Scuba Diving in Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro

About Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro

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 constellation of calm bays perfect for spotting tiny critters. The Iro Maru, Amatsu Maru, Chuyo Maru, and Teshio Maru are large, intact ships draped in coral and schooling fish, while the Jake Seaplane and Helmet Wreck add shallow, photogenic variety. Between the wrecks, bays such as Nikko Bay and sites like Short Drop-Off and Toachel Mlengui deliver Frogfish, ghost pipefish, seahorses, and stunning soft corals. Because everything is close to Koror, this region is ideal for divers who want variety without long transits, for photographers building a portfolio, and for those completing wreck or specialty courses. It is also where many operators run their training dives thanks to the protected, shallow conditions.

Highlights

• ✓Iro Maru Wreck: a 143 m oil tanker sitting upright with a huge engine room and abundant marine life.
• ✓Jake Seaplane Wreck: an intact Aichi E13A floatplane in shallow water, ideal for wide-angle and macro.
• ✓Nikko Bay: a calm macro paradise for ghost pipefish, frogfish, and seahorses.
• ✓Helmet Wreck: a shallow patrol boat strewn with helmets and ammunition, now a colourful reef.
• ✓Toachel Mlengui: a deep channel drift for advanced divers chasing pelagics.

Getting There

The Koror Area – Wrecks & Macro 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.