Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, with its fantastically clear waters, the beautiful, remote area between El Nido and Coron is a bastion of coral reefs teaming with marine life and a perfect place to catch dinner if you are into fishing.
On our private boat tours through this area you can rent our homemade spearguns, much more effective than factory made ones, to indulge in this rewarding hobby.
Or, our crew and guide would be happy to show you how locals catch fish, which is by simple fishing line in hand, dangling a piece of bread on a hook to catch a small fish, which is then used as a lure to catch the larger fish.
Or, a more lazy approach is to simply drag bait far behind the boat as it makes its way from one beautiful site to the next. If you would be interested in taking part in this fun activity or in discovering this beautiful part of the world, just send us a note for more information!
Why are there so many fish and marine life in the Palawan area?
Palawan is a marine paradise for a bunch of reasons—it’s not just a fluke that the area teems with fish, corals, and jaw-dropping biodiversity. Here’s why Palawan, especially areas like Coron and El Nido, is such a marine life hotspot:
🐠 1. Location, Location, Location
Palawan sits right where the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea meet. This mix of currents brings in nutrient-rich waters, which act like a buffet for marine life. Nutrients fuel plankton, which feeds small fish, which then feed bigger fish… and so on up the chain.
🌊 2. Coral Triangle Magic
Palawan is part of the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine zones in the world. Think of it as the Amazon Rainforest of the sea. It’s home to:
- Over 500 species of reef-building corals
- Thousands of fish species
- Rare marine life like dugongs, sea turtles, and manta rays
🪸 3. Healthy Coral Reefs and Ecosystems
The reefs around Palawan—especially around Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site)—are incredibly vibrant. Coral reefs are like underwater cities, offering food, shelter, and breeding grounds for marine species.
🐟 4. Wrecks That Became Habitats
Places like Coron are famous for their WWII Japanese shipwrecks, which have turned into artificial reefs. These massive structures are now covered in corals and are home to entire ecosystems of fish, nudibranchs, and crustaceans.
🌴 5. No Industrialization or Pollution
Compared to other coastal areas in Southeast Asia, Palawan is still relatively untouched. Fewer factories and less pollution mean cleaner waters, which is crucial for marine life health and coral survival. Especially in the remote area between El Nido and Coron, off the trodden tourist path as well!
🧘 6. Conservation Efforts
There are multiple marine protected areas, eco-tourism policies, and community-based conservation programs across Palawan. Local communities are often involved in keeping these waters pristine because their livelihoods depend on it.
Conclusion
Palawan is the perfect storm of rich waters, warm seas, thriving coral reefs, and relatively low human impact. All that adds up to one of the most incredible places on Earth to dive, snorkel, or simply admire marine life.
If you’re thinking about diving there, it’s not just scenic—it’s straight-up legendary.
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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.