Chandelier Caves

Mandarin Fish Lake

The west coast is minutes from Koror's restaurants, so divers can enjoy a relaxed breakfast before a short boat ride and return for lunch or dinner in town. Local eateries serve fresh sashimi, taro pancakes, and Japanese-Palauan fusion dishes, while resort restaurants offer international menus and fresh fruit juices. Many boats also carry a cooler with snacks and drinks, making the half-day trips effortless and comfortable even in the warmest months.

West Plaza by the Sea

Palau Royal Resort

Palau Pacific Resort

Rose Garden Resort

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.

Chandelier Caves & West Coast

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.

Dive Sites in Chandelier Caves & West Coast

Chandelier Caves

Mandarin Fish Lake