Diving holidays: Blue Corner Wall, Palau
Over the past few months, we’ve been taking you to some of the best dive spots on the planet, giving you the knowledge, tips and know how about where to go, where to stay and which dive company to go with. This week we will be looking at the spot that is currently at number two on the list of top ten dive sites in the world – The Blue Corner Wall in the Republic of Palau.
Where is it?
Blue Corner Wall is located off the coast of the island of Palau, which lies 500 miles east of the Philippines.
What’s it all about?
Blue Corner Wall was named by scubatravel.co.uk as the second best dive spot in the world. Divers use reef hooks to hold onto the wall and take in the spectacular sights as they pass by. The area is home to 1,300 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral.
What’s the diving like?
Diving at Blue Corner is around 30-40 metres deep and visibility is good at 30 meters. The site is recognised as one of the best dive sites in the world because of the sheer concentration of marine life that can be found here. One of the reasons for this is that Palau has placed a ban on fishing for sharks in its waters. There are a huge number of different shark species that can be seen here, including grey reef shark, hammerheads, silvertip, bull, nurse, white tip and leopard shark.
Other marine life that can be seen at the Blue Corner Wall include turtles, manta rays, barracudas, octopus, lobster, dogtooth tuna and bumphead parrotfish, as well as an array of smaller tropical fish.
Dive equipment rental and dive companies
There a few different dive companies to choose from on Palau, but a good choice is Sam’s Tours, who offer many different dive excursions and cater for all skill levels. Another excellent choice is Neco Marine, who have very experienced and knowledgeable guides as well as a great friendly family atmosphere.
Accommodation options
Palau has a wealth of accommodation options to choose from, whether you want chic and upmarket beach resorts, cosy cottages, budget motels or friendly B&Bs. For true luxury and style try the Palau Pacific Resort, complete with private beaches, chic accommodation and excellent facilities. Or, for a true dive resort with simple yet pretty cottages, try the Carp Island Resort.
Interesting fact... Palau also offers some of the most exciting wreck diving around and is home to the Pacific’s largest collection of intact WWII ship and plane wrecks.
Best suited to... More experienced or intermediate divers. Currents can be strong at times, so it’s best if you have some dive experience as well as training and certification.
