Big Drop-Off Dive Site

Site Overview

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 trip. A classic steep wall that starts in just 5 metres of water, making it as rewarding for snorkellers as for divers. Geographically the site features wall and drop-off formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 35 metres, with an average working depth near 18 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 20 to 40 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Fusilier (Pterocaesio tile), Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), alongside dense reef fish, invertebrates, and the soft and hard corals that blanket the reef. The mix of nutrient-rich currents and Palau's protected status makes Big Drop-Off one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Big Drop-Off is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Koror, and it rewards wide-angle photographers, naturalists, and adrenaline-seeking drift divers alike. The Palau Protected Areas Network helps keep the reef pristine, so divers are asked to maintain perfect buoyancy and respect the fragile coral at all times.