Liveaboard Diving in Peleliu
What to expect from a Peleliu liveaboard
Liveaboard diving to Peleliu means exploring Pelagic Paradise, located in Palau. The dive site is called the Peleliu Wall and Cut, and it provides divers with an underwater sea wall, plateau reef, and the chance to see one of the largest varieties of pelagic fish species ever. It is located in the southern reef of Peleliu island, which is 55km (34 mi) from Koror, so it takes approximately 60-80 minutes by speedboat. This dive site has the strongest currents in Palau as ocean currents flow around and converge on the archipelago. The positive side of this is that it is a great place for a drift dive; you get dropped off at one end of the wall, which is located on the western side of the island, drift along with it to the corner, which, as the southern end of the reef, and hook on there to enjoy the marine life in that area.
The depths vary from the top of the reef down to the plateau, measuring 10-30m (30 to 90ft), and it is the deepest reef structure in Palau, Micronesia. Divers on a Peleliu liveaboard will notice that the visibility is above average and ranges from 25m (75ft) up to 50m (100ft); it is also very dependent on the tides. Because the currents are so strong, they need always to be monitored, and the stronger they are, the more advanced of a diver you need to be. All Peleliu liveaboards will provide divers with multiple experiences: the chance to drift dive, see many pelagic fish species, and learn more about the island's history during WWII.
What You Can See
The reef plateau and sea wall are filled with corals of all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are bright yellow soft corals, long strings of cable corals, black corals, and many sea fans that cover these areas. Just as colorful are the many different species of tropical fish that inhabit this reef, including many species of butterflyfish, sergeant majors, Bumphead parrotfish, and Anthias. These smaller fish are what attract the main attraction of this dive site: the many pelagic fish that come to feed here. If you are lucky while on your Peleliu liveaboard, you will witness the predator-prey behavior. You will have the highest chance of seeing sharks, including Tiger sharks, Bull sharks, and Blacktip reef sharks. On a luckier day, you will also see whale sharks and blue Marlins; on the luckiest day, you will see Orcas and Sperm whales. You can also visit the island itself as on land there are many opportunities to learn more about what happened there during WWII.
Getting To Peleliu
To get to this site, or to get to any Micronesia liveaboards that will be visiting this area, you will need to make your way to Koror, which is the largest city in Palau. The airport is located on the island of Babeldaob, connected by a bridge to Koror. The airport is called The Roman Tmetuchl International Airport. Only five destinations have outgoing flights to Palau, so you would have to fly to one of these first: Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Guam. There is an airport on Peleliu island, but only very few chartered flights fly here. Any Peleliu liveaboards will depart from the Malakal Harbour in Koror.
