Palau, a deeper dive

Other articles have waxed lyrical about the different activities and how to get to Palau, and with 300+ islands, tropical temperatures, immaculate reefs, 40+ wrecks, 1400+ species of fish and the world’s first Shark sanctuary, there is every reason to go. However, I’m going to get a bit deeper into the actual dive sites that make a trip to Palau a consistently high placement in many dive travel wish lists and tempt you that bit further into booking a trip.  

I’ve also purposely kept this list brief as firstly, I could write all day on the diving in Palau and secondly, I want some surprises to be uncovered when you decide to experience it for yourself.  

Blue Holes & Blue Corner

If the currents are favourable, this is 2 dive sites for the price of 1, with the world-famous Blue Corner dive spot being preceded by an amazing descent through Blue Holes. This site consists of 4 holes in the reef surface that form part of a cavern with its deepest point of 40m (be careful of your MOD if using Nitrox). The dark and light in the cavern provide an opportunity for stunning silhouette photography. Once you exit the cavern, you get swept along with the current to Blue Corner.  

Blue Corner is world-famous for a reason. A big drop into the deep water to one side and a teeming reef on the other. The currents at the site do mean a level of comfort in the water is a requirement to enjoy the experience fully, and with these currents bring the plankton, which brings the rarer big species such as Eagle Rays, Bull sharks and Whale Sharks. Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks are a common sighting, and hooking to a piece of dead coral or rock, slightly inflating your BCD and flying like a kite in the current while nearby sharks investigate you is an experience that is truly wondrous. 

The Iro Maru Wreck

When you get tired of spotting shark, a good change of pace is to dive a World War II wreck. One of the best is the Iro Maru, a Japanese freighter which was sunk in 1944 and lies upright between 8 and 40m of water. 

Its structure is mostly intact, and the imposing kingposts and guns allow time for reflection on the grandeur of this 143m long ship and the futility of the war that caused it to be on the ocean bed. Be sure to refrain from touching the ammunition that can be found on this wreck as after 80 years this has the potential to be dangerous.  

Some of the wreck can be penetrated with care and ensuring you have an appropriate level of training and guidance. Marine and coral lovers, don’t fear there is impressive growth and fish life all over this wreck and as it’s Palau you never know what large surprises may be swimming past as you do your safety stop.  

New Drop Off

The New Drop Off is actually two reef walls that meet to create a plateau. The first runs from German channel, this runs into Turtle Wall and I’m positive the name gives away what you are likely to find there, along with the usual Palau suspects of – well, maybe anything really, it really is a treasure trove of a location for marine life.  

There is a large drop off to over 150m into the deep blue, and large healthy sea fans protrude from the reef walls, making for more jealousy-inducing images to bring home. The reef colours here, Large schools of Barracuda, and the always botox lip like Napolean Wrasse can be found here, too.  

Not a site for the inexperienced diver when the current is strong. Dive within your limits and heed the local knowledge of your dive guides as to which dive spot is right on the day. Two dive shops this writer has had experience with are Sam’s Tours & Fish n Fins. 

This is just a taster of the sites that Palau has to offer, so I’d encourage any divers to make like Nike and Just do it.  

For more info (and to fill out your entry form) visit the Palau Visitors Authority website – pristineparadisepalau.com/palau-visitors-authority 

Disclaimer: The writer was a guest of Palau Visitor Authority and Nauru Airlines