Nikko Bay Dive Site

Site Overview

Nikko Bay, 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 sheltered, almost current-free bay that is a macro paradise for ghost pipefish, frogfish, and seahorses. Geographically the site features bay and slope formations built from sand and coral substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 3 metres to a maximum depth of about 15 metres, with an average working depth near 8 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 8 to 25 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), Frogfish (Antennarius striatus), Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), Cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus), 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 Nikko Bay one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Nikko Bay 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.