DayDream

Located in Malakal, between the Koror fishing pier and the ranger office, DayDream Palau has been a fixture of the local diving community since 1994. The centre is designed to cater to both divers looking for structured day trips and those seeking the immersion of a liveaboard experience.

For those choosing the day trip option, the centre provides hotel transfers and operates out of Malakal, using a fleet of boats to reach the area's diverse dive sites. For a more extended experience, the Ryoma I catamaran serves as a floating base, allowing you to reach remote reefs and dive during the night.

The team at DayDream brings decades of experience to the water, with a particular focus on the history and structure of the Second World War wrecks scattered around the archipelago. Since 2015, they have conducted extensive research to enhance their wreck diving programmes, offering divers a deeper understanding of the vessels they explore.

Services are provided in both English and Japanese. The centre's approach combines long-standing local expertise with a meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every dive—from a shallow reef flat to a deep wreck penetration—is handled with professional care.

DayDream Palau offers the Nitrox Specialty course for divers looking to extend their bottom time and manage decompression limits more effectively. The course includes the necessary training and equipment to become proficient with enriched air diving.

The Ryoma I is a 33-metre catamaran that serves as the centre's liveaboard vessel. It features nine cabins, including three deluxe cabins with private bathrooms and six standard cabins with shared facilities. On board, you will find a Japanese-style tatami lounge, a sun deck with loungers, and a rooftop jacuzzi. Meals are prepared by a Japanese chef and served buffet-style, and the boat is equipped with freshwater showers and toilets.

For day trips, the fleet includes three speedboats—DD6, DD7, and SUZU1—as well as the Ryoma I. These vessels are equipped with showers and toilets to ensure comfort between dives. Day trips typically include three dives per day, with the option to add a fourth dive.

The centre offers a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, and snorkels. Divers can also hire dive computers, with options to rent a complete kit or specific items like a BCD or regulator alone. For safety and site-specific needs, SMBs/surface marker buoys and current hooks are available.

Nitrox is available for use, and the Ryoma I provides Nitrox fills as part of the liveaboard experience. All day trips depart at scheduled times, with hotel transfers included for those booking the day trip packages.

The marine life in Palau is highly seasonal. You can expect to see Manta schools in December, and Mantas are also frequently found in the German Channel during February. Blue trevally and Moorish idols appear in February, while Giant trevally are present in June and July. For those interested in spawning events, Red Spanners spawn in September, December, and March, Bumphead Parrotfish in October and June, and Blue lined Sea breams in March and April.

Other notable sightings include Red snappers in April, Golden spadefish in April, and Camouflage grouper during night dives in June.

On the reefs and walls, the environment is rich with various corals and sponges that provide habitat for a vast array of fish. The wreck sites are often colonised by diverse marine life, making them excellent locations for both pelagic sightings and macro photography.

Divers should be prepared for varying conditions, as currents can become quite strong, particularly at the more advanced dive sites and channels. Night diving is also a regular part of the programme, offering a different perspective on the local ecosystem.

Water temperatures remain warm throughout the year, typically staying between 28 and 29 degrees Celsius.