Palau is an island nation located in the western Pacific Ocean. It's part of Micronesia and is known for its stunning natural beauty, clear blue waters, and rich biodiversity. Palau consists of more than 300 islands, with Koror being its largest city and the economic hub. The country is famous for its pristine beaches, coral reefs, and vibrant marine life, making it a popular destination for diving and snorkeling.

Palau's government is a republic in free association with the United States. It gained independence in 1994, after a period of trusteeship under the U.S. following World War II.

It is best reached from Manila or Taipei but there are no daily flights.

Palau can be dived year-round but the best time is during the dry season from October- May. Air and water temperature hover around 28-30C year-round. Diving is geared towards big animals. It involves a lot of drift dives and using your reef hook.

During WW2 a horrible battle took place for the island of Peleliu. Around the area you still find ammunition on the sea floor. Around Koror there is a seaplane and a freighter wreck from that time.

To experience the best that scuba diving Palau offers it is advisable to book a liveaboard.

In September 2009, Palau announced that it would create the world's first shark sanctuary. Palau banned all commercial shark fishing within the waters of its exclusive economic zone. The sanctuary protects about 600,000 square kilometers of ocean, a similar size to France. The results are amazing - conservation works. You can still see 100+ grey reef sharks congregating in front of you.

In early 2014 Palau declared an area the size of France a no commercial fishing zone. By doing this, the biggest marine sanctuary in the world was created.

Palau has diverse, generally healthy coral reefs largely isolated from the negative influences of extensive coastal erosion from agriculture and development, pollution effects, and rampant overfishing which affect reefs elsewhere.