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A warm welcome to Port Barton
Port Barton, Palawan · PADI Dive Center S-29770
Try scuba diving in Port Barton, Palawan
Never tried scuba diving? We’ll help you get started, step by step. Choose one or two dives with a PADI instructor. No diving experience or certification needed.
A long day at work. Rain on the bus window. A holiday you keep thinking about. Now picture a morning in Port Barton: the bay in front of you, a boat waiting offshore and time to try something new.
Here in Port Barton, you can slow down. And when you are ready, we will help you take your first breath underwater.
Check dates & book your first dive See current prices
Love snorkeling? Come and see the reef from a different angle
From the surface, you spot a fish, admire its colours, then watch it slip out of sight. On scuba, you can slowly come down to reef level with your instructor and watch from a little closer: a fish peeking out from its shelter, another weaving between the corals. You have time to look, while giving the animals space and leaving their home untouched.
We start by showing you how things work. Then you practise in shallow water with your instructor before going to the reef. Ask questions, get used to the equipment and tell us how you feel.
Is Port Barton worth a stop on your Palawan trip?
Find Palawan on the map: a long island in the west of the Philippines, with the South China Sea on one side and the Sulu Sea on the other. Along its west coast, Port Barton is a place to put your bags down for a few days. Planning a trip to El Nido or Coron? Leave room for two or three nights here, with a quieter, less crowded atmosphere and time to enjoy the sea.
Spend a day crossing turquoise water by boat, stopping for a swim, a colourful snorkeling spot or a barbecue lunch on an island beach. A cold drink, sand under your feet, and no van to catch that afternoon. On another day, walk to a waterfall, ask about fishing with local boatmen, or try your first scuba dive with us. These are ideas for your stay; island-hopping trips and other outings are booked separately from your dive.
Current van journeys are approximately 2½ hours from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton and 3½–4 hours from Port Barton to El Nido, depending on the service, stops and road conditions. Give yourself a proper break between travel days.
Our local team grew up around this bay
Around Port Barton, boats are part of everyday life. Children from the nearby islands travel to school by fishing boat. When the wind is strong and the waves are high, the school journey has to wait. Our local guides, captains and crew grew up around this bay, swimming, fishing and learning its reefs and currents. On a day out with them, you get to see a little of the place they call home.
Our local dive guides were born here and have made thousands of dives around these reefs. They know where to look for fish and how the bay changes with the weather. Alongside them, your PADI instructor explains the equipment, teaches you the first skills and looks after the diving procedures. Between dives, there are stories to share too: the eagle that nests above one of the dive sites, or memories of growing up in Port Barton. Little things you hear from people who live here.
What happens on your first scuba dive?
- Meet your instructor. We explain the equipment, breathing, hand signals and what to expect, and review the required participant and medical forms.
- Get comfortable in shallow water. Practise the basic skills with your instructor before moving on to the reef.
- Explore together. Your instructor guides the dive, choosing the route and depth to suit the programme rules, sea conditions and your comfort. There is no need to chase a depth target.
One dive or two?
Discover Scuba Diving — 1 dive: a first taste of breathing underwater, with the preparation and instructor-guided exploration that beginners need.
Discover Scuba Diving — 2 dives: more time to enjoy the experience after your first introduction. Once the equipment and breathing feel more familiar, the second dive gives you another opportunity to look around and enjoy the reef.
Both options include the briefing, shallow-water practice, diving equipment and instructor supervision. Check the booking details for the current price and schedule, or contact us if you are fitting your dive around a transfer.
Meet Dukatoon 2, one of our two bancas
Here, we call this kind of boat a banca. Dukatoon 2 is one of our two boats. During the quieter summer months, we gave her a fresh start, making more room on board so our guests can enjoy a more comfortable day at sea. These photos show her back in Port Barton Bay in September 2026.
Her shallow draught suits the shallow waters of the bay, while the outriggers on both sides help keep her balanced. With coral reefs all around, knowing the passages matters too — another reason we value captains who grew up here.
Why choose Sunset Divers for your first dive?
We want you to feel welcome and know what to expect. Sunset Divers is an Authorised PADI Dive Center, S-29770, in Port Barton. We follow PADI Discover Scuba Diving standards, with a briefing, practice in shallow water and an instructor with you during the dive.
Before diving, we review the required forms, check your equipment and explain the dive clearly. You can ask questions without feeling awkward, and you can tell your instructor when you need a moment. Our aim is to help you feel ready and at ease.
View our official PADI Dive Center profile or read about our professional credentials and safety procedures and equipment maintenance.
Your first dive: common questions
Is this a try dive, a baptême de plongée or PADI Discover Scuba Diving?
You may know it as a “try dive”, “introductory dive” or, in French, a baptême de plongée. At Sunset Divers, our beginner experience follows the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme. It introduces you to scuba diving; it is not a full diver certification.
Do I need experience or strong swimming skills?
No diving experience is needed, and you do not have to be an athletic swimmer. You should feel comfortable in the water and be able to maintain yourself at the surface. If you are unsure about your swimming or feel anxious in the water, tell us before booking so we can discuss whether the experience is suitable for you.
What if I am nervous?
That is a very normal place to start. Tell your instructor what worries you. The briefing and shallow-water practice help you become familiar with breathing and using the equipment before the dive. You can pause or decide not to continue.
How deep will we go, and will an instructor stay with me?
Your open-water dive is directly supervised by a PADI instructor. The Discover Scuba Diving limit is 12 metres / 40 feet; this is a maximum, not a target. Your actual depth depends on conditions, programme requirements and your comfort.
Can children join, and are there medical requirements?
The minimum age is 10, and minors need a parent or guardian’s consent. Everyone completes the required medical questionnaire before participating. Some answers require a physician’s approval before diving, so please review the forms ahead of your visit.
How long should I allow?
The total outing depends on whether you choose one or two dives and on the boat schedule and sea conditions. Check your selected booking option and ask us to confirm the return time before arranging onward transport.
Can a friend come along without diving?
Ask about adding a non-diving snorkeling companion to your booking. Availability depends on the trip and boat capacity. It is a lovely way to share the day when not everyone wants to scuba dive.
What should I bring?
Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and any required completed forms or physician’s approval. We provide the diving equipment. For a first dive, concentrate on getting comfortable and enjoying the experience; ask the team about photo options beforehand.
Why book with an authorised PADI Dive Center?
You know who you are booking with and which training standards they follow. PADI sets rules for preparation, instructor supervision and who can take part. You can verify Sunset Divers directly on PADI’s website and ask us about the people and procedures behind your dive.
A little less rushing. A first dive to look forward to.
Make room for Port Barton in your Palawan journey. Come with your curiosity; we will take you through the first steps.
Choose your Discover Scuba Diving experience
Still deciding? Tell us about your plans — we are happy to help you choose.
Reliability
An authorised PADI centre
Sunset Divers is an Authorised PADI Dive Center in Port Barton, S-29770. You can check our status on the official PADI website.
Loyalty
A familiar welcome
Guests often become friends. At Sunset Divers Port Barton, we welcome divers like family — with many returning year after year to share new adventures in Palawan.
Equipment
Care behind every dive
Our cylinders and regulators are maintained in-house by a trained technician. Equipment preparation and checks are part of every diving day.
Safety
Preparation and supervision
We follow PADI programme standards: required forms, a clear briefing, skills practice and instructor supervision for your Discover Scuba Diving experience.
