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Boat entry

The Big Drop Off

Palau
Boat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

The Big Drop Off at a glance

The Big Drop Off is a boat dive site in Palau. Typically most favorable Jun · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Hawksbill turtle, Humphead Wrasse, and Blacktip Shark. Recent reports put the water around 30°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:44

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 8 h ago
0.9 m (2.9 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 30°C · seasonal avg 30°C ( · Forecast 85°F · seasonal avg 86°F)

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Fri
Mon6:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Tue6:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 7 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Wed6:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 6 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Thu6:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 3 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Fri6:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 3 kn wind (1.7 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Sat6:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 7 kn wind (2.1 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Sun6:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.3 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 5:28 · Sunrise 5:49 · Sunset 17:44 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.3 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 02:19 GMT+9

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near The Big Drop Off

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Humphead Wrasse, Blacktip Shark, Mulá

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 26% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  2. February, 21% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  3. March, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  4. April, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  5. May, 88% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 68% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  8. August, 81% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  9. September, 73% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  11. November, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  12. December, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots

June has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

  • Blacktip Shark recorded here Nov (3 records)

    Carcharhinus limbatusmost recent 2016

  • Mulá recorded here Nov (3 records)

    Acanthocybium solandrimost recent 2016

  • Humphead Wrasse recorded here Nov (2 records)

    Cheilinus undulatusmost recent 2016

  • Red Bigeye recorded here Nov (2 records)

    Priacanthus macracanthusmost recent 2016

  • Steephead Parrotfish recorded here Nov (2 records)

    Chlorurus microrhinosmost recent 2016

  • Hawksbill turtle recorded here Nov (1 record)

    Eretmochelys imbricatamost recent 2016

  • Longtail Tuna recorded here Nov (1 record)

    Thunnus tonggolmost recent 2016

Newest record here: 2016. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

The Big Drop Off is a dive site in Palau. The site is reached by boat.

No hazards recorded for this site yet — that never means there are none. Ask a local operator before you dive.

Reviews

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