Palau NYE Liveaboard 12/29/25-1/5/26 Full Moon Spawning Special

Celebrate the New Year 2025/2026 in style aboard the Black Pearl as we cruise the gorgeous Rock Islands of Palau! 

Palau has been awarded the distinction of being the “Seventh Underwater Wonder of the World.” Positioned at the crossroads of the planet's three major ocean currents, Palau has nutrient-dense waters bringing an overwhelming abundance of marine life and offering a staggering number of underwater venues. Underwater, you’ll discover a bit of everything, including the immense aggregations of small and large fishes, coral gardens, caverns, channels, healthy reefs, WWII wrecks, and the world-famous Jellyfish Lake.

The signature dive site in Palau is Blue Corner, which has a constant shark parade and a thrilling current, sometimes up to 3 knots. German Channel, Ulong Channel, Peleliu Express, and Blue Hole are all globally recognized dives. You can visit these sites again and again and have completely different experiences each time. Diving in Peleliu is weather permitted.

Palau’s sea floor is littered with WWII shipwrecks and aircraft lost in battle. The chain of islands' proximity to Southeast Asia and Japan made it the location for several fierce battles. Today the remnants of ships, planes, tank tracks, bullets, and guns are left behind. They are coral-encrusted and an incredible sight for divers.

This is a Full Moon Red Snapper Spawning trip where we'll encounter the large aggregations of Red Snapper that gather for the event. 

BLACK PEARL EXPLORER

At 151 feet (46m) the impressive Black Pearl Explorer is sleek and sophisticated. Designed with the latest navigation, safety, and scuba equipment, Black Pearl Explorer exceeds the highest standards in the scuba diving industry, including meeting the requirements of the International Integrity Stability Standard for yachts above 46-meters. It is fast, stable, and safe, ensuring peace of mind while cruising through Palau in complete comfort. Accommodating up to 22 people in 11 superior ocean-view staterooms (max. capacity increased to 24 guests from September 2024), guests will delight in the laid-back luxury of Black Pearl Explorer. Amongst the vessel’s four decks, guests can also enjoy an indoor dining area with cafe and bar, entertainment salon, outdoor seating area with bar, whirlpool, hammock area, and a 360˚ view sundeck with an impressive panorama of Palau and its spectacular sunsets. Lastly, the state-of-the-art dive deck is highly functional with all necessary diving amenities, including a camera bay to process underwater images and a recompression chamber.

Weather – Dive Season:

Palau is a tropical destination, which enjoys a steady warm climate all year round. Air temperature can range from 24° to 32° Celsius. The dry season in Palau runs from November to April, and July to October are deemed as wetter months. However, typhoons with straight days of rain are rare due to Palau’s location near the Equator. Water temperatures in Palau remain 81-86º F (27-30C) throughout the year.

PALAU CLASSIC ITINERARY 

This itinerary covers most of the famous dive sites, such as German Channel, Blue Corner, Blue Holes, Peleliu Express (Weather permitting), New Drop Off, Turtle Cove, Chandelier Cave, Ulong Wall, Ulong Channel, Siaes Tunnel & Corner, Iro Wreck, Sand Bar, and many more, combining wall and drift diving, WWII wrecks, caves, pelagic encounters (reef sharks, manta rays, barracudas) and a huge collection of hard and soft corals. A land excursion will be organized at the world-famous Jellyfish lake, to snorkel with millions of non-stinging jellyfishes. A must-do when you visit Palau.

SPAWNING SPECIAL ITINERARIES

Full Moon and New Moon; The other itineraries are the Spawning Specials, combining the dive sites and excursions of our Palau Classic itinerary, but also focusing on the opportunity to see the spawning aggregations of the red snappers (during the full moon cycle) and the bump head parrotfish (during the new-moon cycle). These unique experiences will amaze any experienced diver and will add a special touch to your diving holiday in Palau.

