The Rock Islands is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Palau, just south of Koror.

Understand

Snorkling with jellyfish in the Jellyfish Lake, jellyfish no longer present as of 2023

The Rock Islands were listed as a mixed world heritage site in 2012. They constitute an archipelago of about 300 practically uninhabited islands (in 2014 they had a population of 6) and one of Palau's finest diving destinations.

Landscape

The archipelago is a coral reef partially sticking up from the ocean covering an area of about 100 km². The islands have the appearance of limestone peaks or hilly forested islands with many lakes, the most famous of which is the Medusa/Jellyfish Lake. There's a coral reef south of the archipelago made up of 385 different species of coral, also part of the world heritage site.

Get in

Diving operators are based in Koror; see Koror § Diving for details.

Fees and permits

Rock Island Use Permit is 50 USD per person. If you also want to go to Jellyfish Lake it is 100 USD. Permits are good for 10 days. Fishing permits may also be available.

The permits may be paid for at the Koror State capitol building Finance Office in Ngerbeched or the Finance Field Office Rangers Station on Malakal Island.

See and Do

• 1 Dolphins Pacific. The world's largest dolphin research facility, is open for tourists who are interested in swimming and interacting with trained dolphins. (updated Mar 2021) May be closed.

• 1 Jellyfish Lake (Medusa Lake, Ongeim'l Tketau (Fifth lake)) (Eil Malk island). A brackish lake formerly connected to the ocean through a passage. The lake was home to an abundance of jellyfish that has been able to proliferate without predators. As of April 2023 very few jellyfish remain and it has supposedly been like this for a couple of years. (updated Apr 2023)

• 2 Big Drop-off. A scuba diving hotspot. (updated Apr 2021)

• 3 Ngercheu Island. The island has a white sand beach, bordered by coconut palms. (updated Apr 2021)

• 4 Blue Corner. Another good place for diving despite strong currents. Good chance of seeing sharks. (updated Apr 2021)

Eat

There is food and drink available at Carp Island Resort. Otherwise it is whatever you have brought with you. Or for those who have fishing permits, what you manage to catch.

Sleep

Lodging

There is a resort on Carp Island.

Camping

All campsites have outhouses. Certain campsites have collected rain water with unclear safety to drink.

• Peninsula Camp
• Ngchus Campsite (southernmost end of Ngeruktabel Island): shelter
• Euidelchol Island: Busy
• Ngermaeus Island
• Ulong Island: Survivor Beach, Turtle Cove
• Giant Clam Beach Campsite
• Ngermdu Beach
• Blue Devil (Lee Marvin) Beach
• Long Beach

Stay safe

The sun is a serious concern. Reef safe sunscreen is required for Palau but that found locally only goes up to SPF 30. If your in the water; however, this will not be enough. One should try to stay basically fully covered between 9 am and 3 pm with a full brimmed hat. For those paddling gloves may be useful to protect the backs of your hands and paddling shoes will be required to protect the tops of your feet.

Fresh water is not found among the Rock Islands and all water must be brought in with you. The roof water collectors have fallen into disrepair as of 2023 and are no longer available as an emergency supply. One may be able to get water from the rangers at the Jelly Fish lake dock.

Go next

There are two options; back to Koror or south to the islands of Peleliu, Angaur, and a few hundred kilometers to the southwest, the remote Sonsorol Islands.