CRRF's current, 2400 square foot, research laboratory was built in 1996 on Malakal Island in Koror, Palau, adjacent to the water with its own sea wall and floating dock. It is the base for research projects of both resident staff and visiting scientists. The laboratory includes a "guest lab" for visiting researchers, additional work space with scientific instrumentation, an invertebrate reference collection, library and conference room, and office space with essential telecommunications.

CRRF has three outboard boats, ranging from 7 meter hull with 140 horse-power (HP) engine to 9 meter hull with twin 85 HP engines, for work both inside and outside Palau's barrier reef. The boats are immediately accessible, at the floating dock outside the lab.

CRRF has all the equipment necessary for basic field work, including, compound and dissecting microscopes with fiber optic light sources and attached video camera, analytical balances, drying oven, sieves and sieve shaker, field Oxygen-Salinity-Temperature meter, pH meter, underwater light meter, fume hood and various other laboratory supplies.