Living fossils. Chambered-shell cousins of squids and octopus — and they've looked the same for 500 million years.
Nautilus are the only cephalopods that retained their external shell — a spiral chambered structure they grow new chambers into as they age, using gas inside the chambers for buoyancy control. Their lineage is 500 million years old, virtually unchanged since the Cambrian.
By day they rest at 300–700 metres depth; at night they migrate up to 100–200 m to feed. Palau is the world's only reliable diver-accessible nautilus encounter — operators set baited traps at 100 m and bring them up to recreational depth for observation, then release.
Listed Endangered, with the shell trade driving population decline. Diving Palau supports the scientific monitoring programs.
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This species hasn't been logged at any of our partner sites yet — destination + season data will appear here once we've confirmed a reliable spot.
We're still curating destinations where this species can be reliably encountered. Check back soon, or chat with us for a custom itinerary.
Real, curated expeditions — or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter nautilus.
Browse our curated, small-group dive trips — fixed dates, vetted partner operators, zero agency fee. Or tell us your dates and we'll build a custom trip around the best season and destinations to encounter nautilus.
Tell us when you can travel and your certification level — we'll match the right destination, the right season, and the right trip for diving with nautilus.
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