Sam’s Tours, Palau

Palau is located at a marine crossroad where the deep waters of the Pacific meet the nutrient-rich Philippine Sea. This clash of oceanic currents produces the perfect conditions for an explosion of life and the steady supply of nutrients supports the incredible amount of marine life that is so obvious on Palau’s famous dive sites. From heathy corals and amazing biodiversity, to huge schools of fish, plenty of sharks, manta rays and even passing whales, Palau’s prolific marine life is testament to the richness of these waters. Add in the protection and conservation efforts provided by Palau’s progressive government and you have all the ingredients for a world-class dive destination - now, and in the future.

Palau’s limestone islands and reefs have been steadily eroded over millions of years creating dramatic walls and channels, caverns, drop offs and hidden lakes that provide such an exciting range of diving. One of Palau’s best known sites - and possibly one of the most famous dives in the world - is the Blue Corner, a plateau of coral that extends out into the open ocean directly in front of a channel in the barrier reef. During an incoming tide the concentration of life here is extraordinary and divers can expect sharks, schools of fish, Napoleon wrasse and so much more. Other famous sites include the Ulong Channel and Shark City, famous for cruising sharks and schools of fish; German Channel and Devilfish City with where you can encounter manta rays at cleaning stations; the stunning Chandelier Caves with its ancient, air-filled chambers beneath the reef; and the legendary Peleliu Express, that has earned a reputation as one of the wildest drift dives on the planet! And then there's Palau's spawning events, during which divers can witness thousands of fish gathering to spawn.

Wreck diving in Palau

World War II left its mark on Palau, including beneath the waves, and divers can explore over 15 wreck sites, including the Amatsu Maru, a huge oil tanker that is Palau’s largest wreck; the well-known ‘Helmet Wreck’ which takes its name from the artefacts that can still be seen stacked together inside the ship; the Iro Maru and Choyu Maru which offer exciting exploration for more advanced divers; and of course, the famous Jake Seaplane, a Japanese Aichi navy seaplane that lies almost completely intact in just 15m of water.

Palau’s jellyfish lake

No trip to Palau would be complete without a visit to one of the most unique sites in the Pacific - Palau’s Jellyfish Lake. Recently reopened to controlled tourism, visitors can now snorkel amongst dense school of golden jellyfish, that have evolved in isolation affect being cut off from the open sea by towering limestone cliffs. The surreal experience of drifting through vast clouds of stingless jellyfish in a stunning marine lake sums up Palau as a dive destination - unique, exhilarating and spectacular.