Lets begin our virtual tour of Palau's beaches and snorkel sites at 'Lee Marvin'. This is the most accessible beach, whatever the tide or conditions on the outer reef we can almost always get there. Beloved by locals and tourists alike it has a sheltered area for picnics, a restroom, a view of a particularly striking cave and a great lagoon you can reach by swimming around the corner. As with any beach in Palau I would offer you this important advice: do not linger under the coconut trees.....you really don't want to experience coconut hail! I like to drop people off here for a day at the beach because it's cheap (30 dollars for up to five passengers round-trip) and since it is so close on voyage back customers like to enjoy a beer and watch the sunset. If it's just me and the kids we like to fish on the way back. Our last trip proved a bit disheartening because my wife chose the lure......and I actually caught several tiny groupers that we threw back and one one spot emperor that later became 'bedakl' or fish soup for the kids. My wife's lure choosing philosophy works like this: she is convinced that if she finds the lure sufficiently cute the fish will respond similarly. This method, although seemingly unlikely, seems to work for her. So, over the years we have become fishing partners.

There isn't much coral to speak of over at Lee Marvin, but the current is gentle and the sand and peaceful lagoon make up for this in the opinion of the weekend warriors!

We recommend a cooler and a hammock for maximum enjoyment of Lee Marvin!

Here we are, approaching the beach, you can see the cave off in the distance.

This is the beach, white sand and plenty of shade!

If you swim around the corner, away from the cave, you can enter this lagoon.

Another beautiful shot of the lagoon.

Akoiiiiiiii (relaxing in Palauan)

Looking out of the lagoon, there are also more beaches tucked away in here, definitely worth exploring!

'Rur' in Palauan, the graceful white rock lily, which you can find dusting the rock islands.

All aboard!

A blue brittle starfish, rumor has it that if you flip one over it will begin to rain. We didn't take any chances.

Okay, not my biggest catch.....we let this little 'chimirorech' in Palauan or baby grouper go shortly after his moment of fame.

That means I still have to catch something for dinner.

Here's the bedakl, a small 'itotech' or one spot emperor.