Palau’s pristine waters offer some of the world’s most spectacular diving
experiences, with sites ranging from dramatic wall dives to historic WWII wrecks.
This western Pacific paradise boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, including
reef sharks, manta rays, and vibrant coral gardens, all protected by the nation’s
strong conservation policies.
Whether you’re an experienced diver or recently certified, Palau’s crystal-clear
waters provide year-round opportunities to explore one of Earth’s most remarkable
underwater ecosystems.
Blue Corner
This legendary dive site is often ranked among the world’s best and is famous for its
intense current and shark encounters. The corner formation drops from 45 feet to
over 1,000 feet, creating powerful upwellings that attract large pelagic species.
You’ll likely spot dozens of reef sharks, schools of barracuda, and the occasional manta
ray gliding through the blue. The site requires experience with strong currents, but
the rewards include some of the most dramatic underwater scenery in Palau.
German Channel
Originally blasted by German engineers during colonial times, this natural channel
has become a premier manta ray cleaning station. The shallow coral gardens at 30-
60 feet depth offer excellent opportunities to watch these graceful giants being
cleaned by smaller fish.
Schools of jacks and snappers often create swirling formations in the current, while white-tip reef sharks patrol the sandy bottom.
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Jellyfish Lake
While technically a snorkeling site, no diving list would be complete without
mentioning this unique marine lake. Swimming among millions of stingless golden
jellyfish provides an otherworldly experience you won’t find anywhere else.
The lake sits about 45 feet above sea level, and though diving isn’t permitted, the snorkeling experience rivals many dive sites for its uniqueness.
Peleliu Wall
This dramatic wall dive along Peleliu’s reef offers some of the strongest currents and
best pelagic action in Palau. Starting at 45 feet and dropping into the abyss, the wall attracts sharks, tuna, and occasional hammerheads.
Historical remnants from WWII battles can still be spotted, adding an element of human history to this natural wonder.
Ulong Channel
This high-energy drift dive offers an exciting ride past massive coral formations and
abundant marine life. The channel entrance features a large patch of lettuce coral
where grey reef sharks often congregate.
As you drift with the current, you’ll pass through schools of snappers and witness the unique spawning habits of bump head parrotfish during certain moon phases.
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Chandelier Cave
This fascinating cave system consists of four air chambers decorated with stalactites
and stalagmites. The entrance lies at just 15 feet depth, making it accessible to most
skill levels.
Crystal-clear water allows excellent visibility as you explore the chambers, where you can surface to view the impressive limestone formations while discussing the site’s geological history with your guide.
Shark City
This site lives up to its name with regular sightings of grey reefs, white-tip, and
occasionally tiger sharks. The reef plateau at 50 feet drops off into deeper water
where currents attract feeding pelagics.
Schools of barracuda and jacks often create tornado-like formations, while reef fish dart among the pristine coral formations near the wall.
Jake Seaplane
This incredibly well-preserved Japanese WWII seaplane rests in just 45 feet of
water, making it accessible to most divers. The plane sits upright on a white sand
bottom, surrounded by coral growth and tropical fish.
The excellent visibility and shallow depth allow plenty of time to explore this historical artifact while observing the marine life that has made it home.
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Ngerchong Outside
This outer reef wall offers varied diving conditions suitable for different experience
levels. The shallow reef top at 30 feet provides excellent coral gardens for less
experienced divers, while the wall drop-off attracts sharks and schooling fish.
Current strength varies with tides, creating opportunities for both relaxed exploration and exciting drift dives.
Siaes Tunnel
This impressive tunnel system begins at 70 feet and exits onto a dramatic wall at 120
feet. Large schools of jacks often congregate at the entrance, while flashlight fish
can be spotted in the darker sections.
The tunnel’s walls feature beautiful soft coral growth, and the exit opens to a stunning view of the deep blue where sharks and eagle rays frequently pass by.
New Drop-off
Similar to Blue Corner but often with milder conditions, this site offers excellent
opportunities to observe shark behavior. The plateau at 50 feet provides a perfect
vantage point for watching grey reef sharks ride the current.
Large schools of butterfly fish and surgeonfish create a constant display of movement against the blue background.
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Chuyo Maru
This Japanese cargo ship wreck lies on its side at 120 feet, offering an advanced
diving experience. The well-preserved wreck features impressive coral growth and
hosts numerous species of lionfish and groupers.
Penetration is possible in several areas, though it should only be attempted by properly trained divers with appropriate equipment.
Short Drop-off
This beginner-friendly wall dive offers a gentler introduction to Palau’s famous drift
diving. The wall begins in shallow water and features numerous small caves and
crevices hosting colorful reef life.
Turtle sightings are common here, and the typically mild currents make it excellent for photography and relaxed exploration.
Ngedebus Corner
This lesser-known site offers similar features to Blue Corner but with typically smaller
crowds. The corner formation creates exciting current conditions that attract sharks
and schooling fish.
The reef top at 40 feet provides excellent coral gardens to explore when conditions allow, while the wall drops into deeper water where pelagic species pass by.
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Yellow Wall
Named for its vibrant yellow soft coral coverage, this site offers spectacular photo
opportunities in good conditions. The wall starts shallow and drops beyond
recreational limits, with the best coral coverage between 40-80 feet.
Sharks and rays frequently pass through the blue water off the wall, while macro photographers will find numerous nudibranchs and small critters among the coral.
Big Drop-off
This vertical wall offers one of Palau’s most dramatic underwater landscapes.
Starting just below the surface and plunging into the depths, the wall features
abundant coral growth and numerous small caves.
Reef sharks patrol the edge while schools of butterfly fish create moving curtains along the wall, offering excellent wide-angle photo opportunities.
Helmet Wreck
This unidentified Japanese wreck, nicknamed for the helmets found aboard, rests in
100 feet of water. The wreck remains largely intact and features interesting artifacts,
including depth charges and gas masks.
The ship’s relatively compact size allows thorough exploration during a single dive, while its depth and penetration opportunities make it suitable for advanced divers.
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Virgin Blue Hole
This impressive geological formation starts as a large cavern at 30 feet before
opening into a massive chamber. The hole eventually exits onto a wall at 120 feet,
where you’ll often encounter sharks and eagle rays.
The site offers excellent photography opportunities with dramatic light beams penetrating from above during mid-day dives.
Ngemilis Wall
This pristine wall dive offers some of Palau’s best soft coral displays. Different
sections of the wall feature varying colors of soft coral, creating a rainbow effect as
you drift along.
The typically mild currents make it suitable for most skill levels, while the abundant marine life provides excellent viewing opportunities throughout the dive.
Sandy Paradise
This lesser-known gem offers a unique combination of sandy flats and coral
bommies at depths ranging from 30 to 80 feet. The site is famous for its garden eels,
which create swaying forests across the sandy areas, and the numerous cleaning
stations where you can observe intimate interactions between small cleaner wrasses
and larger fish.
The relatively calm conditions and variable depths make this an excellent site for photography and training dives, while seasoned divers will appreciate the wealth of macro life hiding among the coral heads.
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Beyond the Surface
Palau’s dive sites offer something for every interest and skill level, from heart-
pumping drift dives to relaxed coral gardens. The combination of healthy reefs,
abundant marine life, and strong conservation measures ensures these sites remain
world-class diving destinations.
Remember to check seasonal conditions, respect local regulations, and work with
experienced guides to make the most of your Palau diving adventure.
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