Diving near Puerto Princesa (prior to our Tubbataha livaboard)

[the_jaguar]

We are headed to Tubbataha in April of 2025 for a week of diving on Palau Sport. Given that we are flying all the way to Philipines, we were wondering if it would make sense to fly in a few days prior to dive at other close by locations. From what I have read so far, it doesn't appear that there are any good places to dive near Puerto Princesa and we will have to travel all the way to Coron (around 5 hours away). Is this assessment correct?

 

[rmorgan]

Arrive in Manila, then road transfer to Anilao (two hours) or ferry to Puerto Galera (most of a day); dive; then back to Manila for 90-minute flight to Puerto Princesa—or vice versa (go straight to PP, then return to Manila and go to the next destination)

 

[Centrals]

I had dived couple of places outside PPS in 1997, not very interesting at all.
There are operators in the city.
El Nido up north is ok and the Underground River in Sabang along the way is UNESCO world heritage site.

 

[YYCLuke]

Copying Centrals, El nido is usually recommended. Though coron does have the wrecks.. And anilao/PG are close enough to kill a few days.

 

[ChrisM]

We are headed to Tubbataha in April of 2025 for a week of diving on Palau Sport. Given that we are flying all the way to Philipines, we were wondering if it would make sense to fly in a few days prior to dive at other close by locations. From what I have read so far, it doesn't appear that there are any good places to dive near Puerto Princesa and we will have to travel all the way to Coron (around 5 hours away). Is this assessment correct?

We are doing a few days in Anilao and then xfer back to Manila to fly to PP

 

[d^2b]

I'm faced with a similar dilemma a month letter. I'm debating between Anilao, PG (for the second time), or flying to Cebu and doing Cabilao. Given the amount of time (probably 5 days), Malapascua seems like it might involve a lot of time in transfers. Are there some other relatively easy options from Cebu? How does Panglao / Balicasag compare with Cabilao for logistics and diving?

 

[Centrals]

Malapascua does require a bit more time on travelling.
Alona beach is a bit easier to get to than Cabilao as the ferry is more frequent. But Cabilao is far more quieter.

 

[Luko]

How does Panglao / Balicasag compare with Cabilao for logistics and diving?

Panglao :
Beaches, lots of accoms choices hotels and people on the beaches, a mix of mediocre to very good restaurants. 15 mnutes from the International airport, 30 minutes from the Tagbilaran ferry..
Great diving on Balicasag with schools of jacks and cudas, loads of turtles, good coral coverage. Panglao/Alona is more small dropoffs, nudis and macro (froggies/GPF), there is aoccasionally a big school of sardines on the northern side of the island.
Dive centers also organize daytrips to Pamilacan : corals, seasnakes.

Cabilao :
Very few dive resorts (3?), no restaurants outside the resort. Very quiet island, 1h30 drive+short boatride from Panglao airport, 1hr from the Tagbilaran ferry port.
Once I had to cross the channel directly from Cabilao to Argao/Cebu on a bangka because a typhoon was coming and I didn't want to miss my flight back, however I don't think this type of transfer can be easily arranged, resorts would be reluctant.
Diving : western side deep walls with exceptional hard/soft coral, some of the best in the Visayas,many reef fish but fish schools are a less frequent sight. Decent macro : pygmy seahorses on the walls, algae inhabitants and froggies on Lighthouse reef also muck style macro on the other side (Shrimps, nudis...).