21 miles from Sam’s
Anchor anywhere with safe swinging room in 15-24 metres on sand. The Wonder Channel is the cul-de-sac in north of Eil Malk or The Mercherchar Island group. It’s another great spot to hang out, especially in foul weather.
Many of the liveaboard dive operators have their most trusted moorings inside here. This is the same group of islands as the Jellyfish Lake tourists are allowed to visit, so to anchor here cuts your travel time to visit this amazing spot.
This island is part of the Rock Islands group, which are mostly uninhabited, in Palau’s Southern Lagoon between Koror and Peleliu.
Millions of non-stinging golden jellyfish migrate across the lake daily following the sun. This is because they derive part of their nutrition from symbiotic algae (Zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues and require direct sunlight to become food for the jellyfish. The isolated lake was formed some 12,000 years ago trapping them inside to evolve and adapt in a no-food environment, although the lake is oxygenated and renewed by the tide through subterranean limestone fissures and tunnels connected to the ocean outside.
Snorkelling is a popular activity for Palau tourists and several operators in Koror offer daily trips to the lake. It is a 45-minute speedboat ride from Koror followed by a 10-minute walk from the jetty access up and over a jungle hill.
Scuba diving is forbidden because bubbles can harm the fragile jellies and the anoxic layer begins at around 15 metres, with high concentrations of deadly hydrogen sulphide, which can be absorbed through the skin. Although there are more than 50 lakes in the Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake is the only one currently open to tourists.
