Scuba Diving in Chandelier Caves & West Coast

About Chandelier Caves & West Coast

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 mineral 'chandelier' formations that glitter when a torch is shone upward. These shallow caverns are a favourite for cavern-certified and recreational divers alike, with air pockets that let you surface inside the mountain and admire the stalactites. The broader west coast also shelters Mandarin Fish Lake, a quiet brackish lake where the dazzling mandarinfish perform their dusk mating dance, a bucket-list encounter for macro enthusiasts. Easily reached from Koror in a short boat ride, this region is perfect for a relaxed half-day of diving and snorkelling, and pairs beautifully with a night dive or a cultural tour of the nearby limestone coastline.

Highlights

• ✓Chandelier Caves: five linked caverns with air pockets, stalactites, and glittering mineral formations.
• ✓Mandarin Fish Lake: a brackish lake famed for the dusk mating dance of mandarinfish.
• ✓Easy access from Koror for half-day trips and night dives.
• ✓Calm, sheltered conditions ideal for training and underwater photography.

Getting There

The Chandelier Caves & West Coast region is reached by boat from Koror, the dive hub of Palau. Day boats and liveaboards depart the Koror and Malakal marinas, with transit times varying by site. Some southern and northern regions are best experienced on multi-day liveaboard trips that time dives to the tidal windows.