Palau

Gathers at the German Channel cleaning stations and occasionally along Peleliu Corner, gliding in to be cleaned by wrasses.

Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi)

The signature shark of Palau's walls and channels, seen in large numbers hooked in at Blue Corner, Ulong Channel, and Peleliu.

Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

A massive, inquisitive reef fish frequently encountered at Blue Corner and other western barrier reef walls.

Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

Stingless jellyfish that migrate daily across Jellyfish Lake; a snorkel-only, once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Golden Jellyfish (Mastigias papua etpisoni)

Among the most colourful reef fish on Earth, performing their dusk mating dance in the brackish Mandarin Fish Lake.

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus)

Palau is a legendary scuba diving destination in the western Pacific, an archipelago of more than 500 islands scattered across a turquoise lagoon and fringed by some of the most dramatic walls, channels, and blue holes on Earth. The country is best known for its electrifying drift dives where nutrient-rich currents funnel grey reef sharks, whtip sharks, and schooling jacks past vertical drop-offs, and for the German Channel where manta rays queue at cleaning stations. Beyond the adrenaline, Palau offers pristine hard and soft coral gardens, a remarkable collection of WWII wrecks resting in calm bays, and the surreal Jellyfish Lake, where millions of stingless golden jellyfish pulse through land-locked water. The Palau Protected Areas Network safeguards a huge share of the reef, which helps keep visibility routinely above 30 metres and fish life abundant. Whether you are a wide-angle photographer chasing pelagics, a macro hunter combing sheltered bays for ghost pipefish and frogfish, or a beginner exploring shallow coral gardens, Palau delivers a complete and world-class underwater experience wrapped in warm Micronesian hospitality.

Liveaboards are one of the best ways to experience Palau, reaching distant pelagic sites such as Peleliu Express, Kayangel, and the outer Ngemelis walls that are a long run from Koror. Most itineraries loop the Rock Islands and Peleliu over 7 to 10 nights, with some extended trips adding Kayangel in the north. Day boats remain excellent for the classic sites closer to Koror.

Palau Pacific Resort

Carp Island Resort

West Plaza by the Sea

The West Coast of Koror State centres on the spellbinding Chandelier Caves, a chain of five limestone caverns linked by air-filled chambers and hung with minera...

Chandelier Caves & West Coast

Palau's marine lakes are among the most extraordinary natural wonders on Earth, and Jellyfish Lake, or Ongeim'l Tketau, is the most famous. This land-locked lak...

Jellyfish Lake & Marine Lakes (Snorkel/No Scuba)

Kayangel is Palau's only true atoll, sitting far to the north and offering some of the clearest, least-dived water in the country. Its eastern rim drops into a...

Kayangel Atoll (Northern Reef)

The waters around Koror are a treasure trove for wreck divers and macro hunters, holding a remarkable fleet of WWII Japanese vessels sunk in 1944 and a constell...

Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro

The Ngemelis area and the Western Barrier Reef form the crown jewel of Palauan diving, a cluster of vertical walls and plateaus on the outer edge of the Rock Is...

Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef

Beyond the headline regions, the central Rock Islands and the waters around Koror hide a collection of special sites beloved by macro photographers and divers s...

Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special)

Peleliu and Angaur guard the southern end of Palau's barrier reef and deliver its most extreme pelagic diving. Peleliu Wall, nicknamed the Peleliu Express, is a...

Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs)

Ulong Island and its famous channel sit in the central Rock Islands and are revered for one of the most exhilarating drift dives on the planet. Ulong Channel is...

Ulong Island & Ulong Channel

Amatsu Maru Wreck

Amatsu Maru Wreck, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving t...

Angaur Island Wall

Angaur Island Wall, within the Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Microne...

Big Drop-Off

Big Drop-Off, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tr...

Blue Corner

Blue Corner, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tri...

Blue Holes

Blue Holes, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip...

Carp Island

Carp Island, within the Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian divi...

Chandelier Caves

Chandelier Caves, within the Chandelier Caves & West Coast of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving...

Chuyo Maru Wreck

Chuyo Maru Wreck, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tr...

Clear Water Lake

Clear Water Lake, within the Jellyfish Lake & Marine Lakes (Snorkel/No Scuba) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any...

Disneyland

Disneyland, within the Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian divin...

German Channel

German Channel, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving...

Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 Wreck)

Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 Wreck), within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of...

Honeymoon Beach

Honeymoon Beach, within the Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian...

Iro Maru Wreck

Iro Maru Wreck, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip...

Jake Seaplane Wreck

Jake Seaplane Wreck, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving...

Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau)

Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau), within the Jellyfish Lake & Marine Lakes (Snorkel/No Scuba) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a h...

Kayangel Lagoon

Kayangel Lagoon, within the Kayangel Atoll (Northern Reef) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving...

Kayangel North Channel

Kayangel North Channel, within the Kayangel Atoll (Northern Reef) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian...

Kayangel Wall

Kayangel Wall, within the Kayangel Atoll (Northern Reef) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tr...

Mandarin Fish Lake

Mandarin Fish Lake, within the Chandelier Caves & West Coast of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian divin...

New Drop-Off

New Drop-Off, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tr...

Ngaruangl Reef

Ngaruangl Reef, within the Kayangel Atoll (Northern Reef) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving t...

Ngemelis Coral Garden

Ngemelis Coral Garden, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian...

Ngemelis Wall

Ngemelis Wall, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving t...

Ngerchong (Coral Gardens)

Ngerchong (Coral Gardens), within the Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Mi...

Ngerikuul (The Tunnel)

Ngerikuul (The Tunnel), within the Other Notable Sites (Macro & Special) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micro...

Nikko Bay

Nikko Bay, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip. A s...

Orange Beach / White Beach Wrecks

Orange Beach / White Beach Wrecks, within the Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight...

Peleliu Corner

Peleliu Corner, within the Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian...

Peleliu Cut

Peleliu Cut, within the Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian di...

Peleliu Wall (Peleliu Express)

Peleliu Wall (Peleliu Express), within the Peleliu & Angaur (Southern Outer Reefs) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of...

Short Drop-Off

Short Drop-Off, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip...

Siaes Corner

Siaes Corner, within the Ulong Island & Ulong Channel of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip....

Siaes Tunnel

Siaes Tunnel, within the Ulong Island & Ulong Channel of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip....

Teshio Maru Wreck

Teshio Maru Wreck, within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving t...

Toachel Mlengui (Mid Channel)

Toachel Mlengui (Mid Channel), within the Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micrones...

Turtle Wall

Turtle Wall, within the Ngemelis & Western Barrier Reef of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tri...

Uet era Ngermeuangel

Uet era Ngermeuangel, within the Jellyfish Lake & Marine Lakes (Snorkel/No Scuba) of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of...

Ulong Channel

Ulong Channel, within the Ulong Island & Ulong Channel of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip...

Ulong Sand Bar

Ulong Sand Bar, within the Ulong Island & Ulong Channel of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving tri...

Almost all diving is reached by boat from Koror, with day trips and liveaboards covering the Rock Islands, Peleliu, and Kayangel. On land, taxis and rental cars connect Koror to the airport on Babeldaob via the compact compact road network. Inter-island travel to Kayangel and Peleliu is by speedboat or liveaboard.

Scuba Diving Sites in Palau

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