Scuba diving in
PalawanDiving Highlights
Palawan is one of the most famous diving destinations in the Philippines, and for a good reason. This diverse region is home to nearly every kind of diving imaginable, ranging from mild to wild. And, it's just as spectacular above water as it is below. The province is home to thousands of remote islands ringed with white sand, and lush tropical jungles with a surreal backdrop of karst limestone cliffs peeking through the deep green. Palawan's hub, Puerto Princesa, is one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities in the Philippines and makes a great jumping-off point for exploring the area.
Below water, Palawan is a diver's dream. This massive region boasts incredible Coral Triangle biodiversity, excellent visibility, and endless opportunities for speciality dives. Fascinating macro wildlife, caverns and swim-throughs, and lovely fringing reefs await in Puerto Princesa and El Nido. A sunken fleet of Japanese WWII shipwrecks draws tech divers from all over the world to Coron. And, the remote waters of Tubbataha play host to some of the Philippines most impressive walls, complete with powerful open ocean currents, busy cleaning stations, and plenty of passing pelagics.
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Top Palawan experiences
Exploring the wrecks of Coron
This easy to reach diving destination boasts some of the Philippines most impressive wreck diving. Well-preserved Japanese military vessels at a variety of depths provide exceptional opportunities for both recreational and technical exploration.
Dive remote and pristine reefs of Tubbataha
UNESCO-listed Tubbataha Reef National Park is home to the most exciting dive sites in Palawan, and just a handful of visiting divers during the short liveaboard season.
Palawan dive seasons and weather
Palawan is best dived during the dry season running from December through June when visibility and conditions are at their best. But, this is a massive diving region with nearly 1,800 islands in the province, and some areas do have brief and specific diving seasons.
Coron - December to March
Visibility around the famous shipwrecks of Coron is generally low. But, between December and March, it can reach up to 15 metres. This makes for better underwater photography and a more comfortable experience for new wreck divers.
Tubbataha - March to June
This region is accessible by liveaboard only, and the park opens to tourists for just four short months. While this might make trip planning a bit of a challenge, it's well worth your extra effort. These reefs are among the most pristine and well preserved in the Philippines.
