Palau · Indo-Pacific
Best time to dive Palau
Dry season (about November–April) has the calmest seas and 30 m+ visibility, and is best for German Channel mantas. June–September is wetter and rougher. Blue Corner is driven by incoming tides more than months.
Peak season: November–April
Book a Palau LiveaboardUpcoming departures on DivebookerOverall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov low · Dec low
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Macro life | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Coral & reef health | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Visibility | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Water temperature | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Operations & access | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Coral & reef health -1.8 · Bleaching risk in the year after a strong El Niño (Palau 1998) (Nov 2026 – December 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–35 m |
| December 2026 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 25–40 m |
| January 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 25–40 m |
| February 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 25–40 m |
| March 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 25–40 m |
| April 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 25–40 m |
| May 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| July 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| August 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| September 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| October 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 20–30 m |
| November 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–35 m |
| December 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 25–40 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grey reef shark | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| reef manta | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Peak | Peak |
| napoleon wrasse | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| bumphead parrotfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| schooling jacks | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| barracuda | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 4 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Liveaboard, Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water + reef hook
- Nearest airport
- ROR
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- grey reef shark, reef manta, napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish
Famous sites: Blue Corner · German Channel · Ulong Channel · Peleliu Express
Season notes & sources
- Dry season (about November–April) has the calmest seas and 30 m+ visibility, and is best for German Channel mantas. June–September is wetter and rougher. Blue Corner is driven by incoming tides more than months.
- The 1998 post–El Niño bleaching killed about 30% of Palau's coral on average (up to 90% at some outer reefs); recovery took about a decade.
- Sam’s Tours documents jacks and barracuda at Blue Corner. These resident-group calendars carry no new monthly abundance peak; currents and local guidance determine dive timing.