Frequently Asked Questions
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
There's a local clinic called Adventist Clinic just 5 minutes out of town. Additionally, there's a basic community hospital about 30 minutes outside of town that can assist with minor emergencies. For more serious emergencies, the nearest proper hospitals are located in Puerto Princesa, including Adventist Hospital and Ace Medical Center. The closest recompression chamber is in Manila.
HOW TO MOVE AROUND TOWN
Getting around on foot is easy in the center due to the small size of the town. However, if you stay a bit further away, you can hire the services of a "tricycle" or rent a motorcycle for the day.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Tap water is not drinkable in El Nido. You'll need to supply yourself with bottled or purified mineral water.
MONEY
Currently, there are numerous ATMs and two banks (BPI & Metro Bank) available in El Nido. However, it's advisable to carry some extra cash with you. At our office, we also accept credit cards – VISA, Mastercard, and American Express (with a 3% bank charge).
COMMUNICATION
Most restaurants and hotels here offer WiFi. You can also choose to buy a SIM card for your own connection; the most common operators are GLOBE and SMART. However, the internet connection is not the fastest in the Philippines, so be patient.
PUBLIC SERVICES
There is a police station, a post office, and a tourism office in El Nido.
FAQ about diving with Palawan Divers
- Is lunch included? Our day program includes a delicious buffet lunch. We ensure you’ll also enjoy a refreshing fruit break between your first and second dives. For our vegetarian and vegan guests, rest assured that we have tailored options to cater to your preferences.
- How long does a dive last? This depends on each person. People breathe at different rates. Beginners will in general use more air. For the discovery the dives last around 40 minutes and for our fun divers we have a planned dive time of 50 minutes. But we are flexible. If you are good on air your divemaster will be happy to stay down a bit longer with you.
- What is the temperature of the water like? From December to February the water temp. can go down to around 24 degrees and during summer months the water will go up to about 30 degrees. We offer long and short wetsuits.
- I’m not sure to do 2 or 3 dives? No problem if you are not sure. We always have extra tanks on our boat. You can decide on the spot.
- I tend to use a bit more air than most people. Do you have larger tanks available? Absolutely! We provide 3 x 15-liter tanks, and they come at no extra charge.
- Do you rent diving computers? Yes, we do. We rent diving computers for Php300.
- Do you offer pictures of our dive? Yes, we have GoPro 8 (PHP1,000) and GoPro 11 or 12 (PHP1,200) for rent. We can also organize a professional photographer for you which can join you or your family during your dives.
- What do I need to bring with me on the excursion? A hat, sunglasses, a towel. If you tend to get motion sickness, it’s recommended that you take a seasickness tablet in the morning. Water is provided.
- Can I drink alcohol before diving? Alcohol is not allowed.
- How deep will I go? For the discovery program you will go to a maximum depth of 12 meters. If you are certified your maximum depth is according to your certification level.
- How old do you have to be? A minor from 10 till 18 years old will need a written consent from a parent or guardian to dive with us. Kids between 8 and 10 years old can sign up for the Bubblemaker course.
- Is scuba diving dangerous? Statistics show that recreational Scuba diving is almost as safe as swimming.
- I wear my contact lenses under the mask. You can dive with lenses. Note that you can’t wear glasses under your mask.
- Can my friends join as passenger? It is no problem for non-divers to join for snorkeling or relaxing on the boat as long as we have extra spots available. We do prioritize divers. Most of our dive sites have good snorkel areas in the shallow parts. The price for snorkeling is Php1,000 (equipment and lunch included).
- I have asthma. Is it possible to dive? If you have asthma, you will need a medical certification signed by your doctor which allows you to go diving. Without a medical it will not be possible to dive.
- How soon can I fly after a dive? For safety reasons, allow minimum 18 hours between your last dive and your flight. Our last dive ends around 3pm. Diving after flying is not a problem.
- I have a cold and a cough can I dive? It is recommended not to dive if you have a cold. It will be difficult to equalize your ears or sinuses.
- I am pregnant, can I dive? Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the fetus pregnant women should not dive.
- How many days of diving would you recommend to see most of El Nido’s dive sites? We usually recommend 3 days of diving. After 3 days of diving, it is possible that we will repeat some of the dive sites.