Ulong Channel - Rock Islands

Ulong Channel isn't just a drift dive, it's a high-speed joyride through a natural aquarium. We love dropping in north of the channel, typically around 20 meters, and letting the current do all the work. It pulls you along a sandy bottom that rarely dips below 13 meters, past schools of spotted surgeonfish so thick they dim the light. Keep an eye out for batavian parrotfish chewing on coral and cleaner mimics darting around. The real magic happens on the channel walls. They’re absolutely packed with life, a constant parade of bicolour parrotfish, foxface, and tiny Queensland eviota. We've spent entire dives just hovering, watching the drama unfold. Look for the occasional cowry or sea olive tucked into a crevice. This is a dive that suits anyone who enjoys a thrilling drift and a relentless display of reef fish in a stunning, shallow setting. You’ll want to do it more than once; there’s just too much to take in on a single pass.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.283438, 134.244690
Type
drift

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Ulong Channel

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 Ulong Channel

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