Palau is celebrated as one of the world's seven underwater wonders, boasting a thriving ocean teeming with abundant marine life that draws a steady stream of visitors year-round. Beyond scuba diving, freediving and SUP are equally spectacular ways to experience the beauty of Palau's seas. Follow the Editor's lens and dive into Palau's seven-hued waters!
Things to Note for Freediving in Palau
Guests joining LT Dive's freediving group in Palau will be provided with surface marker buoys (SMBs) prepared by the shop, along with dive instructor supervision. During underwater activities, instructors position SMBs near the divers so the instructor and other team members can monitor and support everyone at all times. LT Dive maintains a set instructor-to-diver ratio to ensure every freediver receives sufficient attention, keeping the diving experience smooth and safe.
Please note! The LT Dive freediving group is a guided dive experience — not a photography trip. Accompanying safety instructors do not provide photography services, as their full focus is on keeping guests safe. However, if you would like a dedicated photographer, you can pay an additional fee to have LT Dive arrange one. That way, a professional photographer captures your best moments while the instructors remain fully focused on your personal safety.
Milky Way Lagoon: Discovering Milky-White Waters and Natural Beauty Mud
Don't forget to strike your best poses at the Milky Way Lagoon!
The white, paste-like substance found in Palau's Milky Way Lagoon is composed of volcanic mud, microorganisms, coral fragments, and minerals that have settled on the lake bed. When these sediments are suspended in the water and interact with reflected sunlight, they give the lagoon its signature milky-white appearance. The surrounding topography and water currents keep the water mixed and circulating, preserving this unique quality.
Many visitors believe that the white mud in the Milky Way Lagoon has beautifying properties, and it has become a popular natural beauty treatment to slather on your skin. It's also one of Palau's must-do photo opportunities, and the distinctive shots visitors take here have made it an iconic stop on any Palau itinerary.
LT DIVE thoughtfully provides a SUP drone so you can capture a wider variety of shots
Photo Tips: Apply the white mud to your face in a small area only — smearing it on each other with friends makes it even more fun. Try floating on your back on the lagoon's surface and let your body drift naturally, then have someone shoot from directly above to capture the dreamy, otherworldly effect of a figure suspended on the white water.
At the Milky Way Lagoon, the real fun is covering each other head-to-toe with a whole group of friends!
Shark City: The Thrill of Being Surrounded by Sharks
The moment you jump in, you immediately feel the vibrant energy of Palau's ocean
At Palau's Shark City, divers have the chance to observe a variety of sharks — predominantly Blacktip Reef Sharks, with the occasional rare Leopard Shark also making an appearance. Since the water depth here is mostly within 10 m, marine life congregates in easy view, making this site equally well-suited for snorkeling and introductory dive experiences. And keeping the sharks company are some adorable little hangers-on that are well worth a look.
Once the boat stops, you can clearly see Blacktip Reef Sharks gliding alongside the hull from the surface. Blacktip Reef Sharks are named for the distinctive black tips on their dorsal fins. They frequently patrol shallow waters and are accustomed to the presence of visitors, generally posing no threat to humans. That said, they are wild animals — so never swim alone, and always stay alert to avoid any potential risks.
Don't forget to take a close look at the little companions swimming alongside the sharks!
Photo Tips: Chasing sharks will only drive them further away, so it's best to hold your position and use burst or snap shots to capture the moment a shark swims into your frame — patience is key. Shark City is also home to large schools of yellowtail barracuda; try to frame shots that show you surrounded by both yellowtail barracuda and Blacktip Reef Sharks for a livelier, more dynamic image.
Giant Clam City: Exploring a Spectacular Colony of Giant Clams
The giant clams in Palau are a different species from those commonly seen in Taiwan
Famous for its rich colonies of giant clams, Giant Clam City is home to Tridacna gigas — the largest bivalve molluscs on Earth. These giants can weigh up to 200 kg and reach a shell width of 1.2 m. The vivid colours and intricate patterns on their mantles come primarily from symbiotic algae and their own pigment cells. At Giant Clam City, you can spot clams in shades of blue, green, brown, and even leopard-like patterns.
Photo Tips: Try to capture the moment you swim right up alongside a giant clam to emphasise just how enormous they are. This shot requires a certain level of freediving skill, so assess your own ability before attempting it — safety first, always. Alternatively, place your camera inside the shell of a dead giant clam and shoot upward toward the water's surface from within the shell. This unique angle highlights the clam's sheer size and grandeur and adds striking visual impact to your photos.
