Palau’s pristine waters harbor some of the world’s most spectacular diving experiences, where vibrant coral reefs meet mysterious wartime wrecks and unique marine phenomena. This Micronesian paradise combines excellent visibility, diverse marine life, and historical significance to create unforgettable underwater adventures.
From famous sites like Blue Corner to lesser-known gems hidden among the Rock Islands, these 20 diving spots showcase the best of Palau’s marine wonders. Whether you’re an experienced diver or newly certified, these locations offer encounters with everything from tiny macro life to majestic pelagics in waters that remain remarkably unspoiled.
Blue Corner
Arguably Palau’s most famous dive site, this underwater promontory serves as a gathering point for large pelagic species. Strong currents bring nutrient-rich water, attracting grey reef sharks, barracudas, and massive schools of jacks.
You’ll need to use a reef hook during certain tide conditions, allowing you to hover effortlessly while watching the underwater show. The site’s varying depths make it suitable for different experience levels, though current awareness is essential.
German Channel
Created by German engineers during colonial times, this artificial channel now serves as a cleaning station for manta rays. Large schools of butterfly fish and snappers populate the coral gardens along the channel walls.
Divers can position themselves near cleaning stations to observe mantas gliding gracefully overhead. The site also features excellent macro photography opportunities in its shallow sections.
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Ulong Channel
This natural channel offers an exciting drift dive through a coral-lined passage teeming with marine life. The entrance hosts large schools of humphead parrotfish and groupers, while the famous ‘cabbage patch’ coral formation marks the channel’s heart.
Strong currents can make this an exhilarating ride past walls of lettuce coral. Grey reef sharks often patrol the channel’s deeper sections.
Chandelier Cave
This unique cave system features four air chambers decorated with stalactites resembling crystalline chandeliers. Light beams pierce through entrance holes, creating dramatic underwater lighting effects.
The shallow depth and calm conditions make this an excellent site for novice cave divers. You can surface in each chamber to admire the limestone formations above water.
Peleliu Wall
This dramatic wall dive along Peleliu Island drops into the Philippine Sea trench. Eagle rays and tuna frequently pass through the blue water off the wall, while the coral-covered surface hosts an abundance of reef fish.
Strong currents can bring hammerhead sharks during certain seasons. The site’s historical significance as a WWII battle location adds extra interest.
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Jellyfish Lake
While technically a snorkeling site, no diving list would be complete without mentioning this unique marine lake. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate across the lake daily following the sun’s path.
These jellyfish have evolved to be stingless, allowing safe, close encounters with these fascinating creatures. The lake requires a special permit and guide to visit.
Jake Seaplane
This incredibly well-preserved Japanese seaplane wreck rests in shallow water, perfect for both novice wreck divers and photographers. The intact cockpit still contains some original gauges and controls, while the wings harbor soft corals and small reef fish.
The wreck’s shallow depth allows for extended bottom times to explore every detail. Local guides share fascinating stories about the plane’s discovery.
Siaes Tunnel
This large tunnel passes through a reef wall, opening into the blue at a depth of 90 feet. Large sea fans and black coral trees decorate the tunnel’s ceiling, while flashlight fish inhabit darker crevices.
The tunnel’s width allows comfortable passage even for less experienced cave divers. Exiting the tunnel often reveals sharks and eagle rays in the blue water.
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New Drop-off
Similar to Blue Corner but with typically gentler currents, this site offers excellent opportunities to observe reef sharks and schooling fish. The wall features beautiful soft coral gardens and numerous sea fans.
Napoleon wrasses frequently approach divers here, showing curious behavior. The site works well for both morning and afternoon dives.
Ngedebus Wall
This pristine wall dive features some of Palau’s healthiest hard coral coverage. Schools of blackfin barracuda often form tornado-like formations near the wall’s edge.
The shallow reef top provides excellent safety stop opportunities while observing bustling reef life. Various nudibranch species make this a favorite among macro photographers.
Short Drop-off
This site offers a combination of wall and reef plateau diving with reliable shark encounters. The shallow coral gardens host countless tropical fish species and occasional turtles.
Whitetip reef sharks often rest in sand channels between coral formations. The site’s moderate currents make it accessible to most skill levels.
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Shark City
True to its name, this site consistently delivers close encounters with multiple shark species. Grey reef sharks dominate the scene, but silvertips and whitetips also make regular appearances.
The reef structure provides natural amphitheaters for observing shark behavior. Early morning dives typically offer the best shark activity.
Virgin Blue Hole
This vertical shaft through the reef opens into a large cavern with multiple exit points. Sunlight streaming through the holes creates ethereal light effects underwater.
The surrounding reef hosts abundant marine life, including leaf scorpionfish and ghost pipefish. The site suits both cave-diving enthusiasts and reef explorers.
Turtle Cove
This site lives up to its name with regular encounters with both green and hawksbill turtles. The sloping reef features numerous cleaning stations where turtles interact with smaller fish.
Lazy drift diving allows observation of turtle behavior without disturbing their natural patterns. The shallow sections offer excellent snorkeling opportunities as well.
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Yellow Wall
Named for its golden soft coral coverage, this wall dive glows during early morning dives. Schools of yellow-masked angelfish add to the golden atmosphere, while emperor angelfish patrol deeper sections.
The wall’s numerous overhangs shelter sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Mild currents usually allow a relaxed exploration of the wall’s features.
Dexter’s Wall
This lesser-known site offers pristine coral gardens and reliable manta ray encounters. The wall features numerous ledges where sharks rest during the day, while cleaner wrasse stations attract larger fish.
Conservation efforts have helped maintain the site’s pristine condition. The moderate depths suit intermediate divers.
Wonder Channel
This natural channel through the Rock Islands offers exciting drift diving opportunities. The narrow passages concentrate on fish life, creating spectacular scenes of schooling species.
Various coral formations provide habitat for macro subjects like pipefish and nudibranchs. The site’s varying widths create interesting current patterns.
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Ngemelis Wall
This extensive wall system features some of Palau’s most diverse coral coverage. Large gorgonian fans filter nutrients from passing currents while schools of snappers hover above the reef.
Eagle rays frequently pass by in deeper water, especially during morning dives. The wall’s varied topography provides interesting swim-throughs and caverns.
Ngerchong Inside
This protected reef area offers excellent macro diving opportunities in typically calm conditions. Leaf scorpionfish and ghost pipefish hide among coral formations, while mantis shrimp patrol their burrows.
The site’s shallow depth profile allows extended bottom times for photography. Night dives reveal an entirely different cast of marine creatures.
Big Drop-off
This vertical wall offers one of Palau’s most dramatic underwater landscapes. The sheer face drops into the abyss, attracting large pelagic species, including occasional hammerhead sharks.
Soft corals in various colors decorate the wall’s face, while tropical fish species swarm around coral outcrops. The site’s exposure to currents requires careful timing and experienced guide knowledge.
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Diving Into Paradise
These twenty-one dive sites represent the incredible diversity of Palau’s underwater world, from heart-pumping drift dives to peaceful coral gardens and historic wrecks. Each location offers unique marine encounters and varying challenges to suit different skill levels and interests.
Remember to work with reputable dive operators who understand local conditions and seasonal variations, and consider taking additional specialty courses to fully enjoy sites requiring advanced techniques. Whether you’re photographing tiny critters or watching mantas soar overhead, Palau’s waters never fail to inspire and amaze.
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