Tag: Palawan

Philippines: Where to scuba dive

The Philippines is known not just for the hospitality of the Filipino people but also its islands that make up some of the world’s best tropical destinations for dream holidays. Being an archipelago allowed this country to continuously capture the attention of tourists on a global scale with its breathtaking beaches, scuba dive spots and … Continue reading “Philippines: Where to scuba dive”

The Philippines is known not just for the hospitality of the Filipino people but also its islands that make up some of the world’s best tropical destinations for dream holidays. Being an archipelago allowed this country to continuously capture the attention of tourists on a global scale with its breathtaking beaches, scuba dive spots and other natural wonders.

Of course, when it comes to booking a flight and spending a few well-deserved holidays to get your dose of vitamin sea, you’d probably want to create some new memories through adventures you either haven’t done before or want to do again. One of these sought out water thrills that consistently entices the market is scuba diving. Through this, you won’t just enjoy the clear blue waters of the sea, but you actually get to experience it while being introduced into this wonderful country’s underwater riches. To help you out, we’ve listed the top three must-visit dive destinations for your next tropical vacation:

1. Tubbataha Reef, Puerto Princesa

Scuba diving in the Tubbataha Reef in Puerto Princesa, Palawan is something you would surely not want to miss. Here, you can experience the ocean in multi-colors of marine biodiversity especially since Tubbataha Reef is part of what is called the Coral Triangle.

The Coral Triangle is globally-recognized as the center of marine life making up 75% of the world’s coral species and 40% of the world’s reef fish. Scientists who have been studying and visiting Tubbataha since the 1980s have found that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to over 359 species of corals, over 600 species of fishes, 14 species of sharks, 12 species of dolphins and whales. If you’re all about coral gardens, then you won’t be disappointed as the reefs boast of an amazing 100-meter perpendicular wall, two coral islands, and a few extensive lagoons. You can also expect to see over a hundred bird species, including migratory birds.

The best time to visit Tubbataha for a dive is during mid-March to mid-June and is reachable only by boat leaving from Puerto Princesa’s harbor at sunset for a 10 to 12-hour journey arriving at this marine sanctuary by sunrise.

2. Monad Shoal, Cebu

Considered as the number one dive site in Malapascua, Cebu, Monad Shoal is the only place in the whole world where divers can witness Thresher Sharks in their natural habitat. But there is more to this underwater island than that. Since Monad Shoal is part of the Coral Triangle as well, this wall is a marine protected area making it possible for visitors to still see its soft coral species as well as other pelagics fishes like Manta Rays. Critter lovers will also have a good time diving in Monad Shoal is home to various species of Nudibranchs, Mantis Shrimps, and Pygmy Seahorses, among others.

If you’re into underwater macro photography as well, it’s best to visit this during summer so you won’t have to worry about sudden rains ruining your plan to scuba dive. Visibility ranges from 10m to 15m, with a maximum depth of 24m. Currents can be strong but if you are an experienced diver, you’ll surely enjoy the waters.

One final word of advice, make sure not to sleep too late the night before so you can witness the magnificent Thresher sharks at early in the morning, which usually requires a 5 a.m. departure from Malapascua.

3. Panglao Island, Bohol

In Bohol, besides the world-famous Chocolate Hills, adventurers can also enjoy scuba diving at Panglao Island with an area that stretches to over 94 kilometers. Inside this island lies one of Bohol’s treasured beaches called Alona, popular for its white sand, clear blue waters, and rocky cliffs. Since Alona Beach is situated in close proximity to a house reef, water thrill seekers can expect colorful corals and fishes with or without diving gear. This makes Panglao Island famous for a number of underwater activities such as snorkeling, freediving, and scuba diving.

Alona Beach dive site boasts of colorful species of western clown-anemone fishes, angel fishes, Moorish idols, pufferfishes, and baby barracudas. Night dives are also possible here and is the perfect time to scuba dive if you want to see boxer shrimps, cleaner shrimps, moray eels, and decorator crabs.

Summer in the Philippines usually begins the moment the month of March steps in so if you want to experience this tropical destination has to offer in terms of adrenaline-pumping water activities, then we suggest you book now! If you’re a first time or amateur diver, no worries, Filipinos are known for being warm, welcoming, and accommodating so they’d gladly guide you as you discover the diver in you! Plan your trip with us now!

Top three summer destinations in Palawan

Summer is right around the corner so it’s only natural that you and your friends are starting to plan ahead for this year’s #SummerGoals. No worries, Philippines doesn’t come short of tropical holiday destinations that would make your summer a time to remember. If you consider yourself a traveler, then the wonderful 7,641 islands of … Continue reading “Top three summer destinations in Palawan”

Summer is right around the corner so it’s only natural that you and your friends are starting to plan ahead for this year’s #SummerGoals. No worries, Philippines doesn’t come short of tropical holiday destinations that would make your summer a time to remember. If you consider yourself a traveler, then the wonderful 7,641 islands of this country are probably part of your travel bucket list.

Known as the country’s last frontier, Palawan has managed to preserve its fascinatingly natural habitat through the years. Palawan, the largest province in the country is an irregular coastline that stretches for almost 1,200 miles. The place is peppered with over 1,780 islands and islets as well as fine, white sand beaches and rocky coves. It is also home to some of the Philippines’ most amazing stretch of virgin forests that cover numerous mountain ranges, so sea and landscapes are something you can marvel at.

This world-recognized tropical holiday destination is famous for the quaint charm and paradise of white sand beaches namely, Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron. To help you decide on where to go on your Palawan trip, here’s what you can expect from the three:

PUERTO PRINCESA
In the heart of Palawan lies the capital city of Puerto Princesa, a tropical paradise with lush rainforests and white sand beaches simply hours away from the city proper. Puerto Princesa is known not just for its beach resorts and exceptional seafood cuisine but also for being recognized as the cleanest and greenest city in the country. Tourists continuously get enticed to visit Puerto Princesa to indulge in vitamin sea, sand, and sky since the island is city crystal blue waters, white sand beaches, and green luscious forests. Puerto Princesa is also home to one of the New7Wonders of Nature – the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. So if you’re not just a traveler but adventure and thrill-seeker as well, exploring the waters and caves of Puerto Princesa is the right itinerary for you.

EL NIDO
A slice of paradise is another possibility in El Nido. Here, island hopping is not to be missed. El Nido is a managed resource protected area so you can expect nothing less than spectacular white-sand beaches, limestone cliffs, and rock formations. You can also see great coral gardens if you have the time to go underwater. El Nido is also popular among travelers since it is the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, another seascape you shouldn’t skip visiting if you’re into lagoons, coves, white-sand beaches, and diverse marine life. The Bacuit archipelago is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. On any given dive, you are likely to see dugongs, manta rays, sea turtles, and a very large number of fish species, some of which are endemic to the Philippines.

CORON

If you are one of those people in search of some well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of city life, the place to unwind is Coron. This part of Palawan is popular among divers because aside from its fine white-sand beaches, its waters are also home to a dozen sunken World War II Japanese warships, corals reefs, and marine life. You could also give Calauit Safari Park a visit to experience a nice walk in the wilderness. Calauit Safari Park is a 9,100 acres game reserve and wildlife sanctuary located in Calauit Island alive with indigenous species and African wildlife including giraffes, zebras, and gazelles. Sea turtles, sea cows, and a variety of marine life nestle on its shores.

What are you waiting for? Book your travel now and visit one of the top tropical destinations in the world! If you want a different experience, you could also try booking a cruise with us and we’ll take you right to Puerto Princesa Port.