Short Drop-Off Dive Site

Site Overview

Short Drop-Off, 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 relaxed wall decorated with large sea fans and morays, and a favourite for night dives. Geographically the site features wall and slope formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 6 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 16 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 12 to 30 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Moray Eel (Gymnothorax javanicus), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Bigeye (Priacanthus hamrur), Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii), 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 Short 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. Short 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.