Palau is composed of more than 2,000 islands covering a truly immense portion of the ocean east of the Philippines - roughly 3,000,000 square miles of water, whose most famous geographical feature is the Marianas Trench, which reaches depths of 6 miles!  The richly forested volcanic islands get plenty of precipitation which helps to create quintessential tropical islands bursting with flowers.

OK.  To begin talking about diving in Palau, let’s start with this.  It’s rumored the Ngemelis Drop Off in Palau was considered by Jacques Cousteau to be the finest he’d ever experienced. This wall, which is “crawling” with sponges, whip corals, sea fans, anemones and other soft coral species crashes 300 metres virtually straight down. And, needless to say, the fish attracted to this phenomenon tend to be as colorful and dramatic as the wall itself. 

Her corals are undoubtedly one of Palau's greatest claims to fame and certainly one of the spots well-loved by divers is known simply as Coral Gardens, which in addition to all of those fascinating and colorful reef fish, offers the added attraction of Manta, huge tunas, and Whale Sharks!

But, as mentioned above, the best-known feature above the water line has to be the Rock Islands, so let's look at the diving around there.  Coral gardens galore, yes, with countless drop-offs, caves, swim-throughs, blue holes, marine lakes and even wartime wrecks make thrilling entries in your dive log.  On the barrier reef that circles the area, many of the drop-offs, Like the Ngemelis mentioned above, reach  300  metres.   Here you'll find wall dives and drift dives and more Kodak photo opportunities than you can count.  The currents here can be swift and sweeping, but they bring the excitement of big schools of fish and pelagics, including tons of jacks, turtles, sharks, Manta Rays. 

You'll also find areas where the currents are quiet and you'll have lovely slow drifts where you can dawdle to your heart's content, examining the life on the walls and in the surrounding waters.

Big Drop Off brings more corals, gorgonians and whips with plentiful smaller creatures for photographers, plus snappers, turtles, fusiliers and if you're really lucky, the occasional hammerhead & Blue Marlin.    The area known as Blue Holes is probably as fascinating as anything you'll ever find underwater. The 4 holes merge into one enormous cavern filled with sparkling clear water and remarkably unusual fish and critters.  coming out of the Holes you can forge your way to the head-spinning Blue Corner, where currents and upwellings require that you hook onto teh wall and wait for the show. 

Swirling around here you'll find Hose-eye Jacks, Giant Trevally, Grey Reef Sharks, Mantas and more Black Snappers than you can count. It's a free-for-all and you'll regret the moment you have to unhook and swim on to tamer waters.

There's so much more, but we hope that provides inspiration.  You can easily connect your trip to Palau with an extension to Yap or Truk Lagoon, so read on below. . . .

For details of Palau's liveaboards & resorts, click here.