BEGINNER LEVEL  ::  DRIFT DIVE
German Channel was built in the 1900's, when the German administration blasted through the reef to complete the natural channel and allow ships to pass from the southern islands of Peleliu and Angaur to Koror.  Today it is used as passage through the southwestern barrier reef to many of the outer dive sites.  At 10 feet (3 meters), the man-made channel is too shallow to dive.  The outside mouth of the channel slopes down to a sandy bottom at about 75 feet.  This dive is popular for its manta cleaning station, where the manta, and the occassional reef shark come to be cleaned by cleaner wrasse.  You can also see other kinds of rays including sting rays, spotted eagle rays, and ornate eagle rays.

While waiting for the manta to arrive, take a look at the sandy bottom and you will see hundreds of garden eels - their heads poking out of the sand.  They are very shy, so you will have to move slowly if you don't want to frighten them.  Other inhabitants of this area include the crocodile fish, jaw fish, gray reef sharks and white tip reef sharks.  If the current drifts you into the channel, don't worry - it's a great place to see giant clams.

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