Whitsum Reef - Palawan
Whitsum Reef, sitting out in the South China Sea off Palawan, offers a decent coral dive. You'll find a good mix of hard and soft corals here, providing shelter for various reef fish. Visibility can be decent, usually around 15-20 meters on a good day, making it a reliable option for divers looking for a straightforward reef exploration. It's a solid choice if you're keen on seeing what a typical Palawan coral system has to offer without overly strong currents.
- Location
- Palawan, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.966666, 114.650000
- Type
- reef
Best Time to Dive in Palawan
The warmest water temperatures in Palawan occur in January, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- February: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- March: 29.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- April: 29.0°C (air: 28.6°C)
- May: 29.0°C (air: 29.1°C)
- June: 29.0°C (air: 28.5°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- August: 29.0°C (air: 28.4°C)
- September: 29.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- October: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- November: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- December: 29.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Palawan
- Alicia Annie Reef (reef)
- Amy Douglas Reef (reef)
- An Nhon Nam Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Ardasier Reef (reef)
- ASIA PACIFIC - 0m (wreck)
- Bahura
- Bãi cạn Nâu Bắc Lớn - 5-15m (reef)
- Baker Reef (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Barque Canada Reef (reef)
- Bin Reef (reef)
- Block 1
Marine Life in Palawan
Home to 6 recorded species including 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 whales & dolphins, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Fig cone (Conus figulinus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Noble Cone (Conus nobilis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bluespotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) - Sharks & Rays
Recommended Packing List for Whitsum Reef
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories