Best of Palau (Koror - Koror)

Palau is a destination that beckons travelers throughout the year, each season offering its own unique attractions. In German Channel, for instance, there is a thriving community of resident Manta Rays. However, during their mating season, which spans from December to March, fortunate guests may witness the breathtaking sight of as many as 20 to 30 rays gracefully gliding through the waters.

In February and March, the underwater world comes alive with the vibrant presence of large schools of Moorish Idols, Unicorn Fish, and various species of Butterfly Fish, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

Throughout the year, the experienced boat crew has the opportunity to encounter massive schools of scad forming bait balls in and around Ulong and German Channel, as well as on the rich and diverse reefs of Blue Corner and Siaes Corner, making every diving adventure an unforgettable experience.

Sample Itinerary :
Day 1
For guests arriving at Koror (ROR) International Airport on Sunday evening, a courteous uniformed crewmember or a Neco Tourist Agent will extend a warm welcome. At this small airport, where phones and taxis are not readily available, we are here to assist you with your transfer to the yacht.

If you are already on the island, boarding the boat is possible starting at 4:30 pm on Sunday. Guests can also board the boat until Monday morning, as the departure from the dock is scheduled for 6 am. The boat is conveniently moored in front of Neco Marine (Malakai) Harbor in Palau, ensuring easy access for all our guests.

Day 2 - 7
Indulge in the incredible experience of dining, resting, and exploring the magnificent dive sites of Palau! Following exhilarating days of diving, the vessel makes its way back to the dock on Saturday afternoon, just after a delightful lunch.

Day 8
Checkout time is scheduled for 8 am on Sunday morning. Our attentive crew members will be on hand to help you arrange transportation to either the airport or a local hotel, should you choose to extend your stay beyond the expedition.

Top Dive Sites - Palau :
Big Drop-Off
This captivating wall dive commences at a mere 2 feet during low tide and gradually descends to an astonishing depth of 600 feet. Widely regarded as the most stunning wall dive in Palau, it owes its reputation to the profusion of hard and soft corals, the presence of graceful sea fans, schools of pyramid butterflyfish, and a diverse array of vibrant tropical reef fish.

Blue Holes
Renowned as the most acclaimed dive site in Micronesia, this extraordinary location showcases a shallow coral shelf extending into the open ocean, flanked by sheer vertical walls on either side. The powerful currents generate an upwelling that entices schools of fish and imposing pelagic species to gather along the upper edges of these walls.

What truly distinguishes this dive spot are the impressive congregations of gray reef sharks that gracefully patrol the precipice of the walls. Additionally, two resident Napoleon wrasses often accompany divers throughout their underwater journey. As you explore, you'll encounter an impressive cast of marine life, including dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, manta rays, white tip and hammerhead sharks, turtles, schools of barracudas, and a vibrant array of reef fish, all contributing to the site's exceptional allure.

Chandelier Caves
A brief underwater passage at a depth of 35 feet leads to a captivating cave system comprising three chambers. These enchanting caves derive their name from the exquisite stalactites gracefully hanging from the cave ceilings, formed by the slow descent of water from the rocky island above. Delicate openings connecting to the outside world allow the influx of fresh air into these chambers, enabling divers to ascend to the surface and revel in the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounds them.

Denges Passage
Nestled along Palau's eastern coastline, this naturally occurring channel serves as the habitat for an entire family of cuttlefish. These remarkable creatures, closely related to squids, prove to be not only a rare sight but also incredibly cooperative subjects for photographers. Encounters with them are infrequent among divers due to their limited geographical distribution worldwide, their remarkable ability to stay nearly motionless, and their exceptional camouflage skills.

German Channel
Located on the southwest side of the barrier reef, this man-made channel offers access to two distinct diving sites. The first site, known as Manta Rock, serves as a natural cleaning station where colossal manta rays visit to have their bodies meticulously cleansed of parasites and debris by diligent cleaner wrasses. Additionally, gray reef sharks are frequent visitors, taking advantage of the wrasses' cleaning services. This vibrant ecosystem is also populated by a diverse array of marine life, including barracudas, snappers, titan triggerfish, gobies, lionfish, leaffish, and the elusive octopus.

In close proximity lies a stunning coral garden, adorned with crocodile fish, nudibranchs, flatworms, anemones, and the iconic clownfish. Together, these two diving areas offer an enchanting underwater world brimming with a rich tapestry of marine creatures and captivating coral formations.

New Drop-Off
Positioned midway between Blue Corner and Big Drop-Off, this vertical wall shares a striking resemblance to Blue Corner. It comprises a shallow shelf extending into the ocean, expertly harnessing the currents to generate an upwelling phenomenon. This captivating underwater force draws in schools of pyramid butterflyfish and barracudas, all while enticing several gray reef sharks to join the bustling spectacle.

Cloaked in a tapestry of soft corals and adorned with elegant sea fans, the steep wall serves as a mesmerizing backdrop to the thriving marine life that calls this underwater realm home.

Ngedebus Coral Gardens
Distinguished as one of the finest gatherings of hard corals in the Pacific, this dive site showcases a remarkable spur and groove reef formation. Within this captivating underwater landscape, divers encounter a vibrant ecosystem inhabited by an array of marine life, including turtles, cuttlefish, anemones, tridacna clams, white tip reef sharks, and countless schools of small fish.

Ngerchong
Located just beyond Denges Passage, the island of Ngerchong boasts two captivating dive sites in close proximity: Ngerchong Outside and Ngerchong Coral Gardens.

Ngerchong Outside offers a gently sloping wall dive adorned with a rich tapestry of sea fans, anemones, soft corals, and an impressive array of hard coral formations. Divers frequently encounter a diverse cast of marine life here, including sharks, the distinctive Bumphead parrotfish, and vibrant schools of fish. Occasional sightings of majestic manta rays add to the allure of this site.

Meanwhile, the Coral Gardens, also known as Ngerchong Inside, is widely regarded as one of Palau's premier dive sites for experiencing an abundance and diversity of hard corals. Here, an enchanting world unfolds, showcasing various coral species such as table coral, staghorn coral, elkhorn coral, mushroom coral, and brain coral. This thriving ecosystem is also home to numerous anemones with clownfish, along with cuttlefish, turtles, and an array of other fascinating fish species. The dive can be enjoyed at any depth ranging from 10 feet to 80 feet, catering to divers of different preferences and experience levels.

Peleliu
Situated at the southernmost tip of Palau's primary archipelago, the island of Peleliu boasts breathtaking bordering walls that create a haven for divers. Within this aquatic realm, you'll discover renowned dive sites like Peleliu Corner, Yellow Wall, and Orange Beach, among others.

Peleliu's dive sites predominantly feature steep walls adorned with a splendid array of sea fans, sea whips, hard corals, and anemones, but it's the profusion of vibrant soft corals that truly dominates the underwater landscape. This underwater sanctuary is renowned for providing exceptional opportunities to observe large pelagic marine life, with a particular emphasis on encounters with sharks, making Peleliu an unparalleled destination for diving enthusiasts.

Short Drop-Off
Located just outside the entrance to Koror Harbor, there lies a gently sloping wall adorned with magnificent giant sea fans. At the summit of this underwater wall, you'll discover a captivating coral garden of exquisite beauty, teeming with a rich diversity of tropical fish and vibrant invertebrates.

Siaes Tunnel
This exceptional deep dive adventure unfolds on the western side of Palau, in close proximity to the Ulong Channel. The journey commences along a sheer wall, with the entrance to the tunnel appearing at a depth of 70 feet. As you enter this extraordinary passage, measuring approximately 50 feet in width and 20 feet in height, you'll embark on a captivating 150-foot swim parallel to the wall.

Inside the tunnel lies a spacious cavern, where the ceiling hovers between 80 and 90 feet above and the seabed descends to depths ranging from 120 to 130 feet. As you progress through this underwater wonder, you'll encounter a unique "Window" in the wall, affording a breathtaking view of the deep blue beyond. Ultimately, you exit the tunnel through a sizable opening situated at 80 feet.

Throughout this immersive journey, you'll have the opportunity to spot an array of marine wonders, including stingrays, turtles, schools of jacks, and the graceful presence of sharks, all adding to the allure of this remarkable underwater passage.

Ulong Channel
This channel is situated along Palau's western coast, in close proximity to the renowned Siaes Tunnel and Wall. As you approach its entrance, you'll find yourself surrounded by towering walls adorned with exquisite coral gardens. During the incoming tide, the mouth of the channel becomes a bustling congregation of gray reef sharks, adding to the site's allure.

Extending for roughly half a mile, the channel boasts an average width of about 100 feet, while its maximum depth reaches approximately 60 feet. Along the channel's length, both sides are lined with walls adorned with lush coral cover. In the center, a shallow ridge provides a stunning tapestry of soft corals, hard corals, sea fans, and anemones.

What sets this site apart is a vast expanse of plate coral, reminiscent of lettuce leaves, which serves as the habitat for schools of squirrelfish, soldierfish, and glass eyes. The gentle current offers a serene drift along the channel, creating a leisurely and picturesque underwater journey.

Wonder Channel
Nestled amidst the enchanting rock islands, this channel is conveniently located a short distance from Jellyfish Lake and Clam City. The ideal dive route along this channel unfolds on its eastern side, where a remarkable wall journey begins right at the water's surface and extends to a depth of 80 feet.

As you explore this underwater wonderland, you'll encounter a diverse array of marine life and colorful flora, including soft corals, sea fans, anemones, vibrant blue and red starfish, the intriguing crown of thorns starfish, industrious crabs, graceful pipefish, and a rich variety of sea slugs, flatworms, and nudibranchs. This immersive dive promises an unforgettable glimpse into the captivating biodiversity that thrives along the channel's eastern wall.

Wreck of the Iro Maru
A merchant ship measuring 145 feet in length, the Iro Maru met its fate during World War II when it was sunk by American bombers. Now resting upright in the depths, approximately 120 feet underwater and just a brief 10-minute journey to the south of Koror, this remarkable shipwreck is a testament to history.

The vessel's distinctive features include three masts and gun turrets located at both the bow and stern, serving as an ecosystem supporting a diverse range of invertebrates and flourishing hard corals. The ship's main deck is situated at a depth of 80 feet, revealing open holds that harbor oil drums and remnants of machinery, offering a captivating glimpse into the past.

Diving Details & Informations :

● Known for grey reef sharks, white-tip sharks, manta rays, cuttlefish, Mandarin fish, and WWII wrecks.
● All dives from a large 35 ft. tender.

Water temperature :

● 80 - 82F / 27 - 28C
● 3mm wetsuit recommended

Diving Tender :

● The dive tender is 35 feet and takes 18 divers.
● 4 - 5 dives per day are done from the tender.
● 2 trips to shore are provided during the week to Peleliu Tour and Ulong Beach.

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