A Detailed Guide to Liveaboard Diving in Palau

The past few years have been nothing short of a roller coaster ride for the scuba community. From COVID-19 curbs completely destroying their summer diving plans to new diving spots coming into the picture, the diving community has witnessed an array of surprising events. Amidst this chaos, several hidden diving locations are also attracting worldwide exposure and many divers have already made their voyage to these hidden gems.

Palau is one such underrated diving destination that recently got exposure on the global radar and left everyone in awe with its tropical beauty and a plethora of underwater species. And, with multiple Palau liveaboard operators providing services, this place literally becomes an epicenter of fun, adventure, and solitude for all scuba enthusiasts.

In this guide, we’ll share a detailed insight into the growing popularity of Palau as a liveaboard destination and why it should be on your bucket list too. If you’ve been craving a wild adventure amidst the vast ocean, continue reading. This article will help you get familiar with the beauty of Palau liveaboard vacations and encourage you to book your tickets right away.

How Palau is Different From Other Popular Diving Locations?

For readers who don’t know, Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Unlike many other destinations, Palau is still hasn’t been affected by commercial tourists. In any given season, you are most likely to find like-minded diving enthusiasts on the island. Since these people share the same passion for the underwater world, you’ll be able to enjoy your dives without having to deal with unnecessary crowds.

Another reason why Palau is an ideal choice for any diving fanatic is its biodiversity. Palau is located close to the epi-center of marine biodiversity and is home to more than 500 tropical islands that offer picturesque sceneries, unique flora and fauna, and a wide variety of hidden natural gems that are still untouched by regular tourists. Being located just outside the Coral Triangle, its underwater world offers an array of coral reefs, different types of fish species, and historic World War II shipwrecks that’ll make your dives more memorable. Furthermore, the Palau government takes its marine conservation responsibility seriously and all forms of commercial fishing are banned in its territorial waters.

3 Best Diving Locations in Palau

Even though Palau is an oasis of diving spots, there are a few diving locations that easily become the center of attraction for every diver. If you want to soak in the true essence of the Pacific Ocean, these are the top 3 diving spots in Palau that must be on your bucket list if you are planning a liveaboard vacation in Palau.

1. Blue Corner

If you are an experienced diver and want to spend multiple days lounging in the middle of the ocean on a liveaboard cruise with other diving fanatics, Blue Corner is your go-to diving spot in Palau.

Here you can find both hard and soft corals and take a dive into the picturesque marine world. The only downside of choosing Blue Corner as your diving spot is its high currents. If you are a novice diver, you may not be able to navigate the site easily. That’s why Blue Corner is always recommended as a dedicated diving spot for the experienced only.

2. German Channel

The German Channel is yet another popular Palau liveaboard diving spot that’s ideal for both intermediate and expert divers. The currents are strong but predictable and anyone with decent diving ability can navigate the site without any hassle.

German Channel is famous for its maata ray sightings. On any given dive, you can encounter several manta rays cruising through the sparkling blue water of the pacific ocean. And, with dedicated cleaning stations for manta rays, German Channel indeed becomes an ideal diving spot for all divers.

3. Chandelier Cave

As the name implies, the Chandelier Cave is basically a series of underwater caverns that make the entire underwater world more mesmerizing. These caves are surrounded by thousands of fish species, eagle rays, sharks, jellyfish, and 1,500 other species that look more astonishing when seen from one of the underwater caves.

Many liveaboard operators include Chandelier Cave in their liveaboard cruise itineraries in Palau, which means finding a trip won’t be a challenge at all. If you are in search of unique fish species and hidden underwater caves, go ahead and book a liveaboard vacation to Chandelier Cave.

What’s the Best Time to Plan a Liveaboard Vacation in Palau?

Now, one of the best things about a liveaboard in Palau is the year-round availability of cruises. Unlike other diving destinations in the world, you don’t have to necessarily rely on the weather. The water temperature remains stable throughout the year, which means you can enjoy the tropical nature of these under-explored islands whenever you want. However, if you are planning to book a liveaboard cruise in the remote Deep South, make sure to plan it somewhere between January to March. The reason is there are sea swells in the remaining months and it might be a bit challenging to execute your dives during this period.

Conclusion

Palau is undoubtedly one of the best diving spots for anyone who’s keen to explore its world class underwater world. It’s tucked away in one of the remote parts of the western Pacific Ocean and is still not influenced by commercial tourism. And, with multiple liveaboard tour operators, you have the liberty to choose from a wide variety of options. You can visit Dive The World to plan your Palau liveaboard by browsing through a list of tour operators.