Paradies Corner - Rock Islands

We’ve always had a soft spot for Paradies Corner. It’s not the big drift dive everyone talks about in Palau, but sometimes the quiet sites are our favourite. This place just hums with activity. Drop in and you’re immediately enveloped by the sheer volume of smaller reef fish – schools of tiny anchovies flicker like static electricity, while bicolor chromis dance just above the staghorn corals. It’s a fantastic spot for macro, even if you’re just casually looking. We’ve spent whole dives just combing the reef for the cloth-of-gold cone snails, or watching the Nocturn gobies dart in and out of their burrows. Keep an eye out for Blackfin squirrelfish tucked into crevices and the sunburst butterflyfish picking at the coral. We find the best time to visit is mid-morning, just after the sun gets high enough to really illuminate the shallows. While the deeper sections have their charm, it's the 10-15 metre range that really shines here. It's a gentle dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who wants to slow down and really observe the smaller details of the reef.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.243304, 134.372330

Marine Protected Area: Rock Island Southern Lagoon Management Area

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 Paradies Corner

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 Paradies Corner

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