Diving in Palau

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

General species description, not specific to this destination

Occasionally seen while traveling between dive sites. A real treat!

Loggerhead Turtle

General species description, not specific to this destination

The Loggerhead Turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, named for its massive head. While less common than Green and Hawksbill turtles on Caribbean reefs, they can be spotted at deeper reef sites.

Bull Shark

General species description, not specific to this destination

Bull sharks are one of the most impressive predators divers can encounter in warm coastal waters. These robust sharks are easily recognized by their broad, blunt snout, stocky build, and grey coloration with a white underside. Growing up to 11 feet long, they have a powerful, muscular appearance that commands respect underwater. Bull sharks are known for their curious nature and may approach divers, maintaining a confident but generally non-aggressive demeanor. They're often seen cruising along reef walls or in open water, sometimes in small groups. Their ability to tolerate both saltwater and freshwater makes them unique among sharks, and they're excellent hunters with a varied diet including fish, rays, and other marine life.

Great Hammerhead

General species description, not specific to this destination

The Great Hammerhead is the largest of all hammerhead species, instantly recognizable by its massive, flattened head extension called a cephalofoil. This prehistoric-looking predator can reach lengths of up to 20 feet, with a distinctive tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Their unique head shape houses electroreceptors that help them hunt stingrays buried in sand. Great Hammerheads are solitary hunters, often seen cruising along reef walls and sandy bottoms. Despite their intimidating size, they're generally shy around divers and will often move away when approached. Their powerful swimming style and graceful movements make encounters truly memorable for fortunate divers.

Hawksbill Turtle

Destination note

Year-round sightings on every reef dive; particularly common at cleaning stations on walls and in channels; nesting season peaks June–October

Green Sea Turtle

Destination note

Very common year-round in seagrass meadows and shallow reef flats; frequently seen surfacing for air in lagoon channels and around the Rock Islands

Spotted Eagle Ray

Destination note

Year-round sightings across Palau; most frequently encountered at German Channel, Blue Corner, and Ulong Channel during the dry season (Nov–Apr); often seen in small groups of 3–6 individuals

Branching Hammer Coral

General species description, not specific to this destination

A large-polyped stony coral forming branching skeletons with short, separate corallite heads. The expanded tentacles have distinctive anchor or hammer-shaped tips, usually green, tan, or brown with paler edges. It provides shelter for small reef animals and adds complex structure to Indo-Pacific coral communities.

Blue-lipped Sea Krait

General species description, not specific to this destination

The blue-lipped sea krait is an amphibious sea snake with a slender banded body, paddle-shaped tail, and bluish lips or facial markings. It hunts eels and small fishes underwater but returns to land to rest, digest, shed, and lay eggs. Although venomous, it is generally calm and avoids divers when left undisturbed.

Common Lionfish

Destination note

Year-round resident across Palau's wrecks and sheltered reef environments; particularly abundant at the Jake Seaplane wreck and Chandelier Cave

Great Barracuda

Destination note

Large schools at Blue Corner and outer reef points year-round; tornado formations most spectacular during dry season (Nov–Apr) when water clarity is at its peak

Sebae Anemone

General species description, not specific to this destination

A predatory marine animal resembling a flower, with stinging tentacles used to capture prey and often hosting symbiotic algae.