German Channel - Rock Islands
The German Channel is one of those Palau sites you hear about before you even get on the plane, and for good reason. Originally carved by German forces in World War II to move phosphates, it's now a thoroughfare for the bigger stuff. We've often spent a good chunk of a dive just watching manta rays glide in for a clean, sometimes three or four at a time, their huge mouths agape as tiny wrasse pick them over. You'll usually spot a few grey reef sharks patrolling the edges too, and it’s not uncommon to see eagle rays elegantly passing by. It’s a great spot for newer divers, with a manageable depth and consistently impressive animal encounters.
- Location
- Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 7.125700, 134.279400
- Type
- drift
- Maximum Depth
- 21m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Ngemelis Island Complex
Best Time to Dive in Rock Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Rock Islands occur in October, averaging 30.0°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.8°C
- February: 28.4°C
- March: 28.8°C
- April: 29.3°C
- May: 29.8°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.7°C
- September: 29.9°C
- October: 30.0°C
- November: 29.9°C
- December: 29.6°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Rock Islands
- Big Drop Off - 20-40m (wall)
- Blue Corner
- Blue Corner (and Blue Holes)
- Blue Holes
- Chandelier Cave (cave)
- Chandelier Caves - 34m to 98m
- Chuyo Maru (wreck)
- Helmet Wreck - 34m to 98m (wreck)
- Iro - 16-131ft (5-40m) (wreck)
- Iro Maru Wreck Palau - 27m (wreck)
- Jake SeaPlane (wreck)
- Jellyfish Lake - Ongeim’l Tketau - 12m
- Lighthouse Channel (drift)
- Mandarinfish Lake - 16-131ft (5-40m)
- MT ARAYAT - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to German Channel
Marine Life in Rock Islands
Home to 198 recorded species including 171 reef fish, 15 sea cucumbers, 4 clams & mussels, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 starfish, 1 sea urchins.
Notable Species
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) - Reef Fish
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Tigerfish (Bohadschia argus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
- Telescopefish (Epibulus insidiator) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Curryfish (Stichopus vastus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for German Channel
Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 13 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories