By B.B.
For Horizon

The two recent tragic drowning during the holiday season are sad reminders for everyone to be very careful when kayaking or swimming in unfamiliar waters. Many coastal waters of Palau, particularly those among the rock islands and on both the East and West coasts of Babeldaob, have certain areas that could turn tricky and dangerous with the changing of the tides. Local villagers know where these dangerous areas are located and all visitors, who wish to go kayaking or swimming in any exposed waters, should consult the villagers before they go kayaking or swimming in waters they are not familiar with.
In some places, particularly those near the barrier reefs such as the Ngedub channel entrance in Ngarrard, the combination of changing tides and breaking waves becomes very dangerous and no one should ever venture into these spots when the waters in the area are in their "boiling mood". A number of boats piloted by experienced operators have capsized in the Ngedub channel with tragic consequences. Many people, including, we understand, one of the victims of the recent holiday drowning, have lost their lives there. To prevent future tragedies, the Ngaraard State Government should erect warning signs on the nearby beach and on the tidal flat advising Kayakers and swimmers not to venture into the vicinity of the Ngedub channel.
Other places such as certain spots on the Ren-rak Channel near the KB Bridge and certain points at the rock islands could also be very dangerous during the changing of tides. How can we tell that the water is dangerous to swim in? A fast moving current with whirlpools along its length are the usual indications that the water may be too dangerous to swim in. For their safety, Kayakers and swimmers should avoid these spots at all times.
Land vehicles have replaced outboard motor boats as major modes of transportation in the country
There was a time, not too long ago, when the outboard motor boat was not only the preferred vehicle for traveling between the villages of Babeldaob, but was also the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation for traveling to and from all the major islands of Palau, including the Rock Islands. Nowadays, however, the preferred type of transportation has changed. The construction of the Compact Road on Babeldaob and the improvements made on connecting roads to all the major villages have shifted the peoples’ reliance on outboard motor boats to land vehicles. People can now travel anywhere on Babledaob faster and in relative comfort as compared to the old days when one had to put up with bad weather and choppy seas just to go to the next village, only a short distance away.
One can see clearly this shift of preference from outboard motor boats to land vehicles at the empty mooring spots at T-dock and in other anchorages around Koror. Where once you could see large number of boats tied up at these piers at any given day of the week, these places are now largely empty, except for tour and dive boats. Youngsters now use these empty spaces for swimming. Furthermore, there are many boats of all sizes resting on trailers all over town. These boats have the appearances of having been out of the water for many months, if not years. Next to them, one could see their replacements—all types and sizes of land vehicles.