Scuba diving in
El NidoHighlights
- Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, limestone cliffs and tropical jungle
- Macro critters like nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, and flamboyant cuttlefish
- Eco-conscious atmosphere with sustainable resorts and responsible dive operators
- Experience the Coral Triangle's incredible underwater biodiversity with thousands of fish and coral species
Ever dreamt of a tropical getaway complete with interesting dive sites, turquoise water, white sand beaches, and tiny islands draped in dense jungle? If so, El Nido should be at the top of your bucket list. El Nido diving is diverse enough that there's something for everyone and visitors can expect uncrowded sites, small class and group sizes, and plenty of incredible underwater wildlife in all shapes and sizes - all set against a stunning island backdrop.
Diving in El Nido
TurtlesYear round
Macro CreaturesYear round
Walls & pinnaclesYear round
Schooling reef fishYear round
DugongYear round
Known for calm waters, easy conditions and good visibility, El Nido diving is perfectly suited to beginner divers. Short boat rides to over 40 dive sites within Bacuit Bay make this area especially easy to explore, even if you aren't a fan of boat rides. And, you won't have to go deep to experience El Nido's incredible Coral Triangle biodiversity as this area is home to some of Palawan's most vibrant coral reefs, found in just a few metres of water.
El Nido diving isn’t just for beginners. This region’s sloping reefs and muck sites play host to a wide variety of pint-sized creatures. Dive El Nido's Nat Nat by day or night for a chance to spot some of Palawan's rarest macro critters including flamboyant cuttlefish, spanish dancers, and the rare mimic octopus. If you're more excited by plummeting walls, powerful currents, and big fish action, not to worry, El Nido has plenty of exciting open water sites to explore. Divers flock to famous areas like South Miniloc Island hoping to encounter massive schools of barracuda and fusiliers, plus the occasional shark patrolling the reef's edge. Sites like North Rock offer unique underwater adventures, including caverns, caves, and swim-throughs.
Diving Environment
Reefs, muck, caverns and swim-throughs
Beginner upwards
December to April
5 - 35m+
5 - 30m+
26 - 30°C
Top tips
- Visit western El Nido for rock climbing and rugged hiking trails with panoramic views of the beautiful Bacuit Bay.
- Don't miss out on El Nido's famous Nat Nat night dive, ideal for spotting the region's rarest macro critters.
- Explore the Bacuit Archipelago by boat. These stunning islands are famous for their limestone cliffs, rivalling Vietnam's Halong Bay.
- Visit between March and May if you're hoping to spot schooling barracuda, sea turtles, and vast shoals of fusiliers.
About El Nido
While some destinations in the Philippines have been on the tourist radar for years, Palawan remains relatively unexplored. For visitors, that means dozens of tiny tropical islands ringed with white sand and thriving underwater ecosystems to choose from. You won't find a total lack of tourist infrastructure here - quite the contrary. El Nido is home to some of the nicest eco-resorts in the Philippines, and there are plenty of highly professional dive centres to choose from as well. But, wander just a little bit off the beaten path, and you'll discover that the region remains mostly untouched, offering a glimpse into the real Philippines.
El Nido town is the region's hub, a vibrant hive of activity with good options for lodging, dining, and socialising. Plus, easy access to all of the outdoor activities Palawan is famous for. Just a kilometre or two out of town, you'll find access to stunning white-sand beaches, pristine coral reefs, and other adventures like hiking and rock climbing. This is also the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, home to some of the best diving in El Nido. The sites around these islands offer something for everyone, with laid back reef diving, muck and macro sites, and thrilling drifts with a chance of large passing pelagics.
Getting to El Nido
El Nido is easily reached, with daily domestic flights connecting through Boracay, Manila, and Cebu. The trip from the airport to town takes about 20 minutes by motor tricycle or cab, and you'll find plenty of options for local transport outside the airport.
El Nido can also be accessed via an overland journey from Puerto Princesa. The trip takes between five and six hours by bus or van, but makes for a fun photo-safari, passing through some of Palawan's most stunning scenic regions.
With a surprisingly large mainland and 45 smaller islands in total, getting around in El Nido often requires a variety of local transport including everything from rickshaws to speedboats. But, that's just a part of this region's laid back tropical atmosphere. Relax, enjoy the ride, and keep your camera handy. In this beautiful natural area, even the most routine taxi ride might pass by world-class scenery.
Where to stay in El Nido
El Nido municipality covers a surprisingly large geographic area, with some of Palawan's nicest resorts scattered on its remote beaches and islands. But, if diving is the focus of your trip, you'd do better to avoid long days of two wan van transfer by staying close to town.
El Nido town and Maligaya are the most popular tourist areas in El Nido. Guests here will be spoiled for choice, with a wide variety of accommodations ranging from budget-friendly hostels to 5-star luxury, and everything in between.
Many of El Nido's dive centres are found along the town's waterfront, facing the ferry terminal. These operators can often arrange discounted stays with area hotels and resorts, or offer budget-friendly lodging on-site.
El Nido diving Seasons and weather
Like the rest of Palawan, the best diving is during the dry season between December and April, when visibility and surface conditions are at their best. But, the shoulder months of May and June leading into the monsoon are also a very popular time to visit! You might have to put up with an afternoon thunderstorm or two, but you'll still enjoy excellent diving conditions and likely have El Nido's best sites all to yourself.
Between July and November, the region receives far fewer guests, making for small diving groups, uncrowded sites, and in some cases, serious discounts. But, El Nido can experience strong tropical storms and typhoons during these months, which can make trip planning a challenge.
Conservation
The El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the largest marine sanctuary in the entire Philippines and the results of decades of strong environmental protection are evident throughout the park. Spreading over 900 kilometres, this nature preserve is one of the most biodiverse areas in the country, playing host to five types of forest, three major marine habitats, and stunning biodiversity both above and below water.
El Nido is quickly becoming a hotspot for ecotourism, with sustainable accommodations and responsible operators springing up everywhere. If you're hoping to get hands-on with conservation, volunteer at one of the region's sea turtle hatcheries, approved by the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Marine Turtle Protected Area Network. Or, visit the massive coral reef restoration effort around the Tres Marias Islands.
