Peleliu Wall (& Cut) - Rock Islands
The slow drift along Peleliu Wall is a powerful experience, not just for the diving but for the history. You’re tracing a reef where fierce currents often sweep through, right alongside an island that saw unimaginable conflict. We usually drop in where the reef slopes gently, letting the current carry us past deep cuts and overhangs. Keep an eye out for larger pelagics cruising by – we’ve often spotted grey reef sharks and schooling barracuda here, especially where the wall drops off into the blue. If the current really picks up, you might find yourself doing a speed run through the "Cut," a narrower channel that’s a real adrenaline shot. This one's for divers comfortable with a bit of a ride, definitely not a beginner's drift.
- Location
- Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 6.983300, 134.233300
- Type
- wall
Marine Protected Area: Coastal State Waters
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)
- German Channel - 21m (drift)
- 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)
Nearest Dive Centres to Peleliu Wall (& Cut)
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 Peleliu Wall (& Cut)
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