Palau · Palau · Cave & cavern
Blue Holes
Four holes in the reef top that open into a single large cavern
Area photo: 陳德範（Chen, De-Fan） · CC BY 4.0
The Blue Holes are four openings in the shallow reef top near Blue Corner, each dropping into the same very large cavern. Entering a cavern from above through the reef makes it one of the most popular dives in Palau, and it is a common way to begin a dive at Blue Corner.
Also known as Blue Hole.
Where it is and how deep
7.1372° N, 134.2211° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts with a swim over the shallow reef, where the four holes sit at 1–2 m (3–6 ft), and a descent through one of them into the cavern beneath. The cavern drops to about 35 m, and visibility in it usually runs 20–50 m (60–150 ft). From the cavern, many dives carry on to Blue Corner, so the holes often serve as the first half of that dive.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Palau: Boats run every month; November to April has the best conditions, and June to December is typhoon season.
Know before you go
- The holes and the cavern occasionally set up very strong currents and down drafts.
Dive videos
Blue Holes, Palau · PhotoNewsFreak on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can the Blue Holes and Blue Corner be done on one dive?+
Yes. A dive often starts by descending through one of the holes into the cavern and then continues to Blue Corner, about 305 m (1,000 ft) to the south.
Sources
- Blue Holes — Fish 'n Fins Palau
- Diving in Palau — DiveZone
- Diving in Palau — Dive The World
- Blue Corner — ScubaGo
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