In the shallower areas, you'll find reef surfaces densely covered in baby giant clams. They appear in incredible numbers, each with a uniquely patterned mantle — placed together, they create a breathtaking tapestry. Look closely and you might even spot a nudibranch hiding among them. Remarkably, a single patch of reef can host around 100 baby giant clams, forming a scene unlike anything else.
Rose Coral Garden: Cradled in an Entire Underwater Field of Rose Coral
At this dive site you can swim alongside countless small fish
The Rose Coral Garden is a protected area renowned for its sweeping expanse of rose-shaped hard coral. Depths here range from approximately 2 to 15 m, making it an ideal location for both snorkeling and diving. Due to the fragility of the coral reef ecosystem, measures are in place to ensure the coral remains undisturbed. Boats must moor outside the buoy boundary to avoid damaging the coral. When diving in the shallower areas, be especially mindful of your long fins (freediving) to avoid accidentally kicking the coral.
Photo Tips: Choose a wide-angle perspective that captures as much coral in the background as possible, conveying the sheer breadth and splendour of the reef. Pull back enough to frame the subject's full body against the vast coral backdrop. You can also try shooting from above, capturing the diver's silhouette as they glide over the coral garden — this angle beautifully conveys the depth and expanse of the reef.
The damselfish: "Hey~ I was looking at the camera, you know!"
Palau is known for its pristine marine environment, and the government takes environmental protection very seriously. When entering the water in Palau, avoid touching or damaging coral reefs and other marine life, and use chemical-free sunscreen (even bringing chemical sunscreen through customs is not permitted).
The Editor's Food Pick: F.C Seafood Restaurant
As Taiwanese food lovers, we tend to have high standards when it comes to eating. If you're spending several days in Palau and find yourself craving a Chinese meal, the Editor highly recommends F.C Seafood Restaurant, just a short distance from LT Dive. It's a Cantonese Chinese restaurant, but the flavours are very well-suited to Taiwanese palates.
At F.C Seafood Restaurant, you can choose from some truly authentic local ingredients
At F.C Restaurant, you can select from a range of genuinely local seafood ingredients, including giant clams, coconut crabs, mangrove crabs, and mangrove white clams. Several of these seafood options are protected species in Taiwan, so if you're curious to try them, this is your chance to savour something truly unique.
Of all the dishes the Editor's team enjoyed on this visit, three come with a wholehearted recommendation: the lobster casserole, the marinated raw mangrove crab, and the steamed egg with mangrove white clams. The seasoning style differs from what you typically find in Taiwan, and the ingredients are incredibly fresh — highly recommended for everyone to experience!
The texture of the marinated raw mangrove crab is wonderfully unusual
Two thumbs up for the steamed egg with mangrove white clams!
The Editor's Food Pick: Elilai Seaside Dining
Elilai Seaside Dining is the perfect spot to slow down and soak in the island atmosphere
If you'd rather skip the trip into town and instead sit by the sea, let the ocean breeze wash over you, watch the sunset, and enjoy a relaxed dinner, then Elilai Seaside Dining — just a 2-minute walk from LT Dive — is the perfect choice.
Elilai Seaside Dining is considered one of the more upscale Western restaurants in the area. The burgers and pasta are well above average, though prices are on the higher side — expect to pay around NT$400–600 per dish. But since you've already made it all the way to the islands of Palau, why not splurge a little and savour the rare experience of dining right by the sea?
Right beside your table at the water's edge, you can spot enormous giant clams
The Editor's Shopping Pick: Over Drive
Over Drive is one of Palau's few souvenir shops with genuine quality and style
While Palau's cost of living is high, there are honestly not that many places to splurge on shopping. Most goods are imported, which means souvenirs tend to be dominated by locally made handicrafts with limited variety.
That said, Over Drive — a souvenir shop founded by a Japanese owner — is well worth a browse if you have the time. The stickers, keychains, and other small mementos inside are all of excellent quality. The prices, however, are equally premium, so make sure your wallet is firmly in hand before you push open the door!
Shop, shop, shop — finally found somewhere worth splurging!
Before leaving Palau with a heart full of memories, don't forget to look up at the airport — take a moment to snap a group photo with the iconic manta ray mural at Palau's airport. Until next time, Palau!
Palau, we can't wait to see you again!
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