Turtle Cove
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Turtle Cove is a wall and cavern site in Palau, dived at 17 to 30 m and deeper, with visibility of 20 to 30 m and mild to moderate current. A reef hook is recommended and Advanced Open Water certification is advised.
The dive begins with a vertical descent through a skylit cavern, where the sun streams down as shafts of light. Outside the cove, manta rays and eagle rays sometimes glide by. The wall hides macro life in its corals, including shrimps, crabs and colourful nudibranchs. On the shallow plateau, where reef hooks are often used, turtles rest and reef sharks patrol. Take care during triggerfish nesting season and keep your distance.
A shelf about 1 m deep holds blennies and small reef fish, and whitetip and grey reef sharks are regular visitors.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
Grey Reef SharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosReported here · unconfirmed
Pinktail TriggerfishMelichthys viduaReported here · unconfirmed
Orangefin AnemonefishAmphiprion chrysopterusReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
Saddle ButterflyfishChaetodon ephippiumReported here · unconfirmed
Midnight SnapperMacolor macularisReported here · unconfirmed
Candycane DwarfgobyTrimma canaReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillumReported here · unconfirmed
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutusReported here · unconfirmed
Pyramid ButterflyfishHemitaurichthys polylepisReported here · unconfirmed
NudibranchNudibranchConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
SweetlipsSweetlipsReported here · unconfirmed
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusObserved near here · iNaturalist
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricataObserved near here · iNaturalist
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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