Skip to content
Oceanic Society
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Oceanic Society Magazine
    • Our History
    • Contact
  • Our Work
    • Sea Turtle Conservation
    • Access to Nature
    • Behavior Change
    • Global Ocean Cleanup
    • Learn & Take Action
  • Take A Trip
    • Browse Trips
    • Snorkeling Trips
    • Wildlife Trips
    • Family Trips
    • Volunteer Trips
    • Custom & Private Trips
    • About Our Trips
  • Whale Watching
    • Farallon Islands Whale Watching
    • Private Charters
  • Adopt
    • Adopt a Dolphin
    • Adopt a Whale
    • Adopt a Sea Turtle
    • Adopt an Albatross
  • Donate
    • Double Your Donation
    • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member of Oceanic Society
    • Donate Crypto
    • Shop
  • About
  • Magazine
  • Contact
Oceanic Society
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Oceanic Society Magazine
    • Our History
    • Contact
  • Our Work
    • Sea Turtle Conservation
    • Access to Nature
    • Behavior Change
    • Global Ocean Cleanup
    • Learn & Take Action
  • Take A Trip
    • Browse Trips
    • Snorkeling Trips
    • Wildlife Trips
    • Family Trips
    • Volunteer Trips
    • Custom & Private Trips
    • About Our Trips
  • Whale Watching
    • Farallon Islands Whale Watching
    • Private Charters
  • Adopt
    • Adopt a Dolphin
    • Adopt a Whale
    • Adopt a Sea Turtle
    • Adopt an Albatross
  • Donate
    • Double Your Donation
    • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member of Oceanic Society
    • Donate Crypto
    • Shop

Stunning Photos from Snorkeling Expedition Showcase Palau’s Amazing Reefs

Home / Blog / Stunning Photos from Snorkeling Expedition Showcase Palau’s Amazing Reefs

March 14, 2017 • Trip Reports

Share This

In November 2016, a group of Oceanic Society travelers joined naturalist Keoki Stender for a week-long snorkeling trip in Palau, home to some of the best snorkeling in the world.

In addition to being an experienced naturalist, marine biologist, scuba instructor, and educator, Keoki is an outstanding underwater photographer and the creator of marinelifephotography.com, a popular species ID resource for Hawaii and beyond. The following images captured by Keoki throughout the expedition reveal the vibrant coral reefs, range of habitats, and diversity of fish, corals, and other marine species that make Palau one of the best snorkeling spots in the world.

Keoki, who is an avid scuba diver with more than 25 years of experience in the dive industry, had this to say about leading the trip:

“Went scuba diving for three days before guests flew in but I loved the snorkeling a lot more … Each site we visited had different types of fish and coral, no two were alike. We also saw war relics. Palau’s coral and fish diversity is incredible, can’t wait to go back.”

Keoki’s incredible images tell the rest of the story:

One of Palau's colorful hard coral (Acropora sp.) gardens. © Keoki Stender

Brightly colored Redfin Anthias (Pseudanthias dispar). © Keoki Stender

Aptly-named Soft Coral Arch is one of Palau's most unique snorkel sites. © Keoki Stender

Oceanic Society traveler, Jane, watches colorful Anthias on the reef. © Keoki Stender

A male mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), one of Palau's best-known fish. © Keoki Stender

Palau's Rock Islands are beautiful above the surface too. © Keoki Stender

An eight-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon octofasciatus). © Keoki Stender

Staggering coral diversity at Fantasy Reef. © Keoki Stender

A school of sabre squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum). © Keoki Stender

The coral gardens of Ulong Island are the perfect home for a giant clam (Tridacna gigas). © Keoki Stender

Oceanic Society traveler, Mary, points to a blue devil damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea). © Keoki Stender

Exploring the wreck of a Japanese Zero aircraft from WWII. © Keoki Stender

A pair of blackback butterflyfish ((Chaetodon melannotus). © Keoki Stender

For more information about our Palau snorkeling trips, including itineraries, trip dates, prices, and more photos, click here!

Brian Hutchinson

Brian Hutchinson is Oceanic Society's co-CEO, co-founder of the State of the World's Sea Turtles Program, and program officer of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group. Brian holds a B.A. in zoology from Connecticut College, and has been working to advance global marine conservation for more than 20 years. Brian is an avid traveler who has visited more than 45 countries and led Oceanic Society expeditions in Costa Rica, Cuba, Baja California, Indonesia, and Trinidad.

Join our community.

Latest Posts

Reflections from the Field: 2025 Through Our Eyes

Read More

A Rare Encounter with Solo Killer Whale CA212A Near the Farallon Islands

Read More
A shirtless Indonesian man with swim goggles on his head, wearing blue swim shorts, paddles a traditional bamboo outrigger canoe across calm turquoise ocean waters under a clear blue sky. Distant green volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, with scattered white clouds above.

Expedition Impact Program Spotlight: Indonesia

Read More

A Traveler’s View: Snorkeling with Humpbacks in Tonga

Read More

Check Out Our Amazing Trips

See All Trips

Raja Ampat to Halmahera: Remote Reefs Adventure

See Trip →
Two whale sharks swimming together in the waters near the Galápagos Islands, a rare sight typically seen on specialized scuba trips to Darwin and Wolf Islands.

Triton Bay & Raja Ampat: Whale Sharks & Coral Wonders

See Trip →

Alor to Komodo: Reefs, Rays & Dragons

See Trip →

Seychelles & Madagascar Luxury Island Cruise

See Trip →
Aerial view of Raja Ampat Indonesia

Raja Ampat Archipelago by Liveaboard

See Trip →

Join our community.

Adventure awaits.

Request a Catalog
Become a Member

© François Baelen / Coral Reef Image Bank

Contact

Oceanic Society
P.O. Box 844
Ross, CA 94957

Whale Watching
1-415-256-9604

Expeditions & General Inquiries
1-800-326-7491

Office Hours

CA Office

Mon-Fri: 8AM–3PM
(PDT/PST)

DC Office

Mon-Fri: 9AM–5PM
(EDT/EST)

Navigate

  • Our Work
  • Take A Trip
  • Whale Watching
  • Adopt
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • About
  • Oceanic Society Magazine
  • Contact

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
footer-logo

© 2026 Oceanic Society. The Oceanic Society is a registered organization. Our Federal Tax ID is 94-3105570.

Website by Yoko Co

Scroll To Top
By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our privacy policy.