Reef
down to 20 m
Helicopter Island (Dilumacad)
Coral gardens and sand at 5-20 m where all seven Bacuit Bay anemonefish species live and green and hawksbill turtles are a highlight.
- Open Water
- Turtles
Advanced≤30 m
Popolkan (Underwater Forest)
Dive site in El Nido, Philippines
A labyrinth of pinnacles, the 'underwater forest' to 30 m, with schools of yellow snappers and barracuda.
- Max depth
- 32 m
- Level
- Advanced
- Best months
- Nov–May
- Current
- Moderate
The dive
A pinnacle and macro dive. Known for turtles, barracuda and nudibranchs.
Who it's for
Advanced≤30 mSource: palawan-divers.org
Recommended minimum: Advanced (PADI Advanced Open Water, N2).
- DepthThe usual dive goes deeper than lower certifications allow.
- The site goes deeper than 30 m: Advanced divers stay above 30 m.
Conditions
- Dive type
- Pinnacle, Macro
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Turtles
- Barracuda
- Nudibranchs
- Snappers
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
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
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
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.