Palau is a small Pacific nation with an outsized reputation in the diving world. It was the first country to declare itself a shark sanctuary, protecting all shark species from commercial fishing. The result is dive sites with shark densities rarely seen elsewhere on Earth.
Ulong Channel (Koror)
Palau's most iconic dive — a narrow channel where divers are swept through a canyon of towering coral walls on a powerful outgoing tide. On either side, white-tip reef sharks are stationed in patrol positions, waiting for the incoming current to bring prey. Large schools of chevron barracuda, grey snappers, and eagle rays complete the scene. Only for experienced drift divers.
Blue Corner
One of the world's most famous drift dives. A current-swept plateau where the reef hooks up to 1,000m below. Grey reef sharks aggregate here in numbers rarely seen anywhere — 30–50 on a good day. The hook-and-hover technique (plant yourself on the reef, let the current sweep you back) allows divers to stay stationary and watch the shark show unfold. Extraordinary.
German Channel
An artificial channel cut through the reef for WWII-era cargo ships. Now famous for its manta ray cleaning station — on a good day, 15–25 mantas queue for cleaning at the station's cleaning stations. Also home to massive schools of bumphead parrotfish and chevron barracuda. Easy entry point, strong current.
Chandelier Cave
A spectacular air-filled cave system with four chambers, featuring stalactite and stalagmite formations. Water level rises and falls with the tide — maximum depth 8m. The cave itself is dry above the water line, so you swim through air with stalactite formations overhead. Strict no-touch policy protects the formations. Only for experienced cave divers.
WWII Wrecks
Palau's waters hold one of the densest WWII wreck collections in the Pacific. The Zero (Japanese fighter aircraft at 27m), Chichi Jima Maru (120m cargo ship), Amatsu Maru (156m cruiser, one of the largest intact wrecks in the Pacific), and the USS Perry sub-chaser. Advanced divers with wreck certification will find exceptional dives here.
When to Dive Palau
Year-round destination. Dry season (November–April) brings calmer seas and water temperature 27–29°C. Wet season (June–October) sees occasional squalls but fewer divers and excellent visibility. No dive operators close in the wet season.