Palau

This small collection of islands in the western Pacific Ocean boasts some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the world. In 2005, the president declared the conservation of one-third of near-shore coastal waters and 20 percent of forest land by 2020. The islands are also home to the first shark sanctuary in the world, a massive more than 231,661-square-kilometer area of protected space. The Rock Islands, which many became familiar with after watching “Survivor Palau,” are ancient relics of coral reefs that make up 300 islands in the Southern Lagoon of Palau. Most are uninhabited and are renowned for their unusual shape and fine, powdery sand beaches, but even more so for their azure-hued lagoons. The islands are also home to famed Jellyfish Lake, where millions of golden jellyfish live, harmless to humans, and a number of other surprises, like the Milky Way which is a bay filled with white limestone known for rejuvenating the skin.