Koror, Palau – The FRIENDS of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary recently wrapped up its 15th Palau Pledge Camp during the 2024 Fall Intersession. The Camp, a first with the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS), combined the cornerstone dive certification for PADI open water and advanced open water with traditional navigation.
Each camp is uniquely tailored to different tourism, ocean conservation, environmental science, and marine surveillance career pathways. “Building on our new partnership with MVS, Grand Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur and his wife Florentina Laurseram have generously shared with our young people the timeless art of traditional navigation and a sneak peek into some of the most important survival skills you’d need on a long voyage, such as making coconut oil. It’s true once you are on a voyage it’s more than just learning to read the stars, you need to be able to fish, maintain food stocks and plants so you can survive a long voyage,” said Jennifer Gibbons.
Nothing like jumping on a plane and flying to Taipei where customers are catered to for their every need. Each voyage requires thoughtful planning, down to the cheluch er Belau. Taking the time with Sesario, the participants learned to slow down and feel the rhythm of a simple but important task of tying knots – in the same way you would while diving to ensure you’re maximising air.
Not all activities took place on the water; the Taiwan Palau Ocean Science Education Center was invited to speak with the participants, shedding light on their research projects and encouraging the students to pursue degrees in marine sciences. Additionally, the
participants also assisted the MAFE’s Division of Forestry and the Airai State PAN Officers by planting native trees along the Ngerimel dam, which supplies most of Koror’s water. This experience served as a reminder of the fragile nature of island living and the importance of safeguarding our limited water resources.
On the final day, students were able to gather what they learned throughout the week and present their environmental action plans to parents, friends and families as newly certified PADI divers and as Palau Pledge Ambassadors. With this most recent cohort of student divers, a total of 165 young Palauans have become certified under the Palau Pledge Dive Camp!
The 15th Palau Pledge Dive Camp was funded by the Palau GEF Small Grants Programme. In addition, Palau Pledge would like to thank Mr. Kobe Allen and Mr. Lebron Basilius for their invaluable assistance in facilitating the dive camp.