Siaes Corner - Rock Islands
Siaes Corner isn't always the first site people mention in Palau, but we think it’s consistently one of the best for pelagic action. You'll drop in and drift along the wall, eyes peeled for whatever the currents decide to bring past. We’ve seen enormous schools of barracuda here, spinning into shimmering tornadoes, and often a grey reef shark or two patrolling the deeper blue. What makes Siaes Corner special is that feeling of being on the edge of something vast. The wall itself has some lovely corals, with plenty of Black-back Butterflyfish flitting about and Scarlet Wrasse zipping over the reef, but it’s the open water that truly delivers. Keep an eye out for the resident Bumphead Parrotfish munching on the coral, especially early in the dive before they move off. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light is better, and the currents seem to bring more activity then. This isn't a site for lingering over macro, it's about the bigger picture. Come here ready for a dynamic drift, and you’ll likely leave with some fantastic memories.
- Location
- Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 7.313855, 134.220170
Marine Protected Area: Ngerumekaol Spawning 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
- 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 Siaes 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
- 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 Siaes 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