Koror, Rock Islands dive sites

No cave diving certification is required. Chandelier Cave is classified as a cavern dive because natural light is present at the entrance and divers can surface in air pockets in each chamber. The maximum depth is only about 12 metres and the passages are wide and easy to navigate. Open Water certification is sufficient, though comfort with enclosed spaces and good buoyancy control are important. All dives are guided by Palau dive operators who know the cave system intimately.

The cave system consists of five interconnected chambers, each containing an air-filled dome where divers can surface and view the stalactite formations. The chambers are connected by short swim-throughs at shallow depth. Most dive tours visit three to four chambers during a single dive, spending time in each air pocket to marvel at the geological formations. The fifth chamber is sometimes skipped due to a narrower entrance passage.

Chandelier Cave is diveable year-round as it is sheltered within the Rock Islands. The dry season from October to May generally offers the best overall diving conditions in Palau. Visibility inside the cave depends more on diver technique than seasonal conditions. The cave is often dived as a third dive of the day or during surface intervals between reef dives, as its shallow depth and calm conditions provide a relaxing contrast to Palau's more demanding current-swept sites.