Consistently ranked as one of the world’s best dive destinations, Palau is a self-contained archipelago of 350 stunningly beautiful islands surrounded by a fringing reef.
More than 1500 species of fish and 700 species of coral inhabit the 145km coral lagoon and adjacent islands, of which only eight are inhabited.
With clear and calm waters, Palau caters to all levels of diving – from fast drift dives to easy shallow dives.
The Blue Corner dive ranks as one of the world’s most famous dive sites.
Coral type – Healthy soft and hard coral gardens, anemone, sea stars, barrel and rope sponges, sea fans, nudibranchs, alcyonarians, gorgonians, green tree corals, sea fans, tube corals and the unusual square spot anthias.
Marine life – Includes grey reef sharks, black-tipped and white-tipped sharks, barracuda, manta rays, yellow-tailed fusiliers, snappers and napoleon wrasses, cuttlefish and gobies, turtles, dugongs, dolphins, sea cucumbers, starfish, crab, blue-girdled angel fish, trumpet fish, scorpion fish, butterfly fish, lion fish, clown fish, moray eels, parrot fish, squirrel fish and stingrays.
Reef type – Spectacular wall dives, blue holes, caves, tunnels, underwater caverns, major drop-offs and shallow reefs.
Type of dives – Reef and drift dives, caves, coral gardens, wrecks, drop-offs and night dives.
Water entry – From shore, day boat and live-aboard. Well-equipped, fully air-conditioned live-aboard cruisers are available for extended dive trips.
Dive centres – Several dive centres in the area offer full dive facilities including Nitrox, Trimix and Rebreather support.
Dive courses – A full range of courses is available, from beginner to advance level and including all PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster.
Equipment – Quality dive equipment available for rent. Caution: It’s best to use a reef hook and safety sausage, as strong currents make exploring some of the sites a challenge.
Fees – A USD100 Palau Prestine Paradise Environmental Fee (PPEF) is usually added into the cost of your airline ticket.
Upon arrival all visitors must sign the ‘Palau Pledge’ which is stamped into your passport.
The fees are used to fund the preservation of the Palauan marine environment.
Water temperature – 28°C (82°F).
Visibility – Beyond 30m; can exceed 60m.
Suit – Light skins or 3mm full suit depending on the type of dive.
Best time to dive Palau – Year-round, however the best diving is between October and May. Palau is pleasantly warm year-round, with an average temperature of 28°C (88°F).
More about the weather in Palau.
Location – The Palau archipelago is located in the western Pacific, north of the equator. The main island, Babeldaob, is located about 900 km (560 mi) east of the island of Mindanao, in the Philippines.
The capital, Ngerulmud, is located on the main island, while the largest city, Koror, is located on the neighboring island, Koror (or Oreor).
Blue Corner – Often described as part drift dive, part wall dive and part big animal encounter, the ‘corner’ juts out from the reef in shallow water and then drops off to over 300m.
Recommended for experienced divers only and regarded as one of the world’s most famous dives.
Chandelier Cave – A four-chamber underwater cave beneath the island of Ngarol, with air pockets where divers can surface end enjoy the forest of smooth crystalline stalactites that hang from the ceiling.
Clam City – The world’s largest clams, seen only in Palau, grow to 1m wide, weigh more than 200kg and rest on a sandy bottom in tranquil, 3m-deep water.
Ngemelis Wall – True definition of a ‘wall’ dive, which begins in 1m of water and then drops off to 600m. Safe for beginners and teeming with marine life.
WWII wrecks – Dive the many submerged Japanese Zero aircraft and dozens of battle-damaged ships.
Other activities – Palau is a country rich in tradition, history and culture.
Hike to the famous Badrulchau, or Stone Monoliths, explore ancient terraces and stone faces and learn the history and legends of these sites from a local guide.
Discover Jellyfish Lake where time and a lack of predators have caused jellyfish to completely loose their sting.
At Dolphin Bay you can swim and play with friendly dolphins. Rent a kayak or outrigger canoe and paddle your way into any one of hundreds of deserted bays and lagoons or go sports fishing.
In the evening dine at your choice of restaurants including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Italian, Palauan and Mediterranean.
The Republic of Palau is located around 950 kilometres (590 miles) to the east of the Philippines. The main populated islands include Babelthuap (Babeldaob), Koror, Malakal, Arakabesan, and Peleliu.
The capital of Palau is Melekeok, located on Babeldoab, the largest island. Koror island, situated just south of Babelthuap, is home to Koror city, the largest population centre and former capital.
A steel bridge connects the islands of Babelthuap and Koror. Koror Island in turn is linked by a causeway to Malakal Island, the site of Palau’s deepwater port, and to Arakabesan Island.
Latest update: Diving in Palau: 6 May, 2025
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