El Nido

Between dives beach
Dive site
View from El Nido town

Local market

Rice - out to dry on the roads (on plastic)

My island hopping bangka on a secluded beach

Jagged limestone outcrops

Islands and beaches

BBQ'ed fresh fish for lunch

Snorkel sight

Limestone formations

El Nido, the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, and a long and dusty 8 hours local bus ride from Puerto - it feels even longer when there is a cockerel on board that cock-a-doodle-doos most of the way. But a journey worth while for a beautiful view of the limestone cliffs boardering the turqoise blue seas and all the other limestone monoliths and islands in the archipelago. There was a small market here with local fruit and veg and lots of fish stands selling straight from the days catch - including lots of squid and rays. The squid fishermen go out at night on small boats with huge lights and drop lines over the sides of their boats all night catching squid - the boats go quite a long way out but with all the lights shining it looks like there is a town lit up on the horizon. Not specifically known for the diving I was itching to get under the water and did a two tank dive with Sea Dog Divers - run by a crusty old Englishman from Huddersfield! It was a nice day great views out to the dive sight and a lovely secluded beach for lunch and a little sun bathing in the afternoon. The dives were rich in hard corals but lacking in fish in any quantity and not much colour. Still plenty to see as lots of things are new to me out here, lots of varieties of nudibranchs, squid, cuttlefish, rays, lobster and a shrimp with the biggest goggly eyes I have ever seen. I lovely day with pleasant rather than great diving.

Island hopping is more that El Nido is known for and for good reason, the sea scape is spectacular. The limestone towers out of the sea and there are secluded beaches, coves and lagoons galore. There is even a 'secret' beach where you have to swim through a hole int he limestone cliff, at low tide only, and it opens out into a swim pool with its only little beach - very serene. I have to say, I do not think my photos do El Nido justice, but it was lovely.