PALAU’S JELLY FISH LAKE

Although not a dive, Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is a natural phenomenon and a must-do. The land-locked saltwater lake contains two species of jellyfish that have evolved away from their stingers in the absence of predators. Snorkelers can swim among thousands of pulsating jellyfish without the worry of any pain. Special guidelines are required for snorkeling and swimming in Jellyfish Lake. No scuba diving is permitted.

Famous Palau Dive Sites

Black Pearl Explorer will visit many famous dive sites, like the ones below.

Blue corner: This is perhaps the most famous dive site in Palau with steep walls and an abundance of fish life. Expect to experience full-throttle currents, and plenty of pelagic action. Snappers, jacks, and triggerfish schools roam around at this V-shaped plateau pointing out into the Philippine Sea. It is very common to spot oceanic predators like sailfish, dolphins, whales, and reef sharks due to the strong currents and nutrient-rich conditions.

Blue Hole: Several holes at 16 feet/5 meters mark the entry point into the cavern, which drops to 120 feet/35 meters. Inside the Blue Hole, divers exit by the “window” and do a drift dive, finding their way to the Blue Corner dive site. It is always important to watch your depth and bottom time inside the cavern.

German Channel: Dredged by Germans miners, this channel connects the inner lagoon with the open ocean. Nowadays, the currents going through the channel help get nutrients in, inviting manta rays and large pelagics in from the open ocean and the shallow reefs are home to a wide variety of macro life.

Peleliu Express: Peleliu Express is one of the most beautiful dive sites in Palau. This dive site is an advanced drift dive site. A large variety of marine life finds shelter in the deep canyons, crevices, and caves that cut into the wall. The vertical walls are covered with corals and sponges, attracting colorful butterfly and angelfish, as well as turtles. It is one of the best spots to experience countless sharks and dolphins. Access to Peleliu is subject to conditions. Click here for more details.

Ulong Channel: This breathtaking drift dive is unique to the archipelago. Numerous coral heads and coral formations decorate the sandy bottom of this channel. You are sure to find grey reef sharks, stingrays, snappers, barracuda, and other pelagics. This is one of the region’s best dive sites to search for macro subjects, as well as a prime location for watching triggerfish spawning between April and July.

Chandelier Cave: A chain of cave systems made up of five separate connecting chambers with air pockets. Its dramatic stalactites and stalagmites formed, resembling glittering chandeliers. Visiting the site just before sunset might be the opportunity to spot some mandarin fishes or crabs on sponges.

Siaes Tunnel: This deep underwater cavern offers divers an awesome experience as they dive through a large naturally-lit tunnel. There are also white tip reef sharks and stingrays resting on the sandy bottom of the cavern. Currents can get strong here and the use of reef hook and safety marker buoy is mandatory.

Turtle Cove: The vertical reef wall, with plenty of small caves, arches, ledges, and reef sharks roaming around, is great for an introductory dive. On the top reef is a mini blue hole that forms a large cavern. The reef extends out to a plateau from and around Ngercheu Island. Different species of nudibranchs and schooling fish patrol the reef.

Meals: 

Meals are mostly served Buffet style. Aboard the Black Pearl Explorer, meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, mixed salads, chicken, beef and fish, cooked European or Asian Style by our Chef. Vegetarians are well accommodated. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, French toasts, bread and fresh fruits. Pastries and fresh fruits are served for the afternoon snacks. A BBQ dinner on the beach will be served during the cruise (weather permitting). 

Packages include:

7 nights/8 days board the vessel; 3 or 4 dives daily (weather permitting);

3 meals daily; snacks and some beverages

rountrip airport transfers

same-day hotel transfers within Koror or Malakal island

Nitrox 

use of kayaks and Stand-Up paddle boards;

one snorkeling session in a Jelly Fish Lake

10% GST

Packages do not include:

Flights

hotel accommodation

 airport taxes

Marine Park & Harbor fees $150 (as of 2024)

Pelilieu Marine Park $60 (if weather permits)

Optional Pelilieu Land Tour $69

rental gear & dive courses

travel insurance (highly recommended)

dive (required) insurance

soft drinks and alcoholic beverages

crew gratuity