The Federated States of Micronesia are scattered like emeralds across the Western Pacific Ocean. This alluring country is made up of 600 islands, with four main island states: Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, each of which is a worthy dive destination in its own right.
Right next door to Micronesia, and often lumped under the same banner, is dive paradise Palau, where you’ll find reefs, drifts, wrecks, the incomparable Jellyfish Lake, and—quite recently—the world’s largest yet discovered coral formation.
When it comes to planning your trip, you’re a bit limited for Micronesian options, as only the Odyssey visits the dozens of wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, which all went down during Operation Hailstone in 1944. Over 60 ships and 200 Japanese planes met their end at the hands of the US Navy during this seminal WWII attack, and they now lie scattered on the ocean floor at a wide variety of depths from technical to recreational.
If you’re after a trip to Palau though, you’ve got lots of liveaboard options. Here you’ll also find WWII wrecks and so much more—drift dives with mantas, coral-encrusted walls, marine life, and world famous dive sites like Blue Corner.
Read on for our picks of the best liveaboards in Micronesia and Palau.
December to March is the high season, during which the sea is calm and the weather dry. May, June and September is the low season, when the prices and the number of tourists are lower. Both Palau and Micronesia are great year-round.
Palau Siren
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Palau is a world-renowned diving destination, characterized by its excellent visibility, warm water, and abundant marine life. Divers can expect to see a wide variety of hard and soft corals and diverse marine life including sharks, rays, turtles, and other marine creatures. Large pelagics are common on dives. And liveaboard yachts offer the best way to experience Palau’s diving, allowing…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Camera room is great for photographers and videographers
- Luxurious, comfortable, and spacious cabins
- Huge deck with shaded areas for relaxing
- Professional, helpful, and knowledgeable team
Things we don’t like:
- Nitrox costs extra
- Alcohol is available but not included
- Marine park and port fees not included
Where to book Palau Siren:
Black Pearl Explorer
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Built in 2019, the contemporary, luxurious Black Pearl Explorer offers comfort and ample space for up to 24 guests as they dive the beautiful waters of Palau. Co-branded with the Pearl Fleet, this modern dive yacht offers four decks, 12 luxury staterooms, and warm-water dives year-round. The Black Pearl Explorer operates on a 7- or 10-night itinerary. Divers will log…
Key facts
Things we like:
- High safety standards
- Plenty of space for guests to lounge between dives
- Nitrox is included
- Professional guides are always in the water
- Variety of dive sites including reefs, wrecks, and caves
- Shaded sundeck allows for divers to take a break from the sun between dives
- Offers a variety of itineraries including a Spawning Special Itinerary
- Kayaks and paddleboards are available for use
Things we don’t like:
- Only available to advanced divers with >50 logged dives due to strong currents
- No internet
- Specialty drinks only available for purchase
- There has been a drastic decline in the golden jellyfish populations within Jellyfish Lake since 2021
Where to book Black Pearl Explorer:
Pacific Master
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Micronesia, a hidden gem in the heart of the Pacific, offers scuba divers an unparalleled underwater experience. Renowned for its exceptional water clarity, diverse marine life, and historic WWII wrecks, Micronesia stands out as a premier destination for underwater enthusiasts. One of the highlights of diving in Micronesia is the opportunity to explore the legendary Truk Lagoon, often dubbed the…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Spectacular wreck diving
- Rebreather and tech-diver friendly
- Chance to see manta rays, sharks, and other large pelagics
- Free short-term DAN insurance available on request
Things we don’t like:
- Nitrox is available but not included
- Marine park and port fees of between $250 and $600 (depending on itinerary) not included
Where to book Pacific Master:
Solitude One
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Would you like to see wrecks or discover some of the best biodiversity in the world? If you think the two can’t be combined, take a look at the itineraries offered by this liveaboard. The Solitude One covers both Palau and the Philippines, arguably two must-see destinations for any diver. Palau is home to WWII shipwrecks, the world-famous Jellyfish Lake,…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Three different cabin classes to suit different budgets
- Lots of cabin choices for single travelers
- Option to book transition trips and experience both Palau and the Philippines
- Hot tub for relaxation between and after dives
Things we don’t like:
- Limited natural light in some of the lower deck cabins
Where to book Solitude One:
Odyssey
