The New Drop Off - Rock Islands

The New Drop Off is a solid wall dive in the Rock Islands, a good spot to see some bigger stuff. It’s essentially a vertical reef that drops to a serious depth, around 150 metres, where two walls meet. You'll often find yourself hanging in the blue here, watching for sharks and eagle rays cruising past, while barracuda schools swirl in the mid-water. Closer to the wall, we like to take our time scanning the enormous gorgonian fans, colourful soft corals, and sponges; the shallower sections are good for spotting moray eels, nudibranchs, and leaffish if you have a keen eye. It’s a good choice for divers who appreciate a classic wall dive with the potential for pelagic action.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.125000, 134.233300
Type
wall
Maximum Depth
drops to around 150m

Marine Protected Area: Ngemelis Island Complex

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 The New Drop Off

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 The New Drop Off

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical diving depth at The New Drop Off dive site in Palau?
The New Drop Off is a spectacular wall dive that drops to around 150m. While the wall extends to significant depths, divers typically explore sections suitable for recreational limits. You can find more details about this incredible site at The New Drop Off.
What kind of marine life and coral can I expect to see when diving The New Drop Off?
At The New Drop Off, you'll encounter a vibrant vertical wall adorned with enormous colourful gorgonian fans, soft corals, and sponges. In the blue, expect thrilling shark action, swirling masses of reef fish, barracuda, and eagle rays. Shallower areas are home to fascinating creatures like moray eels, nudibranchs, and leaffish, offering diverse marine life.
How challenging is diving at The New Drop Off, and is it suitable for intermediate divers?
Diving at The New Drop Off is rated as intermediate difficulty. This makes it a suitable and rewarding dive for divers with intermediate experience. Its wall dive type and potential for dynamic conditions mean a good level of buoyancy control and comfort are beneficial.
What is the best time of year to dive The New Drop Off in Palau for optimal conditions?
The provided data for The New Drop Off does not specify the best time of year for optimal diving conditions. For general information on when to dive in the region, please consult our When to Dive guide.
What scuba diving certifications are recommended or required to dive The New Drop Off?
The provided information for The New Drop Off does not specify particular scuba diving certifications that are recommended or required. Given its intermediate difficulty and wall dive type, an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent is generally advisable for such sites. Always check with your local dive operator in Palau for their specific requirements.
What are the typical current conditions like at The New Drop Off dive site?
While the provided data for The New Drop Off doesn't explicitly detail current conditions, the site is known for shark action, swirling masses of reef fish, barracuda, and eagle rays. These aggregations often occur in areas with active currents, especially at the meeting point of two reef walls. Divers should be prepared for potential current activity typical of such dynamic dive sites.