Palau is an island born of fire. Sitting on the edge of the Philippine tectonic plate, its story began when the massive Pacific Plate slipped beneath the smaller Philippine Plate, triggering a volcanic eruption that created a 100-mile-long ridge. Today, we dive within this ancient, submerged volcano, where Palau’s geologic past is literally written into the rock.

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Every new moon, thousands of bumphead parrotfish gather in the Rock Islands for the largest mass spawning event of its kind anywhere in the world.

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I was commissioned by PADI Scuba Diving Magazine to document the wonders of Palau aboard the Black Pearl. This story will feature as a main piece in their 2026 April issue.