Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 Wreck) Dive Site

Site Overview

Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 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 30 m Japanese patrol boat still strewn with soldiers' helmets and ammunition, now a colourful artificial reef. Geographically the site features wreck and hull formations built from steel and coral substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 18 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 22 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 Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Batfish (Platax orbicularis), Glassfish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax javanicus), Nudibranch (Chromodoris), 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 Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 Wreck) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Helmet Wreck (Depth Charge / Buoy 6 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.