10 Reasons to Go Scuba Diving in Palau

1. Peleliu Express

It’s a bit of a mission (90 minutes by boat from Koror) to reach this vertical reef on the southern tip of Peleliu Island that plateaus at 100 feet, then plunges thousands more into the abyss. The reward is some of the largest fish concentrations on the planet, including large schools of redtooth triggerfish, oriental sweetlips and rainbow runners. Pelagics also abound (schooling barracuda, sharks, etc.). palaudiveadventures.com

2. Paddling Tour of Long Lake

The low-in-the-water vantage point of a kayak is ideal for spotting the Rock Islands’ aquatic and bird life. Head out to explore Long Lake, accessed by a mile-long paddle through a mangrove tunnel. The calls of kingfishers and fruit doves carry on the air. Look for baby spotted eagle rays and feather-tail stingrays in the shallows. paddlingpalau.net

3. Palau Helicopters

Peering out the bubble windows of a helicopter during a flyover of Palau’s incredible landscapes is a singular life event. You’ll take in waterfalls and rainforests, and even get to see dive sites like Blue Corner from the air. When the bird swoops low over Jellyfish Lake, look for masses of medusas clustered just below the surface. palauhelicopters.com

4. Ulong Channel

This thrilling drift dive starts in a wash of currents at the mouth of a channel, where you hook in to see sharks jockeying in the blue and huge grouper guarding the channel. Then it’s off for a rollicking ride over a sandy channel, where you’ll be greeted by fish eyes and towering coral in every direction. sirenfleet.com

5. Blue Corner

Picture an underwater Serengeti, and you’ll have an idea of Palau’s most famed dive site. Big ocean upwellings attract squadrons of hungry sharks that patrol the reef corner by the scores (and sometimes hundreds), and all manner of other fish also converge. A reef hook lets you float balloonlike in the current to soak in the scene. samstours.com

6. Jellyfish Lake

At present, the jellyfish have disappeared from the lake, but the iconic Rock Islands in Palau’s southern lagoon are perfect for snorkeling and kayaking. On Eil Malk island, you can swim in Jellyfish Lake, which has been home to more than a million stingless golden and moon jellyfish that make daily migrations across the lake. Dive operators are keeping us posted as to when they return. palauppr.com

7. The Fisherman Seafood BBQ & Grill

One of Palau’s most drool-worthy dinners takes place on an open-air floating dock near Koror. Come nightfall, an international crowd descends for such sublime Micronesian seafood as chili mangrove crabs, mangrove clam escabeches and lobster — all dished up with dreamy water views. the-fisherman.net

8. German Channel

Enormous manta rays descend toward gill-cleaning stations along the sandy seafloor at German Channel, where industrious cleaner wrasse and butterflyfish populate the coral heads. While getting their skin and gills tended to, the mantas often do underwater aerials for the awed divers taking it all in. necomarine.com

9. Spawning Events

Guides can get you to the locales (usually Peleliu or east of Koror) where Palau’s massive schools of fish spawn, but you must have the experience to handle strong current. Timed right, you can get close to red snapper and bumphead parrotfish as they gather. The events are magnets for bull and hammerhead sharks. Aggregations are based on the full- and new-moon phases, so book ahead. samstours.com

10. Jungle River Boat Cruise

Your guide scouts for Palauan fruit bats, archerfish, kingfishers and more during this 5-mile cruise along the Ngerdorch River, where wild orchids and mangrove forests hug the waterline. As you approach the open ocean, the chance to see enormous crocodiles ups the adrenalin. facebook.com/JungleRiverBoatCruise