Shark City is a must-visit dive site for advanced scuba divers who are seeking an adrenaline-packed diving experience. With its stunning reef formations, diverse marine life, and unpredictable currents, this dive site offers a unique challenge and a thrilling adventure. However, it is essential to take all necessary safety precautions and follow the instructions of your dive guide to ensure a safe and enjoyable diving experience.
🏊♂️ Palau Dive Sites
Discover the underwater paradise of Palau
Shark City
Palau's original shark diving paradise
📍 Location
West of Koror, southwest of Ulong Island
🚤 Distance
23 miles (37 km) from Koror
⏱️ Travel Time
40-50 minutes by speedboat
🌊 Experience Level
Intermediate+
About Shark City
Shark City represents one of Palau's most legendary dive sites - a vast underwater wilderness that served as the premier shark diving destination before Blue Corner gained popularity. This expansive area offers 3-4 independent dive sites along a finger-shaped reef that stretches westward, marking the furthest point of the Palau Islands before 900 miles of open ocean to the Philippines.
Reef Formation
This remarkable reef system combines every type of underwater formation imaginable: sheer walls, dramatic canyons, and action-filled corners. Running from east to west before curving south to create a spectacular corner with a deep plateau, the reef continuously changes from moderate slopes to vertical walls. These walls and slopes drop to 120-150 feet before merging with sandy runoff areas, creating diverse habitats for marine life.
⚠️ CRITICAL SAFETY NOTICE
Strong currents can carry divers toward the open sea, and big swells can hide you from the boat. Always carry a safety marker buoy to help the boat driver locate you. This is essential safety equipment at Shark City due to the exposed location and unpredictable conditions.
🏔️ Ultimate Reef Diversity
Shark City showcases incredible geological diversity with formations ranging from gentle slopes to vertical walls, deep canyons cutting through the reef, and dramatic corners where currents concentrate marine life. This variety creates multiple distinct diving experiences within a single site.
🌊 Last Reef Before the Philippines
Standing at the westernmost point of Palau, Shark City marks the edge of the Pacific - the last reef before 900 miles of open ocean stretching to the Philippines. This exposed position creates the dynamic conditions that attract incredible marine life.
Diving Depths & Visibility
🏊♂️ 20 feet (6 m)
Canyon start point - "Hammerhead Point"
🔍 55 feet (18 m)
Eastern reef start depth
⬇️ 60-80 feet (20-27 m)
Optimal exploration depth along wall
🌊 90 feet (30 m)
Corner depth with deep plateau
🏔️ 120-150 feet (40-50 m)
Wall base before sandy runoff
⬇️ 200 feet (70 m)
Deep canyon maximum depth
👁️ Visibility Conditions
Range: 50-150 feet (17-50 m)
Tidal Influence: Visibility depends on tide conditions
Best Conditions: Clear blue water during incoming tides
📏 Deep Diving Profile
Shark City offers relatively deep diving with the reef starting at 55 feet on the eastern approach and dropping to 150+ feet. The deep profile requires careful depth management and nitrogen monitoring for safe diving.
🌊 Tidal Visibility Patterns
Visibility varies significantly with tidal conditions. Incoming tides typically bring clearer blue water, while outgoing tides may reduce visibility. Plan diving times based on tide charts for optimal conditions.
🏔️ Multiple Depth Zones
The variety of depths from 20 feet at the canyon start to 200+ feet in the deep canyon allows for diverse diving experiences and multi-level profiles. The 70-80 feet plateau hosts beautiful lettuce coral patches.
Current Management & Safety
🌊 UNPREDICTABLE STRONG CURRENTS
Currents at Shark City are unpredictable and can be very strong. The exposed westernmost position creates challenging conditions that can carry divers toward open ocean. Advanced current management skills are essential.
💨 Current Characteristics
Strength: Unpredictable, can be very strong
Direction: Variable based on tides and weather
Open Ocean Risk: Can carry divers toward Philippines
Experience Required: Intermediate to advanced depending on conditions
🚨 Essential Safety Equipment
Always carry a safety marker buoy (SMB) or signal tube. Big swells can hide divers from the boat, making surface signaling devices critical for safe pickup. This is not optional equipment at Shark City.
🎯 Current-Dependent Planning
Dive guides will choose starting points from two white mooring buoys or other locations along the wall based on current assessment. Flexible planning is essential as each dive offers completely different sections of the reef system.
🌊 Reference Points
Two white mooring buoys mark the northern part of the site and provide important reference points for navigation. These buoys help dive guides plan routes and provide emergency reference points if needed.
⚠️ Open Ocean Exposure
As the westernmost reef in Palau, Shark City faces 900 miles of open Pacific Ocean. This exposure creates the dramatic conditions that attract marine life but also presents unique safety challenges requiring careful planning and preparation.
Legendary Shark Encounters
Shark City lives up to its name with incredible shark populations and diverse marine life. The site's exposed position and strong currents create ideal conditions for pelagic encounters, making it one of Palau's premier shark diving destinations.
🦈 Gray Reef Sharks
Many gray reef sharks patrolling walls and gliding through corners
🔨 Hammerhead Sharks
Schools of great hammerheads at "Hammerhead Point" canyon
🐟 Massive Schools
Large schools of silver barracudas, snappers, and unicorn fish
🌈 Tropical Clouds
Pyramid butterflyfish, Square Anthias, Moorish Idols, Sergeant Majors
🦅 Eagle Rays
Spotted eagle rays frequently seen along the reef system
🐠 Napoleon Wrasse
Large Napoleon wrasse regular residents of the reef
🌿 Lettuce Corals
Large healthy patches of lettuce corals on 70-80 feet plateau
🐟 Yellowtail Schools
Yellowtail fusiliers creating massive feeding aggregations
🔨 Hammerhead Point
In recent years, the deep canyon has been nicknamed "Hammerhead Point" due to continuous encounters with schools of great hammerheads. This dark blue strip cutting the reef vertically from 20 to 200 feet has become legendary for hammerhead sightings.
