Considered one of the Philippines' last frontiers, Palawan is a sanctuary for several endangered underwater species-manta rays, giant sea turtles, and the sea cow, locally known as dugong. Its capital city, Puerto Princesa, lies southwest from Manila and is 55 minutes away by jet.

MIDEAST PALAWAN (Honda Bay Area)
The entire area is studded with coral patches up to 18 meters across, interspersed with sand patches. Depths vary from submerged reefs close to the surface down to 24 meters. There are plenty of small reef fish, parrot fish, snappers, garoupas and sometimes crayfish. Because the area is inconsistent, a compass is necessary.

Pandan Island The area is a cluster of submerged reefs about 6 kilometers west of Pandan, the tios of are about 3 to 4 meters deep, with slopes running down to around 24 meters. Red garoupas as well as snappers abound. Hard and soft corals are good near small drop-offs.

Panglima Reef The reef lies about 6 meters below the surface and may be difficult to find without the help of a local boatman. It is punctuated with coral boulders and visibility is around 24 meters at best. There are schools of surgeon fish, fusiliers and small barracuda. Gray reef sharks visit the area.

NORTHWEST OF PALAWAN
Nangalao Island/Kabulauan Island Good corals abound on the entire northern face of these islands. The sea bed slopes gently to 9 meters and drops to around 30 meters. Plenty of small reef fish can be seen in the shallows. Deeper, there are big jacks, garoupas and clouds of fusiliers. Visibility is still good at 30 meters.

Salimbubuk Island/ Solitario Rock/Kanaron Island All three spots are similar to Nangalao and Kabulauan Islands, but around Solitario and Kanaron, there are more fish and corals. Main attractions, aside from the profusion of fish, are blacktip sharks.

Hart Reef This site may be difficult to locate without the aid of an experienced boatman. The surface in open water and visibility is in the 30-meter range. The reef slopes approximately 30 meters and ends in sand. Jacks, garoupas, wrasses and small white-tip sharks swim across the top of the reef during the night. Most good diving can be done at 18 meters or less.

Cadlao Island/Tapiutan Island /Matinloc Island From the surface, these islands have a similarity to Norway's northern fjord-style land masses with sheer walls. Underwater, the islands have undercuts caused by wave action at the base of the cliffs and deep crevices in the undercuts. The green turtles here visit the shallows, making snorkelling excellent. There are also big garoupas, wrasses, parrot fish and white-tip sharks. Visibility is usually around 30 meters.

CUYO ISLANDS
Gasong Rock/Gasong Dangers The area lies between Cuyo and Canipo Islands. Depths are irregular though the bottom is rarely more than 20 meters. Gosong Rock lies north of the Dangers. The waters around the rock feature coral mounds on which thrive different types of reef fish. Schools of snappers, barracuda, emperor angelfish, surgeonfish and medium-sized gray and white-tip sharks are common. Visibility improves considerably with depth.

Baralin Island-North Bararin is noted for shoaling Spanish mackerel. Surgeonfish, jacks, gray sharks and crayfish are also seen regularly in the area. It is a good shelling area where divers can see a wide range of cowries, cones and spider conches. In shallower water, large boulders make snorkeling interesting. There are many crevices to explore around the island.

Cuyo Island-North At this site can be found the wreck of an American LST that went down following the battle for Mindoro during World War II. After it was hit off San Jose, the vessel was brought by its crew to Cuyo. It later slipped into deeper water with its bow ramp open. Live ammunition has been found around the wreck so caution is required. Visibility is approximately 18 meters.

Canipo Island-West and South Large coral mounds are found close to the island in this shallow dive area, with gullies featured on the gentle slope from shore. A variety of shells can be seen around the island. Small reef fish are plentiful, along with modest-sized garoupa. Snorkelers will find the area particularly interesting, with gray sharks as common sights in the shallows.

Tagauayan Island-Northwest, West and South/Cocoro Island Good coral varieties are found close to shore down to around 15 meters, after which these become less plentiful, finally disappearing at approximately 20 meters.

