Palau Islands and Micronesia
Palau Islands and Micronesia
Diving Big in the last paradises on Earth: Palau & Micronesia!
The Republic of Palau includes 200 islands lost in the Northern Pacific Ocean, 650 km southeast of the Philippines. Palau is a destination offering a variety of attractions for divers: large schools of fish, a large number of sharks, vast and beautiful perfectly preserved coral reefs, wrecks from the Second World War, and the famous lake of stingless jellyfish. But if Palau, even remote and difficult to access, already has a certain number of lucky visitors. However, tourism has practically forgotten the islands of Micronesia.
SCUBA DIVING
The reefs of Palau are located at the convergence of three major marine currents, resulting in a unique richness of nutrients in its waters. This environment supports a diverse array of large marine life and biodiversity. The seas of Palau are home to 1,500 species of fish and 700 species of corals and anemones. Divers can explore endless walls that plunge into the deep blue, adorned with soft corals and sea fans, teeming with clouds of reef fish. Meanwhile, in the open water, you may encounter large schools of sharks, manta rays, and pelagic fish.
DIVE SITES
The dive sites of Rock Islands – Palau
The Rock Islands are the supreme glory of Palau. More than 200 jungle-covered limestone bumps dot the waters for a 35km strip south of Koror. Their bases, consumed by the action of the tides, are narrower than the upper part making them look like mushrooms with emerald shades that arise from a turquoise sea. From above, they are a crash, and it is worth it, even if only for the view, to take a flight from Koror to Angaur or Peleliu. But it is the waters that surround them that make the Rock Islands unique. Immerse yourself and you will find yourself in one of the most abundant and rich marine life environments imaginable.
Blue Hole
Blue Hole is a series of four large holes in the top of the reef that converge to form a gigantic underwater chamber. The chamber has a huge opening on a wall that houses soft corals, sea fans, sea whips, hard corals, and pelagic.
Ngemelis Wall
Ngemelis Wall is one of the most beautiful diving walls in the archipelago. Starting with the water at the knees, it plunges vertically for about 300m and shows the bright rainbow of sponges and soft corals whose intense colors form the background for quivering sea fans of 3 m and giant trees of black coral.
Blue Corner
Blue Corner is the most famous dive site, that will dazzle you by an incredible variety of sharks and barracudas, soft and hard corals.
Stingless Jellyfish Lake
Inland, Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake, made famous by Medusa, a National Geographic TV television special, where millions of tiny stingless jellyfish seem to dance in unison.
Rock Islands Surface Interval
Some of the Rock Islands have soft white sand beaches where you can laze after a dive, while others allow themselves to be admired for the caves with stalactites, rock arches, and underground canals. Moreover, the Island of Ulong is known for the presence of ancient cave paintings and the cave near the Airar Channel for the semi-carved Yapese stone coins… and, yes, also for the crocodiles.
The Peleliu diving sites
Some of the bloodiest battles of World War II occurred on Peleliu. Covering an area of just 13 square kilometers, the island witnessed over 20,000 injuries during two months of fierce fighting—an amount greater than the current population of the entire country. The Peleliu forests were completely devastated during the conflict, but today, the lively sounds of birds can be heard once again in the thriving jungle. Without the occasional forts, rusty tanks, eyewitness accounts, and monuments honoring the fallen, one might almost forget the island’s violent history.
Key attractions on the island include war relics and the surrounding seabed. In the main village, Klouklubed, there is a small war museum. The Peleliu Wall, located in the southwest of the island, is renowned as one of the most beautiful diving sites in the world, featuring a sudden drop of 300 meters and abundant marine life, including sharks, hawksbill turtles, colossal sea fans, and a stunning variety of fish. White Beach and Bloody Beach (noted for its stark name) offer excellent opportunities for snorkeling.
Dive Sites in Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
A chain of small islands stretches across an area of 3 million km² in the Pacific Ocean. The total land area of all the islands is smaller than that of Los Angeles, making it an ideal destination for those seeking to escape the tourist circuit and take their time. Although Palau is remote and difficult to access, it still attracts some fortunate divers. In contrast, the other islands of Micronesia are largely overlooked by tourists.