🌊 Current-Driven Aggregations
The strong currents and exposed position create perfect conditions for large marine life aggregations. Schools of barracudas and snappers patrol the plateau and upper wall areas, while sharks concentrate around the corners and canyon systems.
🏔️ Plateau Marine Life
The deep plateau at 70-80 feet hosts large patches of healthy lettuce corals and serves as a gathering point for massive schools of silver barracudas and snappers. This area provides excellent wide-angle photography opportunities.
🦈 Original Shark Capital
Before Blue Corner gained popularity, Shark City was Palau's prime spot for shark diving. The site still maintains incredible shark populations with gray reef sharks, hammerheads, and occasional visits from other large pelagic species.
Dynamic Diving Routes
Shark City offers multiple diving routes that change based on current conditions. Each dive provides completely different experiences as dive guides select optimal paths through this vast reef system.
🧭 East to West Route
📍 Eastern Approach
Start: East of northern buoy
Depth: 60-80 feet (20-27 m)
Direction: Keep reef to your left
Profile: Relatively deep dive starting at 55 feet
Destination: Corner at 90 feet (30 m)
Challenge: Gets deeper before reaching corner
🧭 South to North Route
📍 Canyon Approach - "Hammerhead Point"
Start: Dark blue canyon strip
Depth Range: 20-200 feet (6-70 m)
Direction: Follow wall north, reef to your right
Special Feature: Vertical canyon cut through reef
Marine Life: Rich with hammerhead encounters
Flexibility: Long swim - can ascend anywhere
🎯 Current-Based Planning
Dive guides assess current conditions and choose between two white mooring buoys or alternative entry points along the wall. This flexible approach ensures optimal diving conditions and safety while maximizing marine life encounters.
🔍 Multi-Site Exploration
With 3-4 independent dive sites within Shark City, each visit can explore different sections of this vast reef system. The finger-shaped reef provides numerous exploration opportunities along walls, through canyons, and around dramatic corners.
🦈 Hammerhead Canyon Strategy
Identification: Look for dark blue water strip marking the canyon
Depth Management: Canyon cuts vertically from 20-200 feet
Positioning: Best hammerhead viewing in canyon area
Safety: Monitor depth carefully due to dramatic profile
🎯 Why Shark City is Special
- Original shark diving capital of Palau
- 3-4 independent dive sites in one area
- Westernmost reef before 900 miles of open ocean
- Every reef formation type: walls, canyons, corners
- Famous "Hammerhead Point" canyon encounters
- Massive schools of barracudas and snappers
- Two reference mooring buoys for navigation
- Dynamic conditions creating different experiences each dive
🌊 Advanced Diving Adventure
Shark City represents the ultimate advanced diving experience - a vast underwater wilderness where strong currents, dramatic topography, and incredible marine life create unforgettable encounters. Each dive is a unique adventure in one of Palau's most legendary locations.
Historical Significance & Fascinating Facts
Shark City holds a special place in Palau's diving history as the original premier shark diving destination, earning its legendary status through decades of incredible encounters and groundbreaking underwater exploration.
📰 Birth of a Legend
Shark City was named in the early 1980s after an article in Skin Diver Magazine highlighted this incredible shark diving destination. The name immediately captured the imagination of divers worldwide and established Palau as a premier shark diving destination.
🦈 Pre-Blue Corner Era
Before Blue Corner gained international popularity, Shark City was Palau's prime spot for shark diving. Advanced divers from around the world made pilgrimages to this remote western reef to experience what was then considered the ultimate shark encounter in the Pacific.
🌊 Geographic Significance
Shark City marks the westernmost point of the Palau Islands - the last reef before 900 miles of open Pacific Ocean stretching to the Philippines. This dramatic geographic position creates the unique oceanic conditions that attract such incredible marine life diversity.
🔨 Hammerhead Point Evolution
In recent years, the deep canyon has earned the nickname "Hammerhead Point" due to continuous encounters with schools of great hammerheads. This evolution shows how Shark City continues to surprise and delight divers with new discoveries.
📖 Skin Diver Magazine Legacy
The Skin Diver Magazine article that gave Shark City its name helped establish Palau on the world diving map. This early recognition brought international attention to Palau's incredible marine biodiversity and helped develop the modern diving tourism industry.
🏆 "One of the Best Dives in Palau"
Shark City is widely recognized as one of the best wall and drift dives in Palau. Despite increased competition from newer dive sites, it maintains its legendary status among experienced divers who appreciate its raw, untamed oceanic character and incredible marine life diversity.
🌟 Living Legend
Shark City definitely stands by its name - decades after its naming, it continues to deliver world-class shark encounters that justify its legendary reputation. The site represents the pioneering spirit of Palau diving when adventurous divers first discovered these incredible underwater treasures.
📍 Remote Wilderness Experience
Unlike some of Palau's more accessible sites, Shark City maintains its character as a remote underwater wilderness. The journey to the westernmost reef, combined with challenging conditions, ensures that every dive here feels like a true oceanic adventure.