Palawan Travel Report

This is a short Palawan travel report from a dive trip to El Nido.

Date of Visit: March 2017

Introduction

Looking like a swimming pool, this was the first dive site for our day of diving.

Recently I flew to the Philippine island of Palawan to do some diving and snorkeling in the stunningly beautiful turquoise waters which surround the town of El Nido.

Getting There

Philippines

Getting to Palawan is very easy, thanks to frequent air connections from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Philippines Air Asia.

These airlines fly multiple times a day into Puerto Princesa airport, which is located downtown in the provincial capital of the same name. At the time of my visit, a big, new, modern terminal was under construction.

One thing that surprised me about Palawan is just how long the island is – stretching 450 km between the islands of Mindoro (to the north) and Borneo (to the south).

Reaching El Nido (250 km to the north of Puerto Princesa) required a 5 hour mini-bus transfer. There are lots of private operators running buses along the route so competition is fierce. Buses run often and a ticket will cost you no more than 600 peso’s (US$12).

Accommodation

El Nido

The once sleepy fishing village of El Nido is today one busy tourist town.

Rampant development has converted this seaside hamlet into one big backpacker hostel with a few upmarket ‘flashpacker’ places in between.

The streets of El Nido are packed with guest houses and I had no problem securing a room as a ‘walk in’.

Puerto Princesa

If you wish to overnight in Puerto Princesa, you are spoilt for choice.

I stayed at the newly opened, immaculately clean, well-run and very friendly Casa Belina. The hotel provides free airport transfers if requested.

El Nido

Snorkelling

There are many operators in El Nido selling the same four island hopping/ snorkeling packages – package A, B, C & D.

You can view the different packages here.

On our way to our first snorkeling spot for the day.

Due to a lot of competition prices are kept low, with a typical day out costing just P1,200 (US$24).

Approaching ‘Helicopter’ island, our first snorkeling stop for the day.

Included in this are boat transfers around the islands of the national park, drinking water, lunch and snorkeling equipment.

Approaching another idyllic beach where we would break for lunch.

Another stunning snorkeling spot near El Nido.

The sheer, limestone uprisings of the El Nido National park provide a dramatic backdrop to turquoise bays.

Diving

If you wish to dive, you’ll find a good choice of dive shops along the main street adjacent to the beach.

I chose to dive with Palawan Divers who offered three dives (including boat transfers, all equipment and a buffet lunch) for under US$100.

We also had a professional underwater photographer join us for the day so I’ve been able to include some images from the dives below.

Me, descending into the turquoise depths of El Nido Bay on my first dive for the day.

The waters around El Nido are part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area – the largest marine sanctuary in the Philippines.

All A-OK on my dive at El Nido.

Divers & snorkelers are required to pay P200 (US$4) to enter the waters of the marine park but are rewarded with an abundance of marine life and a vast array of corals.

The following file photos have kindly been provided by Palawan Divers.

A beautiful Clown fish at El Nido.

A highlight of the day was swimming over a huge field of cabbage corals at South Miniloc. This coral garden was first discovered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970’s. The fields are home to large schools of yellow snapper.

Yellow Snapper at South Miniloc.

As a marine protected area, the reserve counts 447 species of coral, 5 species of marine turtles, 888 species of fish and 1700 species of crustaceans – in other words – it’s a diver’s dream!