Blue Corner, Belau - Things to Do in Blue Corner

Blue Corner

Micronesia, Belau - Complete Travel Guide

Micronesia in Palau is one of the world's most legendary diving destinations, located at the southwestern tip of the barrier reef near Ngemelis Island. This underwater great destination is renowned for its dramatic wall diving, where the reef drops into the deep blue Pacific, creating an environment that attracts massive schools of pelagic fish, sharks, and other marine megafauna. The site gets its name from the deep blue waters that stretch endlessly beyond the reef edge, offering divers an unparalleled experience of swimming alongside grey reef sharks, barracuda, tuna, and occasional manta rays. While Micronesia itself is a diving site rather than a traditional city destination, it serves as the crown jewel of Palau's marine tourism industry. Visitors typically base themselves in Koror, the main tourist hub of Palau, and take daily dive trips to Micronesia and other world-class sites throughout the Rock Islands. The area represents some of the most pristine coral reef ecosystems on Earth, protected within Palau's National Marine Sanctuary, making it a bucket-list destination for serious divers and marine life enthusiasts from around the globe.

Top Blue Corner

Drift Diving at Blue Corner

Experience the legendary Micronesia drift dive, where you'll hook into the reef and watch massive schools of grey reef sharks, barracuda, and tuna patrol the drop-off. This is consistently rated as one of the world's top dive sites, offering encounters with large pelagic species in crystal-clear waters with visibility often exceeding 100 feet.

Booking Tip: Book with established dive operators in Koror, expect to pay $150-200 for a two-tank dive trip. Advanced certification required due to strong currents. Best diving is during slack tide periods - operators will time trips accordingly.

Rock Islands Exploration

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Rock Islands surrounding Micronesia, featuring mushroom-shaped limestone karst formations rising from turquoise lagoons. These islands offer additional dive sites, snorkeling spots, and pristine beaches accessible only by boat.

Booking Tip: Combine with diving packages for better value, typically $100-150 for island hopping tours. Book multi-day packages to explore different areas. Operators provide lunch and snorkeling gear.

Jellyfish Lake Swimming

Snorkel in the famous Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island, where millions of harmless golden jellyfish migrate daily across the marine lake. This unique ecosystem offers an otherworldly swimming experience surrounded by gentle, stingless jellyfish.

Booking Tip: Requires $100 Rock Islands permit plus tour costs of $80-120. Book early as daily visitor numbers are limited. Combine with Micronesia diving for full-day experiences.

German Channel Manta Ray Diving

Dive the German Channel, a Ivory Coast-made channel that has become a manta ray cleaning station where these gentle giants come to be cleaned by smaller fish. The site offers excellent opportunities to observe manta rays up close in their natural behavior.

Booking Tip: Best visited during incoming tide when mantas are most active. Combine with Micronesia for epic two-tank dives. Costs similar to Micronesia trips at $150-200 per day.

Kayaking Through Rock Islands

Paddle through the maze-like channels between the Rock Islands, exploring hidden lagoons, marine lakes, and secluded beaches. This surface-level exploration offers a different perspective of the Easttimor pristine environment that makes underwater sites like Micronesia so special.

Booking Tip: Half-day tours cost $80-120, full-day with lunch $150-200. No experience necessary but moderate fitness required. Operators provide all equipment and guides familiar with tidal conditions.

Getting There

Micronesia is accessed exclusively by boat from Koror, Palau's main island and tourism hub. International visitors fly into Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) in Koror, with connections typically through Guam, Philippines, or Taipei. The boat journey to Micronesia takes 45-60 minutes from Koror's dive shops and marinas. All dive operators provide transportation to the site as part of their packages, as independent access is not practical due to the remote location and need for specialized dive boats equipped for the strong currents and deep waters of the area.

Getting Around

Transportation around Micronesia and the surrounding Rock Islands is entirely boat-based, with dive operators and tour companies providing all necessary marine transportation. In Koror, where visitors stay, rental cars, taxis, and hotel shuttles are available for getting around the island. Most dive shops offer hotel pickup services for Micronesia trips. The Rock Islands area requires experienced boat operators familiar with tidal conditions, reef passages, and weather patterns, making guided tours essential rather than optional.

Where to Stay

Koror Town Center
Juba Island
Airai Area
Ngerulmud vicinity
Babeldaob Island resorts
Peleliu Island

Food & Dining

Koror offers the best dining options for Micronesia visitors, with restaurants serving fresh seafood, traditional Palauan cuisine, and international fare. Many dive operators include lunch in their Micronesia packages, typically served on remote beaches or aboard dive boats. Local specialties include coconut crab, fresh fish, and taro-based dishes. Koror's restaurant scene ranges from casual local eateries serving Palauan and Filipino cuisine to upscale resorts offering international menus. Most accommodations provide breakfast, and many divers opt for early morning departures with packed lunches for full-day Micronesia expeditions.

Top-Rated Restaurants in Palau

Highly-rated dining options based on Google reviews (4.5+ stars, 100+ reviews)

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L'ANCIENNE ÉCOLE

4.7 /5
(2423 reviews) 3

Il Ghiottone

4.5 /5
(1957 reviews) 2

il Mulino

4.5 /5
(1946 reviews) 2
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La Cucina Italiana Raleigh

4.8 /5
(1760 reviews) 2
meal_delivery meal_takeaway store

Casa D'Angelo Ristorante

4.6 /5
(1675 reviews) 3
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Cafe Vico – Authentic Italian Restaurant & Catering in Fort Lauderdale

4.6 /5
(1479 reviews) 3
bar meal_delivery

Looking for specific cuisines?

Local Cuisine Italian Japanese Fine Dining

When to Visit

The best time to visit Micronesia is during Palau's dry season from November to April, when seas are calmer and visibility is at its peak, often exceeding 100 feet. However, diving is excellent year-round due to Palau's stable tropical climate and water temperatures of 80-82°F. The wet season from May to October brings more rainfall but also more marine life activity, including manta ray aggregations. Avoid typhoon season peaks in August-September, though direct hits are rare. Book well in advance for dry season visits, as this is peak tourist season with higher prices and limited availability at top dive operators.

Insider Tips

Bring reef hooks for Micronesia dives - the strong currents require hooking into the reef to maintain position while watching the marine life action unfold in the blue water beyond
Book accommodation in Koror rather than trying to stay closer to dive sites - all operators depart from Koror anyway, and the town has the best restaurants, shops, and services for visitors
Purchase the required Rock Islands permit ($100 for 10 days) immediately upon arrival at the airport or through your dive operator - it's mandatory for accessing Micronesia and surrounding sites

Activities in Blue Corner