Rock Islands Information

Branded as the "Crowning Jewels of Micronesia," Rock Islands encompass over 200 forest-cloaked islets surrounded by colorful coral species that are four times as numerous as those in the Caribbean. Also called Chelbacheb in Palauan colloquialism, the umbrella-shaped, uninhabited Rock Islands embrace most of Palau's famous tourist attractions like jump offs, beaches, blue lagoons, and dense foliages teeming with eye-catching birds such as parrots, kingfishers, reef herons and white-tailed tropicbirds. The surrounding blue-green waters support some of the planet's most varied and abundant marine life like sharks, dolphins, turtles, and over 1,500 types of pelagic and reef fish, which converge among World War II wrecks and at the crossroads of the world's three major currents.

Using kayaks or aboard a dive-shop boat, one can paddle through marine tunnels. A peek into the caves unravel beautiful geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, while a climb on to a towering limestone reveals a 360-degree view of the densely-forested islands.

Many lakes are there in Rock Islands, but the Jellyfish Lake in Ngermeaus Island stands out as a snorkeling haven for its 21 million stingless jellyfish that are found only in Palau. Blue Corner, Palau's most talked-about dive site, is esteemed as one of the globe's best dive spots for its excellent collection of marine life and corals like staghorn corals, tabletop corals, and soft corals of all shapes and colors. French scientist Jacques Costeau considered Ngemelis Wall or Big Drop-off to be among the world's best dive walls. A few minutes away is the German Channel, known for its manta rays.