Siaes Corner Dive Site
Site Overview
Siaes Corner, within the Ulong Island & Ulong Channel of Palau, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Micronesian diving trip. A Blue Corner-style corner where sharks, eagle rays, and schooling barracuda gather in the current. Geographically the site features wall and corner formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 6 metres to a maximum depth of about 40 metres, with an average working depth near 20 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 Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), 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 Siaes Corner one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Siaes Corner 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.
Dive Briefing
"Your dive at Siaes Corner begins with a negative descent along the mooring line or wall, depending on the current on the day. You hook in at the corner and watch the blue water, where grey reefs, eagle rays, and barracuda stream past the gorgonian-covered wall. Plan to spend the deepest portion of the dive along the wall between 6 and 20 metres, where the coral is most colourful and the larger fish congregate. Deploy your reef hook on rock at the corner and keep your DSMB ready; never fight the current, let it carry you on ascent. Mid-water, watch the blue beyond the wall for passing Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and other pelagics, and keep an eye on your no-decompression limits given the depths involved. Ascend slowly with a safety stop at five metres to off-gas safely. Because Siaes Corner can experience strong currents and occasionally reduced visibility after heavy rain, dive with a surface marker buoy and always follow your operator's site-specific briefing and emergency plan."
Signature Marine Life
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Best: November, December, January
Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)
Best: December, January, February
Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Best: Year-round
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Best: Year-round
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Strong current at the corner
- Depth to 40 metres
- Boat traffic above
- Exposure with little shelter
- Hypothermia on long drifts
- Entanglement on gorgonians
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Siaes Corner is aimed at advanced divers holding at least a Advanced Open Water certification, and it suits those comfortable managing strong currents and maintaining neutral buoyancy along vertical terrain. Photographers, marine-life enthusiasts, and experienced drift divers will find it especially rewarding, while experienced drift divers will enjoy the action, while novices should build up first. Divers who prefer calm, shallow, zero-current conditions should choose one of Palau's sheltered lagoons or house reefs instead, and anyone without the recommended certification should complete a check-out dive with a local operator first.
For Non-Divers
Snorkellers can enjoy the shallow top of the corner where gorgonians and fish are visible.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Sam's Tours
- Fish 'n Fins
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Palau Pacific Resort
Arakabesan, Koror • 8km away
West Plaza by the Sea
Koror • 9km away