FAQs · Destination Guide
Karst lagoons above, coral walls below, and island-hopping days that never feel repetitive
Updated Feb 13, 2026 • 18 sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers sourced from research and local operating patterns.
For most travelers, March to May is the easiest bet: flatter seas, warmer water around 27°C to 29°C, and the best chance of 10 m to 30 m visibility. December to February is also popular because it is dry and cooler, but wind can add surface chop and visibility can be lower. From June to September, southwest monsoon patterns can bring rougher seas on the west side of Palawan, so build buffer days and expect occasional island-hopping cancellations for safety.
You have two main options. The fastest is a direct flight to El Nido Airport (ENI), which lands close to town and saves you the long overland transfer. The second option is to fly Manila to Puerto Princesa (PPS) on a larger domestic route, then continue by shared van or private transfer to El Nido over roughly 230 km (often 5 to 6 hours). If you are traveling with dive gear, compare baggage allowances and total travel time, not just ticket price.
Most visitors use shared vans that run multiple departures daily between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. The road distance is about 230 km, and the trip is often 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic and stops. Private vans cost more but are faster and more comfortable for groups and families. If you arrive late in Puerto Princesa, consider overnighting and traveling north in the morning. Night driving is possible, but it is more tiring and less forgiving in rain.
ETDF is the eco-tourism fee used to support local management and environmental programs. In practice, it is collected at the pier or tourism counters, or bundled by your tour or dive operator. Keep the paper receipt with you because it may be checked before boarding a boat. Travelers commonly report that the fee is treated as valid for multiple days (often up to about 10 days), but exact validity and discounts can change by local ordinance, so confirm the current rules when you arrive.
Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are high-demand sites, so they can involve add-on user fees and crowd controls. Many operators charge a separate lagoon environmental user fee (commonly PHP 200 per person) and may coordinate time slots or entry timing to reduce congestion. Some Tour A variants include one lagoon by default, while others treat lagoons as a premium add-on. If lagoon time is a must-have, book early, ask exactly which lagoon is included, and plan for a morning visit when water is calmer and lines are shorter.
Yes, if you pick the right sites and operator. Many Bacuit Bay dives are shallow reef and slope profiles in the 5 m to 18 m range, which suits new divers working on buoyancy and comfort. The main challenge is not depth, but conditions that can change between islands: currents in channels, surge on exposed rocks, and boat traffic. Tell your dive shop you want sheltered sites, skip strong-current objectives until you are confident, and always carry an SMB for controlled surfacing.
Water temperature is tropical but still varies. Many operators describe cooler water around 24°C to 26°C in the cooler season (roughly December to March) and warmer water around 26°C to 29°C in the rest of the year. Visibility is best in late dry season, often March to May, when it can reach 30 m on good days. In planktonier months, visibility can drop to 3 m to 10 m.
Freediving is possible, but you need to match the spot to the rules and your experience. Lagoons are busy with kayaks and snorkel groups, and access is sometimes regulated, so follow your guide and keep dives conservative. For structured progression, book a school for buoy-and-line training in calmer water. Dilumacad Tunnel is an advanced objective because the entrance is around 12 m and the swim-through is long. Attempt it only with strong safety (one-up-one-down), good equalization, and local guidance.
The simplest combo is El Nido first for lagoons, reefs, and relaxed diving, then Coron for WWII wrecks. Fast ferries connect the two, typically taking about 3.5 to 5 hours, but sailings can be canceled in rough season. If you want a more adventurous route, book a multi-day expedition boat that travels through the Linapacan islands between El Nido and Coron, with snorkel stops and beach camping. In peak months (December to April), book ferry seats, hotels, and dive packages early.
PCSSD lists an operational hyperbaric chamber in Puerto Princesa City at Ospital ng Palawan. El Nido itself has basic medical facilities, but suspected decompression sickness is time-sensitive and usually requires coordinated transfer to Puerto Princesa. If you suspect DCS, stop diving, give oxygen, hydrate, and contact your operator and emergency services immediately. Because transfer takes hours, avoid pushing dive limits and keep your surface intervals conservative on multi-dive days. Travel insurance that covers evacuation is strongly recommended for divers.