Destination Overview
Palau is one of the most extraordinary diving spots on the planet. Located in the southwest corner of Micronesia, the Republic of Belau (the traditional name) consists of an archipelago of over 300 islands spread north to south over 100 miles from the atoll of Kayangel to the island of Angaur.

Diving Details
Home to more than 1,500 species of fish and 700 species of coral, Palau has consistently been ranked among the best in categories such as “best destination by region”, “best fish life”, “healthiest reefs”, “best big animal diving”, “best wall diving” and “best wreck diving” by the readers of Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine. Famous not only for its diving, Palau is also known world wide for it’s mushroom shaped rock islands which dot the sea, creating color combinations of emerald, turquoise and aqua where jungle meets ocean.

Insider Information

Visitors to Palau fly in through Palau International airport which services direct flights from Guam, Taipei, and Manila. The main commercial center of Palau is Koror. The airport itself is not located on Koror but on Babeldaob island, which is about a 15 minute drive to Koror. Palau is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles and 14 hours ahead of New York.

Dive Operators

Dive Sites

Hotels

image Palau Pacific Resort
image Sea Passion Hotel
image The Carolines Resort
image Dolphin Bay Resort
image Carp Island Resort
image Cliffside Hotel
image West Plaza Hotels

Restaurants

Non-Diving Activities

  • Go snorkeling…many dive sites also set the stage for world-class snorkeling
  • Explore the marine lakes, mangrove channels and tropical beaches of the rock islands via kayak…a view and experience that you won’t soon forget
  • Hike to Ngardmau Waterfalls
  • Take a scenic, leisurely speedboat cruise through the gorgeous rock islands
  • Enjoy the uniquely Palauan experience of snorkeling with thousands of stingless jellyfish at Jellyfish Lake
  • Observe the elusive Mandarin Fish while snorkeling at Mandarin Fish Lake
  • Apply a natural limestone mud mask at Milky Way cove
  • Take a WWII Historic Tour
  • Take a sportfishing or fly fishing tour
  • Enjoy a tropical camping trip
image image image image image image image image image image

Frequently Asked Questions

Palau is North of Indonesia, East of the Philippines, South of Japan and West of Guam.

Los Angeles to Honolulu is about 5 hours, Honolulu to Guam is about 7 1/2 hours, and Guam to Palau is about 2 hours.

They use the US Dollar. Credit cards are accepted by most companies, but not all.

English & Palauan are the official languages.

Please visit www.travel.state.gov and choose “International Travel” and “Palau” to get the latest information. U.S. citizens need a passport that is valid for 6 months PAST the date of arrival.

For legal reasons, we cannot make official recommendations regarding shots or immunizations. Please consult with your physician or visit www.cdc.gov for more information.

110V. Same as U.S.

Currently, you are allowed 2 checked bags of 50 lbs each and 1 carry on of 40 lbs. The carry on is more of a size-related issue rather than weight.

Continental Airlines has full jet service the entire way. The longer flights are on 767’s. The shorter flights are on 737’s.

The 767’s have a 2-3-2 configuration. The seats are A-B space D-E-F space K-L. For couples, we always try to assign A-B or K-L. The 737’s have a 3-3 configuration and the seats are A-B-C space D-E-F. For couples we usually assign A-B or E-F as a higher percentage of people prefer window seats. We can always change seats per your request.

Yes, we always arrange for transfers to and from the airport. Your name and flight information will be given to a transfer company and they will be looking for you. It’s a small airport.

Warm water, 100′ vis, walls, corals, reefs, wrecks, pelagics, tropicals, critters. Palau has it all.

The water will be in the low 80’s. We recommend a full 3 ml. You may be diving several times a day for extended periods.

Typical land based boat rides are an hour and sometimes a little more. It’s a beautiful boat ride through the Rock Islands, and the water is 3 shades of blue.

Typically you’ll be picked up at your hotel between 8 and 8:30 am. You’ll dive one tank, have lunch on a beach, dive another tank and be back at the dock by late afternoon (3-4 pm).

Departure tax ($20), green fee ($15), dive permits (Koror with no access to Jellyfish Lake: $50, Koror with access to Jellyfish Lake: $100, Peleliu: $25 for 14 days or $10 for 1 day), fuel surcharge for trips to Peleliu, dive rental equipment, dive insurance, travel insurance.

E-tickets and vouchers are sent approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.