Palau

Palau's diving centres on the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon and the barrier reef outside it, a short boat ride from Koror. The outer corners and channels – Blue Corner, German Channel, Ulong Channel, the Drop Offs – are strong-current drift and hook-in dives with reef sharks and mantas, while Peleliu to the south adds some of the fastest walls in the country. Inside the lagoon lie Japanese ships and aircraft sunk in Operation Desecrate One on 30–31 March 1944. Most Koror-based diving needs a Koror State Rock Island permit, and Peleliu a separate state permit; Jellyfish Lake is snorkel-only.

Facts

• Best season: Year-round; mantas peak December–March, spawning dives April–July around full moon
• Water: About 27 °C; 3 mm suit usual, visibility depends on the tide
• Permits: USD 100 PPEF (in the air ticket) + Koror State Rock Island permit (USD 50 / Jellyfish Lake USD 100, 10 days) + Peleliu State permit for Peleliu
• Gear: Reef hook and surface marker buoy are standard for the current sites

Season

• Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
• Acceptable: May, Jun, Oct
• Poor: Jul, Aug, Sep
• Water temperature: 27–30 °C

Dry season is Oct–May (sources differ: Dec–Apr or Nov–Apr as peak). Jun–Sep is wet, Jul–Oct low season with typhoon risk. Jan–Apr is manta season at German Channel.

Dive sites (34)

WWII wrecks – Koror & Malakal

• Amatsu Maru – 30–40 m, advanced
• Buoy #6 wreck – 21–27 m, advanced
• Chuyo Maru – 33–38 m, advanced
• Helmet Wreck – 10–30 m, intermediate
• Jake Seaplane – 15 m, beginner
• Ryuko Maru – advanced
• Urakami Maru – advanced

Ngemelis & Blue Corner

• Big Drop Off – intermediate
• Blue Corner – 8–30 m, advanced
• Blue Holes – 15–40 m, intermediate
• Clarence's Wall – intermediate
• German Channel – 3–40 m, intermediate
• German Wall – intermediate
• New Drop Off – 15–150 m, advanced
• Turtle Cove – intermediate
• Virgin Blue Hole – advanced

Koror & Malakal

• Chandelier Cave – intermediate
• Short Drop Off – intermediate

WWII wrecks – Rock Islands

• Iro (fleet oiler) – 20–40 m, advanced
• Kamikaze Maru – advanced
• Nagisan Maru – advanced
• Sata (fleet oiler) – advanced
• Teshio Maru – 10–30 m, advanced
• Zero Fighter – 20 m, beginner

Rock Islands lagoon

• Jellyfish Lake (snorkel only, no scuba) – beginner

Peleliu

• Peleliu Coral Garden (Orange Beach) – 1–23 m, beginner
• Peleliu Corner – 15–30 m, advanced
• Peleliu Express – 9–40 m, advanced
• Peleliu Wall & Cut – 10–30 m, advanced
• Yellow Wall – intermediate

Ulong & Siaes

• Shark City – advanced
• Siaes Corner – intermediate
• Siaes Tunnel – advanced
• Ulong Channel – 13–20 m, advanced

Operators (7)

• Fish 'n Fins – dive centre, 964 Main Street, Koror
• Palau Dive Adventures – dive centre, Koror (Palau reservations office)
• Neco Marine – dive centre, Malakal, Koror
• Sam's Tours – dive centre, Malakal Harbor, Koror
• Palau Aggressor II – liveaboard, Koror (Malakal)
• Palau Siren – liveaboard, Malakal Harbour, Koror
• Ocean Hunter – liveaboard, 964 Main Street, Koror (Fish 'n Fins)

Routes (4)

• Day dives from Malakal (Neco Marine)
• Palau 7 nights (Palau Aggressor II)
• Palau Islands 7 nights (Palau Siren)
• Palau 7–12 days (Ocean Hunter)

Site positions are approximate unless marked otherwise and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Wreck penetration needs proper training; always dive with a local guide. Wrecks are war graves – take nothing.