Blue Corner

Consistently ranked among the top three dive sites in the world. At this underwater reef point, currents converge. Clip onto the reef with a reef hook to watch gray reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and thousands of fish streaming past you.

Blue Corner lies on the southwestern outer edge of the Rock Islands, near Ngemelis Island. It is an underwater reef point, 15 to 30 meters deep, extending from the reef flat into the open sea. Currents from the Pacific hit the reef wall here and bring upwelling nutrients. This attracts schools of gray reef sharks, whitetip sharks, tuna, barracuda, and eagle rays, along with Napoleon wrasse more than a meter long, which often approach divers. Visibility often exceeds 30 meters. It is widely regarded as one of the world's best drift dives. Dive method: Drift along the reef wall. At the reef point, use a reef hook, a hooked line clipped onto bare rock without coral. After inflating your BCD, hang in the current like a kite and watch the action for 10 to 20 minutes. Then unclip and drift with the current toward the shallow water on top of the reef flat to end the dive. Nearby, the Blue Holes, four shaft-like vertical caves that descend from 3 meters to 30 meters and open into the outer reef wall, are often combined with Blue Corner in a single dive. This is Palau's classic combination. Requirements: AOW certification or higher, and at least 30 logged dives recommended. Not suitable for beginners when the current is strong. Dive shops rent reef hooks. Costs: A one-day, two-dive trip costs about $150 to $200, including boat, dive guide, and lunch. Add a Koror State permit of $50 and the Palau dive tax. Snorkelers can also float over the reef flat to watch the fish, though this is not recommended when the current is strong. Transport: A speedboat from Koror takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Notes: Strictly follow your dive guide. Watch your air and stay within no-decompression limits. Hook onto rock, never coral. Carry a surface marker buoy (SMB). Do not fly within 18 hours after diving. Anyone prone to seasickness should take medication in advance.

Blue Corner

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