Chuyo Maru Wreck Dive Site

Site Overview

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 trip. A coral-encrusted coastal freighter now hosting octopus, nudibranchs, and a wealth of macro life. Geographically the site features wreck and hull formations built from steel and coral substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 22 metres to a maximum depth of about 35 metres, with an average working depth near 26 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 12 to 28 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Reef Octopus (Octopus cyanea), Nudibranch (Chromodoris), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax javanicus), Glassfish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti), 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 Chuyo Maru Wreck one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Chuyo Maru Wreck 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.