Jellyfish Lake

According to ongoing monitoring by the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF), jellyfish populations are currently rising following losses caused by the 2016 drought in Palau. Similar conditions occurred in 1998, decimating jellyfish populations but allowing them to fully recover once conditions returned to normal.

The unique ecosystems found inside these marine lakes across the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (RISL) constituted a significant reason for the RISL being designated as a World Heritage Site. Some may be perplexed as to why the well-known Jellyfish Lake is not listed among Palau's greatest diving locations.

There are several reasons for this, the most prominent of which being the fact that it is not a dive site. Only snorkeling is permitted to protect the lake's sensitive environment, which has been severely disrupted by the recent drought, which has resulted in the extinction of the majority of the jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake. It is currently fully closed to visitor travel till further notice.