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)