El Nido, which lies south of Coron and northwest of Palawan Island, is the last truly wild area in the Philippines. This vast area encompasses some two thousand islands and the marine reserve here covers approximately 54,000 hectares. While the area, with its white, sandy beaches is popular with all types of tourists, it is a mecca for divers from around the world. Home to an incredible variety of marine life, including dugongs, dolphins, and other rarely seen creatures, it features countless dive sites, many of which are suitable even for newer divers. Here are five of the most notable areas El Nido has to offer.
Dilumacad Island
A fantastic site located just six kilometers west of El Nido, the little island of Dilumacad is surrounded by rocky structures where coral and sponges add to the magical atmosphere. While the snorkeling and diving is great all around the island, there is one site that stands out from the rest: the Dilumacad Island Cave. With maximum depth at just 10 meters, the site is pleasant and offers splendid photo opps.
The entrance, which is located along a rock wall, is large enough for two divers to enter together. As you make your way through a 20 meter long tunnel here, watch for small sharks hiding in dark places, and keep an eye out for lobsters and cowries. Though the tunnel seems endless the first time you visit this site, it opens up into a big central cavern where crabs and small fish make their homes. To exit, you can either come back through the main tunnel, or swim single file through a second 10 meter long tunnel that will spit you out about 20 meters from the first one.
Matinloc Island
Located to the west of El Nido, Matinloc features beautiful coral, forests of sponge, and impressive rock formations. With depths from 10 to 35 meters, this area has something for everyone, and while there are several great dive sites all around the little island, a few do deserve special mention.
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Banyan Point – Located at the southern tip of Matinloc Island, Banyan Point features enormous coral encrusted rocks and is swept by a strong current that brings pelagics in droves. Watch for mackerel, jacks, trevally, tuna, and sharks, along with the occasional pod of visiting dolphins. Don’t forget to spend at least a little time checking out the smaller creatures that live among the rocks, and keep an eye out for big groupers and long, sleek moray eels.
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Inbogal Point – Featuring a sandy slope with a beautiful coral forest, this is an excellent place to find all sorts of tropical fish and other kinds of reef life. Among the gorgonians and splendid green corals, look for the rare Blue Ring Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis). It is yellow with blue stripes and a characteristic blue ring positioned slightly above and behind the eye. This is one of only two sites in the area where you can find the fish – the other is Tres Marias.
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Bikanayos Rock – An excellent place to encounter white tip reef sharks, jacks, trevally, tuna, and turtles, along with plenty of reef species, Bikanayos Rock is also known as Picanayas. With huge boulders that invite exploration, this site is ideal for photography. If you’re lucky, you will get to see big barracuda hunting baitfish!
Miniloc Island
With sites that offer exquisite lettuce corals and huge boulders covered in sponge and soft coral, it is no surprise that the dive sites along the coast of the resort island of Miniloc are so popular. There are several, but one of the best is Tagbao Island, or Tres Marias. Known for its blue ring angelfish, which can be found all along its three reefs, the site is ideal for snorkeling, and with maximum depth at just 21 meters, offers long and leisurely dives. The coral is splendid and the marine life abundant.
Biet Point
If you like night diving, or if you enjoy watching cephalopods, this is an excellent site for both activities. Home to octopus, squid, and cuttlefish, along with a wealth of nudibranchs, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and other small creatures, the site features maximum depth at just 21 meters and offers calm conditions most of the time. Beautiful fields of lettuce coral and huge rocks swathed in sponge and soft coral create an ideal backdrop for photos. Visibility here tends to be between 10 and 20 meters, and as there is plenty to see in shallow water, the site is suitable for all divers. At night, look for big Spanish dancers, and take time to look closely at the soft coral as it “blooms” to feed.
Tagbao Island
Also part of the Tres Marias triple reef system, this rocky island offers an excellent vantage point for viewing pelagics along its deeper areas, and among the reefs, it is a great place to enjoy a simple snorkel or a shallow dive. With magnificent corals and exquisite sponges creating the ideal backdrop for photos, it is great for both macro and wide angle shots, and due to the sheer number of fish and other creatures you can find at the site, Tagbao Island is the perfect place to work on your underwater videography skills. Watch for small reef sharks and be sure to keep an eye out for the turtles and dolphins that can sometimes be seen here.
At its best between October and June, El Nido is surprisingly easy to get to. You can fly in from either Manila of Puerto Princesa, skipping any of the long, bumpy Jeepny rides that are so common to most of the Philippines’ out of the way locations. There are all kinds of accommodations available, from beach huts to fine hotels, and there are several different dive operators that offer quality equipment rentals and a variety of trips to various locales including those mentioned above. If you want to see a specific site, be sure to check availability in advance. Space is limited, so planning ahead is crucial.