Dive Sites
Peleliu has some of the strongest currents Palau has to offer, making the diving advanced, but exciting and adrenalin filled. Due to its strong currents and location, Peleliu attracts large predators of all description to its pristine walls, making the wide angle photography second to none.
Please don't be put off by what we're saying about the currents, the visibility doesn't suffer at all, ranging between 20m/66ft to 40m/132ft, and for those of you who are into something maybe a little more relaxed, Peleliu has some of the best coral gardens Palau has to offer. Here is a brief description of some of our favourite Peleliu dive sites.
Peleliu Express
So named because of the raging currents that can be experienced here, and the way the sharks stack up ontop of one another, resembling an express train. No dive trip to Peleliu would be complete with out a trip to Peleliu express. A mere 5 minutes by speed boat from north dock takes you to one of the most action packed dives in Palau. With the wall, graced by soft corals, racing past your right hand shoulder, divers can spot numerous sharks, stacks of Sweetlips, and huge Bumphead Parrotfish. Later on into the dive, a huge school of Giant Trevally can be found. Keep your eyes open and your wits about though, for this dive is always good for a surprise or 2. Tuna, Silky sharks, even Hammerheads and a Bull Shark have been spotted here.
Peleliu Cut
The reef here extends a long way out from the island, and like Peleliu Express, is another site that has strong currents. Divers begin the dive with the wall on their left, eventually coming to a large cut in the wall.
Strong currents eddy here, having a kind of washing machine effect. Sharks aggregate and surf the currents, along with King Mackeral and Yellowfin Surgeonfish. The cut is a popular hook in point for divers to stop and watch the action. Unhook and the current takes you up and over the plateau. Turtles and Giant Grouper can be seen as the reef whizzes past. Towards the end of the wall, Giant Trevally can be spotted as well as the possibility of a "resident" Bull Shark. A safety stop out into the blue can sometimes reveal a surprise. Divers have regularly reported being "buzzed" by an inquisitive Silky shark.
Peleliu Wall
One of the most beautiful wall dives Palau has to offer, Peleliu Wall can be dived either on the left or right hand side, current depending. Soft corals, black corals and sea fans are abundant as well as sea whips that have grown to almost impossible lengths. Grouper, cloads of Redtooth Triggerfish, Snapper, Grey Reef and White Tip sharks are found in abundance. Lionfish, Turtles and even the occasional Sea Snake can be found along the top of the plateau.
Orange Beach
Usually a mellow drift dive along a gently sloping coral garden, Orange Beach can be fascinating. Situated near to where the American forces stormed Peleliu island on September 15th, 1944, divers can find bullets, shells and amphibious amtracks among other military remnants found on the sandy bottom. The sea life is pretty fantastic here too. Nurse Sharks hide amongst the boulders, as well as Turtles, Scorpionfish, Crocodilefish and Nudibranchs that have made Orange Beach their home. Snapper, Bumphead Parrotfish and Blackspot Barracuda are commonly seen cruising by too.
Yellow Wall
Named after the small, yellow soft coral that is literally plastered all over this dive site, Yellow Wall is a vertical section of reef, with a shallow plateau on its top. As well as the yellow soft coral, Lettuce coral and Sea Whips scatter along the wall's length. Grouper, Angelfish, Black Snapper, Sweetlips and large Bumphead Parrotfish can usually be found as well as the occasional Eagle Ray. We've even seen a great Hammerhead Shark from time to time at this site. Visibility is consistently good.
Sting Ray Point
An interesting section of wall that has a number of channels along its length that are great to explore. The sandy bottoms of these channels is usually a good place to find hiding Rays.
Numerous small reef fish can be found along the walls length and the coral growth is exceptionally healthy.
Peleliu Pocket
Usually a gentle drift dive through another one of Palau's spectacular coral gardens. Coral growth here is outstandingly colourful and numerous reef fish can be found the entire length of this dive. Turtles, Angelfish and Lionfish are regularly found hiding amongst the coral here and we've even found the odd Ribbon Eel or 2 at this dive site.
>when is best dive conditions to come? and what is water temp? I have all my own gear. thanks Jeff H.
Best season in Palau is from Nov-May, because not rainy season and fish and sharks make big school.
We want to 4 dive / a day. can we?
>>if you want to do 4 dive / a day, i recomend to stay in Peleliu. It you makes to be easy time.
> Because if you stay in Koror, you can do 4 dives but need to make short
> surface time and quick move.
how far is boat ride to peleliu? and what dive sites are usually made?
>> from koror, takes about 1hr boat ride to Peleliu. but if you go to directly to peleiu dive site from koror, takes more than 1hr 30min.
>> We dive at Peleiu corner, express, Peleliu wall, Yellow Wall. those are famous dive spot in Peleliu.. and if you have more days,, we dive at Turtle corve, peleiu camp, Orange Beach..