Palau is famous for its large number of patrolling Sharks, Jellyfish lake, Rock Islands and legendary dive sites such as Blue Corner. The most popular way to reach Palau’s Blue Corner is via the Blue Holes. The dive at the Blue Holes usually starts by swimming over the shallow reef and descending through one of the four holes on top of the reef. The holes form the top of a very large cavern. Blue Corner is home to some of the largest schools of fish in the world, here you can see just about every kind of fish found in the tropical ocean. Sharks, Wahoo, Tuna, Turtles, Eagle Rays, Giant Groupers, Napoleon Wrasse and large schools of Barracuda, Snappers and Jacks are all encountered. Mantas are also present in Palau, with German channel been the best dive site for Manta encounters.
The mushroom shaped Rock Islands of Palau were formed from limestone reefs pushed upwards, in ancient times, by underlying volcanic activity. Over the millenniums, rainwater, percolating down through the limestone, eroded the interior of the islands, forming in some cases, vast cave systems. Chandelier Cave was an open-air cave, but today it is a water-filled cave containing stalactites and stalagmites that resemble glittering chandeliers. The cave is comprised of five chambers, four are water filled chambers (each with an air pocket) and the fifth is completely above water. Chandelier Cave is a dive site not to be missed. During WWII there were fierce battles for control of Palau’s heavily fortified Islands and as a result there are a few wrecks accessible to divers. One of the best is the Japanese Aichi E13 ‘Jake’ reconnaissance seaplane. The excellent visibility on the wreck makes for great photography. Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is located within the Rock Islands and the trail to the lake provides an enjoyable introduction to the flora and fauna of the Palau jungle. Golden Jellyfish are found in great abundance (5 million plus individuals) throughout the lake, often accumulating in spectacular aggregations along the edges of shadows cast by the mangrove trees that line the lake’s shore.
Palau Liveaboards
Palau Siren
Solitude One
Solitude Gaia
Black Pearl Explorer
Ocean Hunter III
Palau Aggressor II
