September 28th, 2011

FAD Dive

   On Wednesday, September 28 the Paddling Palau guides & captains jumped onto the boat for an adventure into the open ocean.  Local fishermen had placed a F.A.D. (fish attraction device) over Palau’s deep-water trench.  The large steel float is attached to the 3,000’ sea floor via an anchor and heavy cable.  Sitting in the midst of this oceanic desert, the float and associated rope immediately became a magnet for small baitfish & curious predators.

   After a week of rain and strong winds, we decided to take advantage of the calm seas and motored out over 19 miles into the open ocean.  Along the way, we encountered a pod of playful spinner dolphins which immediately raced into our bow wake for a joy ride.  With the help of a GPS we spotted the brightly painted fad and slipped cautiously into the deep blue.  Within seconds we were welcomed to the FAD by the resident predators:  Juvenile Silky Sharks.  Sprinting to within a few feet of us, the Silkys charged without fear or inhibition.  Growing to lengths of over 12’ as adults, these creatures pose a serious menace to stranded sailors or drifting divers.  Even the juveniles must be constantly watched as they move with a confidence unlike that of the more timid reef sharks.

  We were also greeted by a beautiful game fish known as the Mahi Mahi or dolphin fish.  This stunning oceanic wanderer is a prize for anglers though we were more interested in its rainbow-like colors and timid curiosity.  The Mahi Mahi bore the scars of recent battles and we speculated the culprit.  Only two weeks previous to our adventures fishermen had spotted a pod of Short Finned Pilot Whales feasting on the defenseless Mahi Mahi.  Sadly, the stunning cetaceans were neither seen nor hear during our oceanicouting.