MT ARAYAT - Rock Islands

The MT Arayat sits in unbelievably shallow water in the Rock Islands, basically a bathtub, which is a big part of its charm. We love it because you can practically snorkel it, but getting on scuba lets you really appreciate the scale. This tanker went down in 1944, not 1965 as some folks say, a victim of Operation Hailstone, and now its superstructure breaks the surface, a skeletal hand reaching out of the lagoon. Diving the Arayat feels like exploring a ghost ship left behind by the tide. We often find ourselves drifting over the deck, spotting schools of fusiliers darting through the rusted holds, and the odd juvenile reef shark using the shadow for cover. It’s a fantastic spot for photographers, especially wide-angle, with the sun dappling through the shallows and illuminating the encrusted metal. Visibility here is usually excellent, so on a calm morning, you can see the entire wreck from the surface. It’s an easy, relaxing dive, perfect for knocking off after a drift through Peleliu.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.930000, 134.691670
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Marine Protected Area: Kayangel Subsistence Fishing Zone 2

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 MT ARAYAT

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 MT ARAYAT

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