Things to Do in Palau in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Palau
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- November sits right at the start of Palau's dry season, meaning you'll typically get clear mornings with 70-80 m (230-260 ft) visibility underwater - absolutely prime for diving the Blue Corner and German Channel. The transition period usually brings calmer seas by mid-month.
- Tourist numbers drop significantly after October's lingering high season, so you'll find dive boats running at 60-70% capacity instead of fully booked. This means better positioning at dive sites and actual elbow room at Jellyfish Lake - which matters when you're trying to photograph those golden jellies.
- Water temperature holds steady around 28-29°C (82-84°F) in November, which is warm enough that you can comfortably do 3-4 dives daily in a 3mm wetsuit without getting cold. The thermocline hasn't kicked in yet like it does come January.
- Hotel rates typically drop 20-30% compared to December-March peak season, and you can still book popular resorts like those on Malakal Island with just 2-3 weeks notice instead of the 2-3 months you'd need for February. Liveaboard availability opens up considerably too.
Considerations
- Those 10 rainy days aren't gentle drizzles - when November storms hit, they're proper tropical downpours that can shut down boat operations for 4-6 hours. You might lose half a diving day if weather rolls in, though it tends to clear by late afternoon. Build flexibility into your itinerary.
- November is technically still transition season, so conditions can be genuinely unpredictable. You might get five perfect days followed by two choppy ones. The Rock Islands southern lagoon can get surprisingly rough with northerly swells that occasionally pop up.
- Manta ray sightings drop to about 40% encounter rate in November compared to 80-90% during peak season (December-April). If seeing mantas is your primary goal, you're gambling a bit. The mantas are starting their seasonal migration patterns and haven't fully settled into cleaning stations yet.
Best Activities in November
Blue Corner and German Channel drift diving
November marks when visibility starts improving dramatically after the rainier months - you're looking at 24-30 m (80-100 ft) on average, sometimes pushing 35 m (115 ft) on exceptional days. The current patterns at Blue Corner tend to be more predictable in November before the stronger winter currents arrive. Water temps around 28°C (82°F) mean you'll stay comfortable through multiple dives. Grey reef sharks are consistently present, and you'll typically see schools of barracuda and the occasional eagle ray. German Channel's mandarin fish are easier to spot in the calmer conditions. Most divers do 3-4 dives daily during November.
Jellyfish Lake kayaking and snorkeling
The lake reopened in recent years after the jellyfish population recovered from the 2016 El Niño die-off, and November conditions are actually ideal - calm mornings with minimal wind chop on the 800 m (0.5 mile) kayak paddle from the dock. The jellies follow the sun across the lake, so arriving between 9-11 AM puts you right in their migration path. Water clarity tends to be better in November than the wetter months. The 200 m (650 ft) jungle walk from beach to lake is muddy but manageable - the boardwalk sections help considerably. You'll want about 2-3 hours total including kayak time.
Milky Way lagoon and Rock Islands boat tours
November's calmer seas make the 45-60 minute boat ride from Koror significantly more comfortable than October's choppier conditions. The Milky Way's famous white limestone mud is always there, but you'll appreciate doing the mud bath experience when it's warm and humid rather than the cooler January weather. Most tours combine this with snorkeling stops at spots like Clam City and the Coral Gardens, where visibility in November typically hits 20-25 m (65-80 ft). The Rock Islands' mushroom-shaped limestone formations photograph beautifully in November's variable cloud conditions - you get dramatic lighting without harsh midday glare. Full-day tours typically run 6-7 hours.
Peleliu Island historical battlefield tours
November's slightly lower humidity - around 70% instead of the 80-85% you'd get in summer - makes the outdoor walking portions of battlefield tours much more manageable. You're looking at 3-4 hours exploring sites like Bloody Nose Ridge, the Japanese command bunker network, and the Peace Memorial, with stretches of walking in exposed sun. The 1,000 Caves area stays cooler year-round but still requires decent mobility. November also tends to have better road conditions after the rainy season maintenance work wraps up. The 90-minute ferry from Koror runs more reliably in November's calmer seas - rough crossings can be genuinely uncomfortable.
Kayaking the mangrove channels
The mangrove systems around Nikko Bay and the eastern lagoons are particularly accessible in November when water levels stabilize after the wetter months. You'll paddle through narrow channels with mangrove roots creating natural tunnels - some sections barely 3-4 m (10-13 ft) wide. Morning tours starting around 7-8 AM give you the best wildlife spotting: saltwater crocodiles basking on mudflats, various herons and kingfishers, and occasionally fruit bats in the canopy. The paddling is gentle, suitable for beginners, covering maybe 5-7 km (3-4 miles) over 3-4 hours. November's lower humidity makes this considerably more pleasant than the muggy summer months.
Night diving and blackwater diving experiences
November offers some of the calmest night diving conditions before the winter swells arrive. Sites like the Chandelier Caves and shallow reef areas near Malakal Harbor come alive after dark with Spanish dancers, hunting octopus, and sleeping parrotfish. Blackwater diving - drifting in open ocean at night photographing pelagic larvae and creatures - has gained popularity in Palau, and November's typically flat seas create ideal conditions. These are advanced dives requiring good buoyancy control. Water temps stay comfortable at 28°C (82°F) even at night. Most night dives run 60-75 minutes starting around 6:30-7 PM after sunset.
November Events & Festivals
Thanksgiving Week (US holiday influence)
While not a Palauan holiday, Thanksgiving week brings a noticeable uptick in American visitors since Palau has strong US ties. Several restaurants in Koror offer Thanksgiving dinner specials, and some resorts organize beach barbecues. Worth noting if you're trying to avoid crowds - the week of Thanksgiving sees a mini-spike in bookings, particularly at mid-range and luxury properties. Dive boats also fill up more during this specific week.