BUSUANGA ISLAND
Conception Wreck Just off the Concepcion Pearl Farm lies the wreck of a Japanese cargo ship sunk by American submarines during World War II. The cargo ship was on its way to Leyte Gulf from Japan, laden with war materials for the beleaguered Japanese forces during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Some of the portions are still intact although the valuable fittings have been salvaged. Its location and the fact that the main decks only 9 meters deep make the wreck an interesting divesite. The wreck is host to an amazing number of fish.

Northwest Rock/Sail Rock/Kalatoko locks All three are prominent landmarks with a dense fish population, including big jacks, fusiliers, barracudas, Spanish mackerels and small, black and whitetip sharks. There are a few small reef fish. The short drop-offs end at around 4.5 to 8 meters deep, with slopes studded with coral patches running down to around 18 to 28 meters. Kalotoko is reportedly a good area for shark observation.

Pinnacle Rock The base of the rock site is about 4.5 to 6 meters. There is little variety of coral with only small patches in most places. The site is overrun with fish-fusiliers, surgeon fish small garoupas, snappers, small reef fish are all here, and colonies of crayfish have been seen on various occasions. White-tip sharks up to 2 meters long also visit the area. There is good snorkelling in the shallows.

Dumumpalit Island This 90-meter-high island site on a reef extends northeast and southwest, with the latter offering the best diving. The bottom slopes gently from the shoreline to 24 meters and the slope is covered by a whitish-pink soft coral garden. Visibility is usually around 30 meters.

Brown Rock More appropriately called Butulan Rocks, these two barren, brown-colored rocks are 50 meters high and are easily identified. The eastern and western sides of the southern rock make interesting dives with a good coral garden on the western side. Parrot fish are common and hammerhead sharks measuring up to 2.5 meters long have been seen.

Framjee Bank/Magallanes Bank An experienced boatman is needed to locate these sites which lie beneath the surface with no convenient navigational landmarks close by. The shallowest sections are in about 6 meters of water, with gradual slopes leading off to infinity. The areas are known for big pelagic fish and sharks. When currents are running, there are big bonito and tuna.

TUBBATAHA REEFS Jessie Beazley Reef Gradual slopes are rich in corals. There is also a drop-off which is undercut, giving the reef the overall shape of a mushroom. Shark sighting is guaranteed on any dive, with barracuda and Spanish mackerel as common visitors. Currents in the area can change direction within minutes.

North Rocks Expert back-up both above and under water is required. A slope runs to 15 meters ending in a wall which seemingly has no base due to its depth. Big snappers and grunts that do not seem to favor the southern reef can be seen around the North Rock. Sharks are a common sight but pelagic fish might not be plentiful as elsewhere in Tubbataha. The corals are good, particularly to the northeast of the site.

North Reef- East A favorable anchorage for visiting dive boats, this area has a short slope that runs to around 8 meters. Corals are good, and there is every chance that the diver will see spotted eagle rays.

North Reef-West and Southwest A shallow slope goes to 4 to 5 meters then drops down to sheer depths. Marine life consists of sweetlips, garoupas and some pelagic fish, small jacks, mackerel and small, black-tip sharks. The site is noted for excellent soft corals and splendid opportunities for macro photography. The southwest site has the edge when it comes to snorkeling because of its more extensive slope. Hard corals on the western side of the North Reef tend to suffer from the effects of strong wave action.

North Reef-Southeast An extensive sand slope, punctuated by coral heads buzzing with small reef fish, runs down to 15 meters, where the upper edge of another wall goes deeper. Black and white-tip sharks and barracudas are common at the site.

South Reef -West An array of staghorn coral on a short slope runs down to 15 meters and the start of the drop-off. Rainbow runners and jewfish frequent the area.

South Islet This area presents good drift-diving opportunities. A wide range of pelagic fishes can be seen in the drop-off, which has a depth in excess of 60 meters. Moorish idols and crayfish can be observed in great numbers. Snorkeling is possible around the stern of the wrecked log carrier, the Delsan, but care is necessary because of the currents.

Dive Areas

Batangas

Mindoro

Palawan

Cebu

Bohol

Negros Oriental

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A Diver's Paradise