Image: Destination image
DESTINATION / PALAU
The shark diving capital with the legendary Blue Corner and Jellyfish Lake
Image: Destination image
Visibility
30m
Water Temp
28C
Max Depth
40m
Current
Moderate to Strong
Difficulty
Intermediate
Best Season
Nov-Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr-May
Certification
open water
Budget
$$$ Premium
Sharks
Manta Rays
Whale Sharks
Turtles
Coral
Macro
Pelagics
Dolphins
Depth: 8-25m | Intermediate
A plateau jutting into deep water where divers hook into the reef and watch grey reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays cruise by in the current.
Grey reef sharks, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, schooling jacks
Depth: 10-25m | Intermediate
A man-made channel where manta rays gather at cleaning stations and reef sharks patrol the walls.
Manta ray cleaning stations, reef sharks
Depth: 8-20m | Beginner
A scenic drift dive through a channel with beautiful coral formations and schooling fish ending in a sandy area with giant clams.
Beautiful coral gardens, drift diving, giant clams
Blue Corner is famous for a reason. Hook in at 15 meters as the current rips past the plateau and the show starts: grey reef sharks patrolling below, barracuda schools swirling, Napoleon wrasse cruising past, turtles so abundant divers stop photographing them. Repeat dives are never the same — one day brings an oceanic manta parked in the current for thirty minutes. The Jellyfish Lake snorkel between dives is the surreal bonus. Expensive to reach but rewarding. Minimum 50 dives recommended for the current-heavy signature sites.
Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May. Peak: Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar. Water: 27-29C.
open water certification recommended. Minimum 10+ dives.
$220/day average. premium tier. Liveaboard: available.
Palau dives best from Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, with the peak season running Dec to Jan to Feb to Mar. During these months you can expect the calmest seas, the clearest water, and the highest chance of encountering the marine life this destination is known for. Water temperature sits at 27-29C, so a 3mm wetsuit or skinsuit is all you need in the tropics.
For divers who are flexible, the shoulder months just outside peak season offer nearly identical conditions at 20-30% lower prices and with far fewer boats on the water. The only periods to avoid are the wet or cyclone windows - check the seasonal calendar below and on the dive operator websites before locking in flights.
Visibility at Palau averages 30 meters, which ranks among the clearest dive destinations in its ocean. Early morning dives consistently deliver the best visibility and the most active marine life, which is why local operators schedule most boat departures before 9am.
Getting there: Fly into Koror (ROR). From the airport, dive operators and hotels usually arrange transfers - budget 30 minutes to several hours depending on whether your resort or liveaboard is based on the mainland, an offshore island, or a distant atoll.
Time and money: The local timezone is UTC+9. A day of guided diving averages $220 at this $$$ Premium tier destination. Liveaboard safaris are available for multi-day trips to remote reefs.
Who this suits: With a Intermediate difficulty profile, a beginner-friendliness score of 3/5, and a minimum of 10 logged dives recommended, Palau is best suited to divers with some experience who are comfortable with its conditions. Consider it a dedicated diver destination rather than a family resort pick.