Reef
down to 18 m
Paradise Beach
Calm, current-free sandy slope off Cadlao Island, 1-18 m, used for Open Water training, with turtles and clownfish.
- Open Water
- Turtles
Open Water≤18 m
Helicopter Island (Dilumacad)
Dive site in El Nido, Philippines
Coral gardens and sand at 5-20 m where all seven Bacuit Bay anemonefish species live and green and hawksbill turtles are a highlight.
- Max depth
- 20 m
- Level
- Open Water
- Best months
- Nov–May
- Entry
- By boat
- Current
- Moderate
The dive
A reef dive from a boat. Known for turtles, eagle rays and stingrays.
Who it's for
Open Water≤18 mSource: palawan-divers.org
Recommended minimum: Open Water (PADI Open Water, CMAS/FFESSM N1).
Conditions
- Dive type
- Reef
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Turtles
- Eagle rays
- Stingrays
- Cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Clownfish
- Moray eels
Season in El Nido
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: Nov–May.
Source: zubludiving.comWhere is El Nido?
The point shows the El Nido area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in El Nido
Cavern
down to 30 m
Tapiutan
Remote site at the edge of Bacuit Bay with boulders, swim-throughs and small caverns to 30 m, plus turtles and barracuda.
- Advanced
- Turtles
Drift
down to 35 m
West Entalula Wall
Wall south of Miniloc dropping from 5 to 30 m, plus a drift along the reef, with green and hawksbill turtles.
- Advanced
- Turtles
Reef
down to 25 m
Nat-Nat
- Advanced
- Bamboo sharks
Rock formations
down to 40 m
Paglugaban
Boulder field near Miniloc with some of El Nido's best rock formations and swim-throughs above a shallow coral garden.
- Experienced
- Turtles
Pinnacle
down to 32 m
Popolkan (Underwater Forest)
A labyrinth of pinnacles, the 'underwater forest' to 30 m, with schools of yellow snappers and barracuda.
- Advanced
- Turtles
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.