difference for the environment! Every partner in our "Sustainable Travel Partner Alliance" was 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 curation for you! Simply visit the link, screenshot your discount voucher, and present it in store to enjoy exclusive offers at participating businesses. The voucher is not limited to travelers who have purchased a BlueTrend dive package.
In Summary
BlueTrend is committed to building a sustainable diving ecosystem. Starting from the dive industry we know best and echoing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals' principle of "Leave No One Behind," we are working to bring together the realities and challenges we see, and develop a continuously regenerative sustainable solution. Going forward, we hope that as our dive travel revenue grows, so too will our education fund — allowing us to channel greater impact into the issues that matter most to us.
Campaign Links
