Palawan dive sites
Philippines · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
November–May, November to May, November-May, March-June, March to June
Skill Levels
intermediate, beginner, advanced
Nearby Cities
Coron, Coron Town, El Nido, Puerto Princesa
All dive sites
Barracuda Lake
Coron · Palawan · Philippines
Enclosed volcanic lake with thermoclines. Crystal-clear freshwater to hot saltwater layers. Otherworldly landscape.
Coron Twin Lagoons
Coron Town · Palawan · Philippines
Two connected limestone lagoons on Coron Island where divers pass through a narrow underwater passage between towering karst walls, experiencing dramatic thermoclines and haloclines in crystal-clear water of shifting blues and greens.
Dimakya Island Coral Garden
Coron · Palawan · Philippines
A protected coral garden off Dimakya Island in the Calamian Group where a private marine sanctuary nurtures dense hard coral formations and diverse reef fish in crystal-clear water.
El Nido Dilumacad
El Nido · Palawan · Philippines
Stunning reef beneath towering limestone karst cliffs with reef sharks, turtles, and vibrant coral in emerald waters.
Honda Bay Starfish Reef
Puerto Princesa · Palawan · Philippines
A shallow coral garden in Honda Bay where enormous populations of blue sea stars carpet the white sand between coral patches, creating one of Palawan's most photogenic and beginner-friendly dive experiences just minutes from Puerto Princesa.
Linapacan Island
El Nido · Palawan · Philippines
An archipelago between El Nido and Coron renowned for the clearest water in the Philippines, pristine coral reefs, and underwater seascapes of staggering beauty in near-total isolation.
Nacpan Beach Reef
El Nido · Palawan · Philippines
A pristine fringing reef off El Nido's famous Nacpan Beach offering shallow coral gardens with sea turtles, reef sharks, and vibrant hard coral coverage accessible directly from the white sand shore.
Puerto Princesa Underground River Reef
Puerto Princesa · Palawan · Philippines
The coastal reef system fronting the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, where limestone karst geology continues underwater as coral-encrusted walls, overhangs, and swim-throughs fed by freshwater seepage from the world-famous cave system.
Tubbataha North Atoll Approach
Puerto Princesa · Palawan · Philippines
The northern approach to Tubbataha's North Atoll where an immense coral slope meets open Sulu Sea, creating a pelagic highway of hammerheads, mantas, and tiger sharks against a backdrop of pristine reef.
Tubbataha South Atoll
Puerto Princesa · Palawan · Philippines
The southern half of the Philippines' most iconic marine park, a remote oceanic atoll in the Sulu Sea where sheer coral walls plunge into abyssal depths and large pelagics, sharks, and mantas patrol in numbers rarely seen elsewhere in the country.
Twin Peaks Coron
Coron · Palawan · Philippines
WWII Japanese supply ship resting upright in clear water, with intact structure and prolific coral growth covering the hull.
Dive centers in Palawan
Pirate Divers Coron
Coron · Palawan · Philippines
PADI/SSI center in Coron specializing in WWII Japanese wreck diving. Access to 12 shipwrecks including Irako, Akitsushima, and Okikawa Maru.
Submariner Diving Center
El Nido · Palawan · Philippines
PADI center in El Nido combining diving with Bacuit Bay's stunning limestone lagoon scenery. Reef, drift, and freediving programs.
Fun & Sun Dive and Travel
Puerto Princesa · Palawan · Philippines
PADI center in Puerto Princesa offering diving at Honda Bay, Tubbataha Reef trips, and Palawan island hopping.
Diving in Palawan
Palawan offers cave, reef, wall, wreck dive sites across 4 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
What certification is needed for Barracuda Lake?
Open Water certification is sufficient. The lake is shallow with a maximum depth of about 30 meters. However, the extreme thermocline (water reaches 38 °C at depth) requires briefing and awareness. There are no currents.
When is the best time to dive Barracuda Lake?
November to May offers the best weather and access. The lake is sheltered and diveable year-round, but the rainy season (June–October) can make the rocky approach slippery and less comfortable.
What is special about Barracuda Lake?
Barracuda Lake is a unique inland lake on Coron Island with a dramatic thermocline — surface water is 28 °C, but below 14 meters it can reach 38 °C due to geothermal activity. The eerie underwater landscape of ghostly limestone formations in hot, crystal-clear water creates a surreal diving experience unlike any other.
Why does the water temperature change so dramatically in the Twin Lagoons?
The inner lagoon receives geothermal heating from underground volcanic activity in the Coron Island limestone. Freshwater springs at the lagoon bottom release water at temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius or higher. This warm freshwater sits above the denser saltwater that enters through the connecting passage, creating a distinct thermocline. Descending through this boundary layer is a remarkable sensation as temperature can change by 10 degrees within a metre of depth.
Do I need cave diving certification for the Twin Lagoons?
No, the connecting passage between the lagoons is technically a swim-through rather than a cave, as natural light is visible throughout and the passage is short, approximately 10 metres long. However, the passage is narrow in places and overhead rock is present, so good buoyancy control is essential. Some operators classify this as a cavern environment and require intermediate certification or demonstrated competence. The rest of the dive within the lagoons themselves is open water.