Overview:
**Beyond scuba certification, the Palau Pledge Dive Camp is helping young Palauans connect with their cultural heritage and become stewards of the ocean.** At its 20th camp, students explored traditional navigation, sustainable food production and marine conservation before earning their Open Water scuba certifications.
Koror, Palau — October 5 to October 10, 2026 — The Palau Pledge Dive Camp returned this intersession with a powerful reminder that it is about more than scuba certification. It is about shaping our young Palauans to understand their connection to the ocean and their responsibility to protect it.
Across the six days, campers took part in a program that blended science, culture, and hands-on ocean experience, continuing to bring the Palau Pledge to life through action and learning.
The week began with our campers joining the Ngedebuul Youth Camp and partnering with the Palau Sailing Association for a cultural immersion in traditional navigation. Mr. Edwin Mario introduced the students to the basics of traditional Palauan outrigger canoe knowledge, connecting ancestral practices with modern sailing. In the afternoon, students had the opportunity to apply what they learned by heading out on the water and experiencing sailing firsthand.
The students also visited the Alingano Maisu with the Micronesian Voyaging Society, where the crew shared the story of how the canoe was created and emphasized the importance of preserving traditional navigation as a vital part of Micronesian cultural heritage. The experience reminded students of our shared responsibility to ensure that this invaluable knowledge and tradition continue to be passed down to future generations rather than being lost.
On Day 2, Educational Trip – Building on the connection between culture and environmental stewardship, the camp next explored food security, aquaculture, and conservation. At the Palau Community College Cooperative Research and Extension (PCC-CRE) Research and Development Station and Hatchery in Ngermlengui, students learned about plant tissue culture, agricultural research, and the role of aquaculture in strengthening Palau’s food security. These activities highlighted the importance of local research and sustainable food production in supporting resilient communities.
The group then traveled to Todai in Ngerchelong, where Ranger Snyder Skang shared the historical and cultural connections between Todai and Kayangel. Students learned about the
significance of these connections and modern-day efforts to protect northern Palau’s ocean resources.
For the remainder of the week, participants trained with Sams Tours, completing their Open Water scuba certification. Beyond certification, students gained confidence in the water and a deeper appreciation for the marine environment they are now more prepared to explore and protect.
The Palau Pledge Dive Camp reflects a continued commitment to youth empowerment through education, culture, and conservation. By connecting science, tradition, and lived experience, the program supports the next generation of ocean stewards grounded in Palau’s values and identity.
As the camp concluded, participants left not only as certified divers, but as Palau Pledge Ambassadors carrying forward the spirit of the Palau Pledge—protecting what they love, and sharing that responsibility with others.
About the Palau Pledge Dive Camp
The Palau Pledge Dive Camp is a youth program that combines environmental education, cultural learning, and dive training to inspire stewardship of Palau’s marine environment. Rooted in the Palau Pledge, the program encourages responsibility, respect, and care for Palau’s land and sea.
Supported by the NCD Grant Funding Mechanism to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles, and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), a Government of Canada program supporting local community projects, the camp encourages youth to care for Palau’s land, sea, and cultural heritage. The program also promotes healthy choices through an alcohol- and drug-free environment.