The dive sites of Kosrae
The small island of Kosrae, 110 km2 and 6,600 inhabitants, is located between Guam and Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 600 km north of the equator. The island is mountainous and covered with forest and coral reefs are in excellent health, thanks to the forward-looking policy of the local government and the distance from the other islands, which makes it difficult to reach it. In addition to diving, you can go hiking to the indoor waterfalls, kayak rides through the mangroves, and visit the remains of an ancient stone village in Lelu. The Nautilus Resort is an excellent base for your stay.
The diving sites of Pohnpei
Pohnpei has 334 km2 and 34,000 inhabitants and is the most populated island in the federated states of Micronesia. The highest mountain reaches 800 m. The inhabitants are considered the most welcoming in all of Micronesia. Pohnpei has great biodiversity, and is one of the rainiest places on the planet, with 7600 mm of rain per year. At the level of diving, there are lagoons and many passes, where it is easy to encounter sharks, barracudas, jackfish, manta rays, and reef fish. Of course, it is a destination for a few, because of the distance and the costs. Mangrove Resort is the best solution for divers.
The dive sites of Yap
The island of Yap is situated east of Palau and is renowned for its manta rays, sharks, and unique stone coins, some of which can reach up to 3 meters in diameter. This flat island is surrounded by coral reefs, providing excellent opportunities for macro photography as well as encounters with larger fish. The Manta Ray Bay Resort serves as an excellent base for diving excursions.
The dive sites of Truk (Chuuk)
Truk, also known as Chuuk, is renowned for having the highest number of shipwrecks in the world, with over 60 wrecks resulting from one of the largest battles of World War II. Truk Lagoon is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, teeming with life and colorful formations. These wrecks are often covered in beautiful soft corals, creating a stunning underwater landscape. Divers can enjoy the excitement of seeing schools of fish swimming among the remains of trucks, bicycles, airplane parts, and other supplies from the sunken fleet. Wreck diving in this area also provides opportunities to encounter macro marine life, reef sharks, and a variety of reef fish. The lagoon’s waters are warm and clear, with some wrecks situated in shallow areas, while others require technical diving. Visitors can find accommodation options on cruise ships or at resorts in Truk.
DIVING SEASON
The best diving season in Palau
Palau’s Rock Islands are a destination that offers great dives all year round. The rainy season runs from May to September. The rest of the year is dry season, but it still rains on average one day a week. The water temperature is 28-30ºC / 82-86ºF all year round. To visit this destination, cruises of 7 or 10 nights are available, as well as stays in resorts or hotels with daily diving excursions.
Diving season in Micronesia
The diving season in Micronesia is very similar to the diving season in Palau. The islands of Micronesia offer great dives all year round. The rainy season runs from May to September. The rest of the year is dry season, but it still rains on average one day a week. The water temperature is 28-30ºC – 82-86ºF all year round.
HOW TO GET THERE
How to get to Palau
To get to Palau, you will need to fly into Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) in Koror, which is the main gateway to the country. Flights to Palau are available from major hubs such as Manila (Philippines), Taipei (Taiwan), and Seoul (South Korea). You can also find flights from Brisbane (Australia) and via United Airlines through Honolulu, Hawaii, and Guam.
From Koror airport, you can easily access dive operators and liveaboards that will take you to Palau’s renowned dive sites.
How to get to Micronesia
To explore Micronesia, you typically start by flying into either Guam (GUM) or Palau (ROR). From there, you can connect to other islands in the region through domestic flights or liveaboards. Guam is a popular gateway to many international flights, making it a convenient starting point for reaching other Micronesian destinations.
From Guam, you can fly to other Micronesian islands such as Yap or Chuuk (Truk). Additionally, you can find connecting flights from Fiji or Brisbane to Nauru and Kiribati.
LIVEABOARDS AND PRIVATE CHARTERS
Palau Aggressor II and Rock Island Aggressor
Palau Aggressor and Rock Island Aggressor are two identical boats, 35 meters long, stable, and comfortable, with 9 cabins for up to 18 divers, and all cabins with private bathrooms and air conditioning. Both liveaboards have a large resto, lounge and a sundeck as part of the common areas. The Aggressors offer 07-night cruises, and some during the 10-night year.
