Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
LessMore
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Which local rescue or training agency should I check first?
Use the local lens: coastguard/federation norms and the shop briefing for that bay — not a blog visibility claim.
What is Jellyfish Lake?
Ongeim'l Tketau, a meromictic marine lake in the Rock Islands where golden jellyfish are snorkelled under strict fins-and-sunscreen rules. It is not a scuba site and has closed for ecological reasons.
When was the shark sanctuary declared?
2009. Palau banned shark fishing in its EEZ; the policy is a tourism and conservation sentence visitors still hear in briefs.
What is the Palau Pledge?
A 2017 immigration-stamped promise to the children of Palau about environmental conduct. It is branding and a legal culture, not a dive card.
Is Chandelier Cave a cavern?
An overhead limestone cave near Koror, typically dived with a guide and an exit plan. Treat it as overhead, not as a swim-through toy.
Do people need a liveaboard?
Many famous sites are day-boat range from Koror. Peleliu and some Rock Island circuits are longer days. Liveaboards exist; they are not mandatory.
Scuba visitors bring conservative rec kit, a SMB, and, if the operator uses them, a reef hook taught on a briefing. Lake visitors bring a mask, a rash top, and no fins if the rule of the day says so.
A drone over the Rock Islands is a permit problem.
Core kit
- Well-fitting mask — Lake and salt both fog a cheap skirt.
- SMB and reel — Blue water pickups.
- Reef hook (if trained and asked) — A Palau-specific tool, not a default everywhere.
- Rash top / lycra — Sun on the lake trail and the run to Ngemelis.
- Computer with conservative setting — Current dives go deeper than the postcard.
- Cutter — Lines exist on wrecks and some walls.
Optional
- Reef hook as rental — Many boats supply them with a brief.
- Nitrox — A common extra on multi-dive current days.
- Dry bag for the lake hike — Water and shade, not a camera city.
- Pointer — Sand and rock, never a coral hook.
Care
- Rinse hooks so they do not rust shut — A stuck hook is a hazard.
- Keep lake clothes separate from sunscreen shirts — The rule is the chemistry.
- Service lights after cave days — Salt in Chandelier is thorough.
- Do not pocket lake or reef souvenirs — State and UNESCO rules.
Budget bands
- Lake day — Permit, mask, sleeves.
- Koror day-boat week — The berth and park fees are the cost.
- Liveaboard — A different budget, not a requirement.
- Skip — A cave reel as a first-day souvenir.
Spend on the permit and the operator who will cancel the corner. The hook is a later sentence.