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Do you love wrecks? If yes, then Truk Lagoon (also called Chuuk) needs to be on your list to experience world-class wreck diving. Even if you prefer to see marine life, this is an exciting destination. Many of the wrecks are home to coral gardens and attract reef sharks, eagle rays, and schooling jacks. But how did more than 50…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Built for divers and recently refitted
- Nitrox included in the cruise price
- Wide choice of wrecks and individual dive times
Things we don’t like:
- No separate camera room
Where to book Odyssey:
MV Ocean Hunter 3
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Picture turquoise waters as far as your eyes can see, only interrupted by specks of emerald green from small, tropical islands. That’s Palau in a nutshell. Underwater, the scene is equally picturesque with stunning, healthy corals covering walls and caverns. Ocean currents bring large fish to these waters, and you can look forward to diving with sharks, manta rays, and…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Smaller boat with a family atmosphere—great for group charters
- Great choice of specialty dives, including spawning and black-water dives
- Two hot tubs on the sundeck
Things we don’t like:
- Standard cabins can feel a bit small
Where to book MV Ocean Hunter 3:
Palau Aggressor II
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Famed for its incredible biodiversity, crystal-clear waters, and stunning dive sites, Palau offers drop-offs, walls, reefs, wrecks, and caves. Divers can expect to see a huge diversity of marine life, including sharks, mantas, rays, turtles, dolphins, and an array of fish and coral species. Some of the standout dives sites include Blue Corner, German Channel, Chandelier Caves, Jellyfish Lake, and…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Friendly and professional crew
- Chef-prepared meals with complimentary beer and wine
- Up to five dives a day
- All diving done from a skiff
Things we don’t like:
- Port fees not included: $240 per trip
Where to book Palau Aggressor II:
Liveaboards in Micronesia and Palau
The majority of liveaboards travel around Micronesia and Palau for 7 to 10 nights. Some will provide an all-round transfer from the airport to the port or from the hotel to the port, if not for free then for a small fee. Chuuk is home to Chuuk International Airport, and the best way to get there is via Hawaii or Guam. On Palau, you’ll fly into Roman Tmetuchl International Airport, which also has limited connection
This dive site doesn’t appear on so many “best dive sites in the world” lists for nothing. With a typical swift current coming around the “corner” in the dive site’s name, you’ll usually descend quickly and use your reef hook to attach to the substrate and stay in place.
With your BCD inflated, you’ll wave like a flag in the current before the dive guide gives the signal to unhook and fly along the wall with the sharks, huge humphead wrasse, turtles, and other abundant marine life that calls this site home.
Another thrilling drift dive (sense a theme?) dives here begin on the outside of the channel where you’ll fly along the wall past abundant marine life, sharks, and huge schools of fish. At the dive guide’s signal, cut right into the channel itself, where the current will quickly shoot you down a narrow cut past the world’s largest lettuce coral and much more. The dive ends when the current dies down in a sandy valley, where you might spot stingrays or the occasional passing manta.
Still sitting upright, the Fujikawa Maru is often cited as one of Chuuk’s standout sites. This cargo ship now lies between 15 to 120 feet (5 to 37 m) below the surface, making it an ideal recreational dive. This huge vessel, measuring 437 feet long (133 m) is packed full of airplane parts as well as live ammunition. If you’re certified, this wreck can be penetrated in sections, making it ideal for all levels of divers.
Another famous shipwreck in Chuuk Lagoon is the incomparable San Francisco Maru, also sitting completely upright with a bow gun, tanks, mines and trucks fully intact. This is one of Chuuk’s deepest wrecks—accessible only to tech divers—with the deck at 140 feet (42 m) and the hull at 210 feet (64 m).
If you are tech qualified, be sure to check out the two large trucks in hold No. 2 as well as other interesting artifacts in other holds, including crates, artillery shells, fuel drums, airplane engines, and aircraft bombs.
What to know about liveaboard diving in Micronesia and Palau
- Getting to Micronesia or Palau requires connections in either Guam or Hawaii. Both offer connections via United Micronesia.
- Although both Palau and Micronesia have native languages, you’ll find English widely spoken
- The currency in both Palau and Chuuk is the United States Dollar.
- Make sure that you always drink filtered water.
- Diving season in both destinations runs year-round.
- From December through April you’ll find the best conditions in Chuuk, with water temperatures from 82-84 F (28-29 C). In Palau, the best season is October through May, with similar water temperatures.
- If you’d like to combine destinations on one trip, you’ll still need to fly back to Guam to make a connecting flight.
- If you’d like to do some land-based diving on the other islands of Micronesia, check out the Island Hopper route, bookable on United Airlines from Hawaii to Guam with stops along the way.
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