Notes: In Palawan and the Calamians (March, April, May) Predominant winds were light nor’easters and easterlies (under 15kn). Often calms and light variable winds. Never more than 1m of swell mostly from north – usually little to no swell.
We used electronic navigation software which allowed us to display two sets of charts at once. We found the (privately digitized raster) charts of the Philippines were more detailed and accurate than the vector charts we usually use in other countries, which are based on British and US charts. When conning in close quarters we reinforced our navigation equipment with human eyeballing from the roof.
When anchoring in reefy/corally areas we used our echo sounder/fish finder to find a flat (rather than rough or sloped) bottom. This helped us avoid anchoring over reef.
Date |
Anchorage |
Island |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Comments |
21 March |
Balabac town |
Balabac |
7°59.5’ |
117°04.2’ |
8.5m mud. Pretty, clean town. Fresh vegs and Philippine SIM cards available. CMAP accurate. |
23 March |
Canipan Bay |
Palawan (west coast) |
8°35.8’ |
117°15.1’ |
9m, N. end of bay. Protected from NW swell by reef. Pretty beach with coral, coconut palms. |
24 March |
Eran Bay |
Palawan |
9°07.0’ |
117°45.3’ |
6.5m, N. baylet of Eran Bay, behind finger of reef. Surprisingly comfortable. Philippines charts OK |
25 March |
Malanut Bay (Quezon town) |
Palawan (west coast) |
9°15.4’ |
117°59.8’ |
4m sand and mud as close to town as we could get (3nm?). Quezon clean, attractive town. Visited Tabon caves with Cedro. |
26 March |
Malanut Bay |
Palawan (west coast) |
9°16.8’ |
118°00.2’ |
8.5m. More protected from slight swell than town anchorage. |
27 March |
Fish Bay (N. end) |
Palawan (west coast) |
9°58.7’ |
118°39.6’ |
5.5m sand. Picture postcard bay, teeming with fish, 2hr jeepney to Puerto Princesa. Stayed a week. Rolando Barangay Captain delightful man and village. |
3 April |
St Paul Bay (opp. Sabang) |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°11.9’ |
118°53.7’ |
8.5m sand. Very exposed to swell. Anchored here for few hours to visit Subterranean River. Fantastic. |
3 April |
St Paul Bay (St Paul Rock) |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°15.1’ |
118°56.4’ |
8m in sand patch between rock/reef. Swell much less here than Sabang anchorage. |
4 April |
“German” Island (Port Barton) |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°27.6’ |
119°09.1’ |
22m sand near spit of sand/coral. Met caretaker, Tuting, a real gentle man. Ideal island. V. protected. 2nm? to town. |
7 April |
Teodore Point (Inlulutoc Bay) |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°54.3’ |
119°14.3’ |
16m. Very sheltered anchorage. 4-5 families ashore. Requested malaria medicine. |
8 April |
Bario Pancol |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°52.0’ |
119°24.8’ |
4.5m. Very sheltered anchorage. Malampaya v. beautiful. Bus to P.P. (7hrs). Trike to Tay Tay (half hour). Supplies from Dante’s shop. |
13 April |
Alligator Island (Malampaya S.) |
Palawan (west coast) |
10°50.6’ |
119°17.9’ |
11m mud. In front of John and Cissy’s place. Further from shore for expected typhoon. V. protected. |
16 April |
Liminancong town.(Endeavour Strait) |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°00.6’ |
119°18.4’ |
12m. Busy, interesting fishing town. Safe anchorage with views to karst islands. |
18 April |
Lagen Island (Bacuit Bay) |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°05.0’ |
119°23.5’ |
18.5m baylet on SW side of island. Good snorkelling along beach dropoff opposite anchorage (swam from boat). Pinsail Is. (Cathedral Cave) 1km? Away. Great. Good anchorage but bullets of wind. |
20 April |
Corong Corong village (Bacuit Bay) |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°10.0’ |
119°23.6’ |
10m mud. Pretty, protected bay 10min trike ride into El Nido. |
21 April |
Tapiutan Strait (betw. Matinloc and Tapiutan – Bacuit Bay) |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°11.8’ |
119°16.4’ |
32m mud. Ruggedly beautiful. Very protected. Good snorkeling & 20-25m visability – wall opposite anchorage (Matinloc side). Secret beach worth diving into. Matinloc Shrine interesting. |
23 April |
Miniloc Island (Bacuit Bay) |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°09.0’ |
119°19.6’ |
35m sand at entrance to Big Lagoon. Stunning Island. Good snorkelling on walls & shallows of Penlugaban Is in pass. Good paddling around island. |
24 April |
El Nido |
Palawan (west coast) |
11°11.3’ |
119°23.2’ |
9m sand outside reef area. Not a bad anchorage in settled conditions. To anchor behind reef in 4m, need to hug stbd point & go betw it and buoy. |
27 April |
Calayanlayan Bay |
Linapacan Island |
11°26.7” |
119°44.0’ |
21m. Western end of island. |
29 April |
Southern bay |
Binalabag Island |
11°33.8’ |
119°56.3’ |
18m. Behind reef extending from eastern headland. Snorkelling OK middle of reef. |
30 April |
Halsey Harbour |
Culion Island |
11°45.5’ |
119°57.9’ |
35m. Behind Rhodes Island. |
1 May |
Coral Bay |
Popototan Island |
11°59.6’ |
119°51.4’ |
16.5m. Beautiful reef near resort – privately protected. Snorkelling fee. |
3 May |
|
North Cay |
11°59.7’ |
119°51.4’ |
16m. Beautiful reef (dropoff only, reeftop dead) – best snorkeling since Australia. Privately protected. |
3 May |
Concepcion town |
Busuanga Island |
12°02.7’ |
119°58.0’ |
13m. Pretty fishing village. Visited the “Pier House” |
4 May |
Coron town |
Busuanga Island |
11°59.65’ |
120°11.88’ |
11m. Need to thread way into harbour through coral. |
8 May |
East side |
Tangat Island |
11°58.54’ |
120°04.75’ |
25m. Tangat gunboat wreck in 10m nearby. |
10 May |
East side |
Calumbayan Island |
12°00.75’ |
119°56.59’ |
22m. V. protected in W. wind. Fantastic snorkelling. Pretty, friendly day resort. |
11 May |
Southeast corner |
Tangat Island |
11°57.6’ |
120°05.0’ |
22m. Good snorkeling. |
12 May |
Port Luyucan |
Busuanga Island |
11°59.01’ |
120°06.74’ |
12m mud. Excellent typhoon hole. All around protection. |
19 May |
Culion town |
Culion Island |
11°53.24’ |
120°1.49’ |
19m in small bay in front of pretty, clean, historical town. Clear water. |
20 May |
Most westerly bay on north side of island. |
Bulalacao Island |
11°46.9’ |
120°08.4’ |
30m. Idyllic bay. Need to search for clear patch amongst lots of coral. |
21 May |
|
Cabulauan Island |
11°23.4’ |
120°06.1’ |
10m. Crystal clear water. Corally rubbly bottom. Beautiful island and village. Fresh fish available. |
22 May |
S.W. side |
Dumaran Island |
10°29.35’ |
119°59.45’ |
18m. Open anchorage OK if calm. |
23 May |
|
South Verde Island |
10°03.31’ |
119°12.96’ |
9m. At mouth of river – can go in further if not calm. |
24 May – |
Abanico Yacht Club, Puerto Princesa |
Palawan (East coast) |
9°45.94’ |
118°43.78’ |
12m. Mud. Protected from most directions except SSW. Good long term anchorage. Fast barnacle growth. |