Diving in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

This trip to El Nido, Palawan in the Philippines was really outstanding. I was there in June 2006 for about a month.  I dived El Nido, Coron and a few other spots whilst cruising with some yachtie friends of mine.

El Nido is south of Coron up on the northwestern coast of the main Palawan Island. This area is western Philippines and has about 1,700 islands with loads of great dives that will test all levels of divers. Palawan is often called last natural frontier of the Philippines and its not hard to see why. This place has a sheer majesty to it. Its almost primordial.

There are over 50,000 hectares of designated marine waters here with lots of new artificial reefs being created every year to replace damaged ones.

Diving is usually pretty most of the year with plenty of outstanding wall and drift dives. Whats amazing is that when you surface you can be literally surrounded by huge towering limestone cliffs sometimes with bird nest climbers up 300-500 feet!

Palawan has dolphins, dugongs, turtles and a huge assortment of really colourful reef fish as well as excellent coral formations. 100 scientists have recently declared the Republic of the Philippines as the world’s ‘center of marine biodiversity’

I've also started a Scuba Diving Blog and am in the process of uploading about 15 years of stories and photos there. I think it's going to take some time but I've had some unbelievable adventures diving so I hope its worth the wait!! 

The reef restoration project by Seacology is really moving along well with funding from what is claimed to be the countrys most eco-friendly resort - El Nido Resorts Palawan. They begain installing the eco-reef installation at Tres Marias which was a former coral reef and dive site that was damaged heavily by illegal dynamite fishing near Miniloc Island just off the mainland.

"The beauty of the Philippines is second to none. It’s very fragile," observes Duane Silverstein, executive director. Dynamite fishing and other illegal methods have banged up Palawan’s coral reef, he added.

There really are a large range of dive sites in Palawan and frankly you could probably dive for a year and not do them all. Local knowledge really helps in Palawan if you want to get to the best spots. El Nido has accommodation of all types to suit tastes. Personally I stayed on the beach in a US$10 per night apartment and our divemaster barry picked us up every morning pretty early to head out for local dives

View from my hotel room in el nido

The currents were medium, the water was crystal clear most days with visibility to 20 metres easily. An average dive was costing around US$25 and it was all hassle free. Picked up literally right from my front door. best of all Barry also owned an internet cafe so I was able to work and have a few San Migs with him after the days diving. A great way to meet the locals.

There are about 20 dive sites in El Nido and at peak about 5 dive operators. Frankly I didnt dive with anyone aside form barry the time I was there because we got along really well and he always had some funny ass stories to tell.

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Scuba dive from banca boats

Getting there is not really a problem as you just fly directly in from manila or via via Puerto Princes which is the capital; of Palawan. The off season is generally from about July through to October and if there's a typhoon coming through. Batten down the hatches and take cover.

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