El Nido sits on the northern tip of Palawan, where sheer limestone cliffs rise straight out of the sea and dozens of small islands scatter across Bacuit Bay. It's regularly ranked among the most beautiful places in the world, and the reefs below the surface hold up their end of the deal: coral gardens, walls that drop off along the karst, swim-throughs, turtles, and a steady supply of small critters for anyone who likes to slow down and look closely.

We'll spend seven full days diving with Palawan Divers, three dives a day, for 21 dives total. Late March and April fall in Palawan's dry season, so expect calm seas, sunny surface intervals, and water in the low 80s. Lunch comes with you on the boat, and afternoons and evenings are yours for El Nido's beaches, restaurants, and sunsets.

Getting to the other side of the Pacific takes effort, so we've built the schedule to absorb it. We overnight in Manila on arrival, fly to El Nido the next day, and take a full acclimation day before anyone gets wet. On the way home, another night in Manila keeps the connections from getting tight. A welcome dinner kicks off the trip and a farewell dinner closes it out.

As with every Barbary Coast Divers trip, you're traveling with a small group led by our own instructors, with the planning, logistics, and dive coordination handled for you. Your job is to show up, dive, and enjoy one of the best corners of the Coral Triangle.

Itinerary

• Mar 31: Depart US for Manila

• Apr 1: Arrive Manila, overnight

• Apr 2: Fly to El Nido

• Apr 3: Acclimation day

• Apr 4–10: Diving, 3 dives per day

• Apr 11: Fly to Manila

• Apr 12: Depart for US

Included

• Hotels in Manila and El Nido (double occupancy)

• Round-trip domestic airfare, Manila to El Nido

• Ground transfers

• Seven 3-dive day packages with Palawan Divers

• Gear rental (computers excluded)

• Lunch on dive days

• Welcome and farewell dinners

• Eco-Tourism Development Fee

Not included

• International airfare

• Dive computer

• Meals outside dive days and group dinners

• Tips and incidentals

• Refresher class (if needed)

• Travel Insurance

• Dive Insurance

Pricing: the more, the cheaper

Group size Price per person

• (4) Divers $5,750

• (6) Divers - $5,000

• (8) Divers - $4,600

• (10) Divers - $4,350

Your final price is set by the final group size, so every new sign-up lowers the cost for everyone, including people who booked early.

Payment
A $750 nonrefundable deposit holds your spot. Half the trip price is due 12 weeks before departure. The balance, minus your deposit and adjusted to the final group size, is due 6 weeks out.