The Rock Islands: Palau's lagoon of limestone islands

Why go

Few places pack so much variety into a short boat ride. Within an hour of Koror you can swim in a marine lake full of golden jellyfish, float over giant clams, drift along coral walls, picnic on a white sandbar, kayak into hidden lagoons and, if you dive, meet sharks, turtles and manta rays. The islands are uninhabited, protected and astonishingly beautiful.

Highlights

**Jellyfish Lake**, or Ongeim'l Tketau, on the island of Mecherchar, is a marine lake where millions of golden jellyfish evolved with only a mild sting. The lake has closed in the past when jellyfish numbers fell, so check with the Koror State government or your operator whether it is open. Snorkelling only: scuba diving is not allowed.

The **Milky Way** is a turquoise cove where fine white limestone mud settles on the bottom. Guides dive down for handfuls so you can cover yourself in it. **Clam City** is a shallow garden of giant clams, and the **Big Drop Off** and **Ngemelis Wall** let snorkellers peer over a coral cliff into the deep. At low tide, **Long Beach** reveals a long white sandbar between two islands.

Divers come for **Blue Corner**, where sharks, barracuda and turtles hang in the current, **German Channel** for manta rays, **Blue Holes**, **Ulong Channel** and **Siaes Tunnel**. Second World War wrecks such as the **Jake Seaplane**, **Iro Maru** and the **Helmet Wreck** add history.

How to visit

You visit the Rock Islands on day tours from Koror. Snorkel tours usually combine Jellyfish Lake or the Milky Way with a few reef stops and lunch on a beach. Dive trips do two or three dives with a picnic break. Kayak tours, with operators such as Planet Blue, are a quieter way to see caves and arches. Boats leave from Malakal or the resorts in the morning and return mid afternoon.

Permits and fees

Koror State requires a **Rock Islands permit**, and there is a separate permit for Jellyfish Lake. Your tour operator usually arranges them and adds them to the price. Check the current rules on the Koror State government or Palau Visitors Authority sites. The Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee is usually built into your airline ticket.

Protecting the lagoon

When you arrive you sign the **Palau Pledge**. Use reef-safe sunscreen, never touch or stand on coral, do not feed fish, take all rubbish home and keep a respectful distance from turtles and sharks. Certain sunscreen chemicals are banned in Palau, so buy reef-safe brands.

Safety

Currents can be strong at channels and outer reefs. Choose a licensed operator, wear a life vest or flotation if you are not a strong swimmer and tell the guide your experience honestly. Do not fly within a day of your last dive. The sun is fierce, so wear a rash guard and drink plenty of water.

A typical snorkel day

Pickup comes around eight. The boat skims out past the first islands, stopping at Jellyfish Lake or the Milky Way while the water is still calm. Mid morning brings a reef stop such as the Big Drop Off or Clam City, then lunch at a shaded beach on Ngermeaus or near Ulong. In the afternoon there is usually one more snorkel and, tides allowing, a walk on the Long Beach sandbar before the ride home. Bring a dry bag, a towel, water, a hat and a light layer for the spray.