Shimizu Island El Nido
El Nido, Palawan · Philippines
One of El Nido's most accessible reefs, Shimizu rewards beginners with a spectacularly dense fish community across a wide shallow shelf. Parrotfish, surgeonfish, and butterflyfish crowd the coral heads in numbers that feel almost overwhelming on a first dive.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 31°C
Wetsuit recommended
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 20 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Clownfish
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 24 records
Very likely
Most dives
Palawan Monitor
Last confirmed Apr 14, 2026 · 15 records
Very likely
Most dives
Moorish Idol
Last confirmed Jul 2, 2026 · 11 records
Very likely
Most dives
Blue Linckia
Last confirmed Jul 2, 2026 · 14 records
Very likely
Most dives
Tomato Clownfish
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 9 records
Very likely
Most dives
Loch'S Chromodoris
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 16 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Blackspotted Puffer
Last confirmed Jul 1, 2026 · 17 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Bumphead Parrotfish
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear