Palau

Diving in Palau

41 sites88 species27–30 °C15–45 m vis

Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels

Palau is an archipelago of ~340 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, between the Philippines and Guam. It is one of the world's premier dive destinations, famous for steep walls, strong currents that attract large pelagics, WWII wrecks, the unique Rock Islands, and the legendary Blue Corner — often ranked among the top three dive sites on Earth.

Palau was the FIRST nation in the world to ban shark fishing (2003) and create a national shark sanctuary covering 600,000 km² — the size of France.In 2020, Palau closed 80% of its Exclusive Economic Zone to fishing — the largest percentage of any nation's waters designated as a fully protected marine sanctuary.Palau's Rock Islands Southern Lagoon was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 for its unique limestone karst formations and marine lakes.The Palau Pledge is a mandatory environmental oath stamped into every visitor's passport upon arrival — the world's first ecological passport pledge of its kind.Gloves are banned for all divers in Palau — the first country to implement such a law, protecting delicate corals from accidental damage.Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau) is a 12,000-year-old marine lake isolated from the ocean, where millions of golden jellyfish evolved to lose their stinging ability.The golden jellyfish of Jellyfish Lake migrate daily following the sun — rising on the east side at dawn, moving westward across the lake, then descending at dusk in one of nature's most mesmerizing rituals.Operation Desecrate One (March 30–31, 1944) — a massive US carrier air raid — sank 60+ Japanese ships in Palau's lagoon, creating one of the world's greatest concentrations of accessible WWII wrecks.The Amatsu Maru, deepest Japanese wreck in Palau at 40m, is nicknamed the 'Black Coral Wreck' because of the forest of black coral that now envelops its superstructure.The intact Zero fighter plane resting in Palau's shallow waters is one of the few remaining WWII Japanese fighter planes accessible to recreational divers anywhere in the world.Blue Corner has been named one of the top three dive sites in the world by multiple publications and is often described as 'nature's greatest underwater show.'Jacques Cousteau ranked Big Drop-Off (Ngemelis Wall) as one of his personal top 10 favorite dive sites worldwide, calling it a vertical paradise of corals and marine life.At German Channel, manta rays can reach wingspans up to 7 meters (23 ft) and weigh over 1.5 tons, queuing up at cleaning stations like airplanes at a car wash.At Mandarin Fish Lake, the spectacular mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) performs a sunset courtship dance every evening — one of the most sought-after macro photography events in diving.Ulong Island, home of the legendary Ulong Channel drift dive, was the filming location for the reality TV show Survivor: Palau (Season 10).

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Places on this map (17)

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Conditions

Water temp

27–30 °C

Visibility

15–45 m

Depth

2–40 m

Current

Strong

Best season

November–April (dry season — peak visibility and pelagic action); May–October also excellent with fewer crowds and active manta feeding

Month	Summary
Jan	Peak dry season — calm seas, 25–30m+ visibility. Strong currents at outer reef points bring grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and barracuda schools in abundance. Manta season in full swing at German Channel and Devil Fish City. Water 27–28°C. Book well ahead.
Feb	Arguably the best diving month of the year. Visibility often exceeds 30m, water 28°C. Peak manta aggregations at German Channel and Devil Fish City. Blue Corner and Peleliu Express deliver world-class shark action. Liveaboard spaces fill months ahead.
Mar	Peak shark month — grey reef, whitetip, and silvertip sharks at their most active on outer walls. Mantas still plentiful. Visibility 25–30m, water warming to 28–29°C. Strong currents deliver the signature Palau pelagic spectacle. Book early for the prime window.
Apr	End of dry season with still-excellent conditions. Visibility 25–30m, slightly calmer currents make this a great month for divers of all levels. Last month of peak manta season. Water 28–29°C. Fewer crowds than February–March.
May	Transition month — plankton blooms begin, visibility drops to 20–25m but mantas and whale sharks become more active feeding in the nutrient-rich water. Warmer water (29°C), fewer divers, excellent value. Great month for macro photography.
Jun	Plankton season in full effect — visibility 15–20m but marine life at its richest. Mantas and whale sharks feed actively. Water 29–30°C — warmest of the year. Afternoon showers common but diving remains excellent. Best value season.
Jul	Mid-plankton season — visibility 15–20m, water 29–30°C. Mantas, whale sharks, and large pelagics feed in the green water. WWII wrecks offer sheltered diving with excellent marine encrustation. Afternoon rain typical but mornings clear.
Aug	Similar to July — visibility 15–20m, water 29°C. Mantas still feeding actively at cleaning stations. Wrecks are a great option with impressive coral growth. Good time for the inner lagoon and channel sites. Fewer tourists, more relaxed vibe.
Sep	Late plankton season — visibility begins improving to 18–22m. Water 29°C. Still good for mantas and whale sharks. Jellyfish Lake at peak jellyfish population. Transition toward dry season begins late September.
Oct	Shoulder month — visibility improving to 20–25m as plankton recedes. Water 28–29°C. Currents begin strengthening at outer reef points. Good mix of big animal encounters and improving visibility. A sweet spot for photographers.
Nov	Start of dry season — visibility climbs to 25–30m. Water 28°C. Currents strengthen, sharks and pelagics return in force to outer walls. Mantas still present. Excellent all-around diving with improving conditions.
Dec	Dry season in full swing — visibility 25–30m, water 27–28°C. Peak currents at Blue Corner, Ulong Channel, and Peleliu Express. Sharks, eagle rays, and barracuda schools at their best. Manta season begins ramping up at German Channel. A spectacular month.

Dive Sites (41)

Amatsu Maru

30–40m · Expert

10,567-ton Japanese oil tanker · Nicknamed 'Black Coral Wreck' · Dense black coral colonies on superstructure

Big Drop-Off

3–285m · Beginner

Sheer vertical wall from 3m to 285m+ · Jacques Cousteau top-10 worldwide · Soft corals, giant sea fans, and sponges

Blue Corner

15–40m · Advanced

Triangular coral plateau with steep walls on all sides · Hook-in drift dive — reef hook mandatory · World-famous pelagic spectacle

Blue Holes

5–40m · Intermediate

Four vertical holes in the reef plateau · Sunlight shafts create dramatic light beams · Connects to Blue Corner via outer wall

Buoy #6 Wreck

21–27m · Advanced

Small fishing vessel near marker #6 in Malakal Channel · Upright position with deck at 21m · Dense coral and sponge encrustation

Chandelier Cave

0–11m · Beginner

Limestone cave with 4 air-filled chambers · Stalactites and stalagmites inside · Surface inside chambers by flashlight

Chuyo Maru

15–30m · Advanced

83m Japanese coastal freighter · Bridge with brass compass and telegraph intact · Deck guns visibly mounted

Condominium

10–30m · Beginner

Giant cabbage corals like 'apartment blocks' · Each coral head hosts a territorial fish · Turtles and sharks in the blue

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Marine Life (88)

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Bull Shark

must-see

Great Hammerhead

must-see

Hawksbill Turtle

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

must-see

Spotted Eagle Ray

must-see

Branching Hammer Coral

must-see

Blue-lipped Sea Krait

Common Lionfish

Great Barracuda

Sebae Anemone

+76more species in the app

Dive Shops (17)

Splash Dive Center

★ 4.4Moderate

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Palau LT Dive

★ 4.9Moderate

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Fish 'n Fins Palau

★ 4.5Moderate

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Palau Dive Adventures

★ 5Moderate

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PALAU INFINITY DIVE

★ 5Moderate

Website ↗

DIVE 365 Palau

★ 4.8Moderate

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Dolphin Bay Resort & Peleliu Divers

★ 4.6Moderate

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Palau Pacific Divers

★ 4.7Moderate

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Nautilus Diving Center - PADI 5 Star Scuba Diving Center Palau, Sardinia

★ 5Moderate

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Scuba Point - 5 Star PADI Diving Center Palau: La Maddalena, Sardegna

★ 4.9Moderate

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Ocean Hunter Palau

★ 4.8Moderate

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MK hotel & dive resort

★ 4.6Moderate

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Neco Marine Palau

★ 4.3Moderate

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iPalau Dive Center

★ 4.6Moderate

Belau Diving

★ 4.9Moderate

Website ↗

Palau 7th Wonder Dive & Tours

★ 4.9Moderate

Carp Palau Dive Center

★ 5Moderate

Guides

Diving Palau: Conditions, Seasons, and What to Expect

Water temperatures of 27–30°C, visibility up to 45 meters, and currents that make the dive. Here's what Palau's diving conditions look like month by month.

9 min read

Top 7 Dive Sites in Palau: A Complete Guide

Diving with scores of sharks at Blue Corner, mantas at German Channel, and WWII wrecks. Compare Palau's best dive sites ranked by difficulty and marine life.

11 min read

The Complete Palau Diving Guide: Sites, Wrecks & Wildlife

Blue Corner, Jellyfish Lake, and WWII wrecks — Palau is the Pacific's ultimate dive destination. Complete guide to its best dive sites, operators, and tips.

6 min read