Rock Islands, Palau
    Ngemelis Island Complex

    Blue Holes

    Best months: Nov–Mar

    Protected Area

    Ngemelis Island Complex

    Why dive here

    With 182+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, lionfish, mandarin fish, napoleon wrasse and nautiluses - Blue Holes offers some of Rock Islands's richest diving. Water ranges 29-30°C, warmest June, October, November.

    Best timeNov–Mar
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Lionfish, Mandarin Fish, Napoleon Wrasse and Nautiluses · 182+ species recorded
    Water29-30°C · warmest June, October, November
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Blue Holes is one of those Palau sites that really sticks with you, a genuinely unique experience. We love dropping through the main chimney, around 10 meters down, watching the light rays pierce the darkness. It’s like entering a cathedral. You come out into a massive cavern, then drift out to the wall at 30 meters or so. Look up, and you’ll often see reef sharks silhouetted against the blue. The wall itself is gorgeous, full of Blackside Hawkfish perched on corals and the occasional Golden Butterflyfish flitting past. We’ve spotted some tiny beauties here too, like the Palespot Eviota, if you take the time to really look. Current can pick up, so this isn't a beginner drift, but if you’re comfortable moving with the water, it’s a brilliant ride along the reef. We always check the tides; slack high is our favourite for the clearest water and easier entry.

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Blue Holes

    Blue Holes Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Blue Holes, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (7.2, 134.3) (4km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    30°C

    86°F · Range: 28.5–31.2°C

    Current Speed

    10.05 cm/s

    Direction: N (5.7°)

    Chlorophyll-a

    0.026 mg/m³

    Very clear (oligotrophic)

    Salinity

    33.62 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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