© shutterstock-Fidelia Az

Explore Babeldaob

In Micronesia, the Republic of Palau’s largest island of Babeldaob, where the capital of Ngerulmud lies, holds endless opportunities for divers of all skill levels, from beginners all the way to advanced training. Some of the best dive courses to take here include entry-level certifications, and even deep and wreck specialities, thanks to numerous appropriate dive sites that allow for diverse experiences. Plus, easily accessed by bridge from Babeldaob is Koror, where the majority of dive centers and dive resorts are based, and even more exciting dive sites are located. Popular dive sites are typically around 45-60 minutes away from Koror by boat, and the vast majority of diving is around the Rock Islands, Peleiu and Ngemelis

The prominent dive sites located to the south of the islands within the barrier reef include plunging walls, WWII shipwrecks and relaxing reefs. You can visit pretty much anywhere in Palau from Babeldaob, where tons of varied diving is possible. While there are plenty of land-based dive operators available all year, a liveaboard is also a great option for divers that want to see most of Palau.

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Top Babeldaob Dive Sites

1. German Channel

Home to majestic manta rays, German Channel offers divers a chance to see various reef fish and coral gardens. The adventure level is moderate, suitable for scuba diving. Special features include cleaning stations where manta rays gather, making it a popular site for marine life observation.

2. Ulong Channel

This site is famous for its stunning coral formations and diverse marine life, including sharks and barracuda. It offers an advanced diving experience due to strong currents, ideal for scuba diving. The channel's walls are adorned with soft corals, creating a mesmerizing underwater landscape.

3. Blue Corner

Known for its thrilling drift diving, Blue Corner is teeming with pelagic species like tuna and shark. It's recommended for advanced scuba divers due to its strong currents. The site is part of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, ensuring a rich, protected environment.

4. Peleliu Wall

Featuring dramatic underwater cliffs, Peleliu Wall is home to large schools of fish, turtles, and sharks. It presents an advanced diving challenge, perfect for scuba divers looking for an adrenaline rush. The wall's topography offers incredible vertical views.

5. Chandelier Caves

This unique dive site offers a mix of scuba and freediving experiences in a cavern setting. Divers can explore stunning stalactite formations and encounter small fish species. The adventure level is moderate, and the caves provide an enchanting, serene atmosphere.

The best Months to Dive in Babeldaob

As a whole, Palau is a tropical wet destination, though most of the rain falls at night. Scuba diving in Babeldaob and its surrounding islands are divable year-round, as little changes in terms of temperature. February and March see the least rain, while June to August has the most rain. For optimum dive conditions, visit from September to May.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Babeldaob

Dive sites in and around Babeldaob truly have it all. Pelagic species, manta rays, eagle rays, numerous shark species and more patrol the diverse diving spots. While reef diving, you’ll see lots of vibrant reef fish, including anemonefish, angelfish, barracuda, wrasse, butterflyfish and way more. Sea turtles, moray eels, octopus, cuttlefish, stingrays, scorpionfish are also present, in addition to predators like, giant trevally, tuna and sailfish. Macro life is also impressive, like kaleidoscopic nudibranch, seahorses and pipefish. A highlight here is the nautilus, which can only be seen in a few places on earth.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
94 Sightings
J
5
F
6
M
12
A
18
M
5
J
3
J
3
A
4
S
12
O
3
N
15
D
8
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
59 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
4
A
3
M
3
J
3
J
4
A
3
S
7
O
2
N
13
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
51 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
4
A
11
M
0
J
5
J
4
A
3
S
2
O
0
N
9
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
45 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
5
A
7
M
4
J
4
J
0
A
7
S
3
O
2
N
1
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
32 Sightings
J
1
F
7
M
0
A
8
M
3
J
0
J
1
A
9
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
14 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
7
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
11 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-National Geographic Creative
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
70 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
9
A
9
M
5
J
9
J
6
A
6
S
6
O
1
N
1
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
69 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
9
A
12
M
3
J
8
J
3
A
8
S
5
O
0
N
3
D
7
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
69 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
15
A
8
M
6
J
5
J
4
A
1
S
5
O
1
N
10
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
63 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
5
A
14
M
4
J
9
J
6
A
6
S
2
O
1
N
5
D
7
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark
61 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
3
A
10
M
4
J
6
J
2
A
7
S
5
O
0
N
14
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
59 Sightings
J
3
F
6
M
8
A
6
M
5
J
4
J
5
A
3
S
3
O
1
N
8
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
40 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
5
A
6
M
3
J
7
J
3
A
0
S
6
O
0
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
37 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
4
A
9
M
0
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
5
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
37 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
6
A
4
M
0
J
3
J
3
A
4
S
3
O
0
N
4
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
36 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
5
A
8
M
0
J
4
J
1
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
4
D
8
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
35 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
6
A
1
M
5
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
6
O
0
N
9
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
35 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
7
A
7
M
4
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
34 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
4
A
5
M
0
J
7
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
31 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
10
A
9
M
0
J
3
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
23 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
5
M
3
J
4
J
4
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
23 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
0
J
7
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
21 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
20 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
4
M
0
J
4
J
1
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
18 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
18 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
0
J
5
J
4
A
3
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
0
J
3
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

iStock-stock_colors
Tarpon

Tarpon
5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 1500

iStock-ifish
Hard Corals

Hard Corals
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Unsplash-pascal van de vendel
Soft Corals

Soft Corals
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish

Garfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach
Pipefish

Pipefish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0