WHERE / TO / DIVE
FIELD NOTES · 2026
#1 of 20 · Micronesia

Palau

Sharks, mantas and healthy reefs in one trip.

Where to Dive editorial
Manta!; representative of diving Palau
Manta!Source ↗
Overall rank
#1 of 20
Editor’s score
9.8 / 10
Best months
February — March
Go for
Grey reef sharks · Reef mantas
The short answer

Why dive here?

Palau combines big animals with excellent reef diving. Blue Corner has grey reef sharks, jacks and tuna; German Channel is known for mantas; Ulong has beautiful hard coral. It is my first choice for a varied week of diving.

Timing

When to go

The best time to dive here is February — March. Check the linked season guide and ask your operator about conditions for your dates.

Best diving in FebruaryBest diving in March
The diving

What to look for

These are the main draws. Sightings vary by site, season and luck.

  • Grey reef sharks
  • Reef mantas
  • Spawning dives
  • Reefs in strong current
Practicalities

Conditions and trip planning

Confident intermediate to advanced. 27–29°C, often with strong current. Dive timing depends on the tide; spawning dives also depend on the moon.

Trip format: Liveaboard or land-based; compare which sites each operator can reach at the right tide.

Why it sits here

About the score

Palau scores 9.8/10 for diving at its best. The ranking favours sharks and other large animals, followed by reef health and variety across the trip. Price and travel time do not affect the score.

Photos

Open a photo for its source and credits.

Manta!; diving Palau
Manta!Nana* (salala817)
Big mantas passing by, German Channel; diving Palau
Big mantas passing by, German ChannelSteve Kasch
Blue Corner, great 60m+ visibility; diving Palau
Blue Corner, great 60m+ visibilitySteve Kasch
The reef in Palau is intact; diving Palau
The reef in Palau is intactSteve Kasch
Inside the school; diving Palau
Inside the schoolSteve Kasch
White-tip reef shark and diver on Clarence's Wall; diving Palau
White-tip reef shark and diver on Clarence's WallMatt Kieffer
Recent trip footage

Dives on video

Watch for the conditions, marine life and pace of the dives. Each video shows one trip.