Mandarinfish Lake - Rock Islands

Mandarinfish Lake offers a reliably intimate encounter with the elusive mandarinfish. We typically dive this site around dusk, as that’s when the mandarinfish emerge from the coral to perform their mating dance, a slow, deliberate ritual easy to observe from a respectful distance. It's a shallow dive, usually 5-7 metres, making it suitable for all experience levels, but patience is key to spotting these small, colourful fish. The lake itself is sheltered, so conditions are generally calm.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.345800, 134.466700
Maximum Depth
16-131ft (5-40m)

Marine Protected Area: Ngerkebesang Conservation Zone

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Mandarinfish Lake

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

Recommended Packing List for Mandarinfish Lake

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