Freediving in Amanpulo:

Exploring One of Palawan's Most Untouched Reefs

There are places where you go freediving for the depth.

There are places where you go for the marine life.

And then there are places where the underwater world feels almost completely untouched.

Amanpulo, on Pamalican Island in Palawan, is one of those places.

Amanpulo is one of the Philippines' most exclusive island destinations, yet its underwater world remains relatively unexplored by many Filipinos.

Beyond its beautiful beaches is a remarkable reef system filled with marine life—from sea turtles and schools of fish to rays, sharks, and other pelagic visitors. The surrounding waters are exceptionally clear, with visibility commonly reaching around 20 to 30 metres.

For us, Amanpulo is a reminder that some of the most extraordinary underwater experiences aren't somewhere far away—they're right here in the Philippines.

And while the island may feel like a special occasion destination, its ocean is something we hope more Filipinos will have the chance to discover.

For Azul Freediving, Amanpulo is also a destination we know particularly well.

Freediving in Amanpulo Since 2020

Freediving at Amanpulo was established by Ms. Val Bautista, founder of Azul Freediving, in 2020.

Val designed the freediving classes, workshops, and activities for the island and helped identify and develop some of the best freediving locations around Pamalican Island.

Since then, Azul has been returning to Amanpulo year after year.

Over six years of freediving around the island have given our team the opportunity to experience its reefs in different seasons and conditions—and to build a detailed understanding of where different marine-life encounters can happen.

Today, Val continues to head Azul's freediving operations at Amanpulo during the island's key holiday periods, including the Festive Season from December to January and the Easter-to-summer period.

Why Freedive in Amanpulo?

Amanpulo occupies the entirety of Pamalican Island, a private island in the Cuyo Archipelago of Palawan.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs, and the resort describes more than seven square kilometres of reef beginning around 100 metres from its sandy shores.

What makes the experience particularly special is the combination of clear water, healthy reef systems, relatively shallow sites, and an extraordinary variety of marine life.

You don't necessarily have to go deep to see something spectacular.

Some of the freediving sites we use for marine-life encounters are only around 3 to 10 metres deep, making them accessible for students and guests who are still developing their freediving skills.

Other encounters, such as groups of eagle rays travelling along a deeper migration route, happen around 20 metres.

That variety means Amanpulo isn't just a destination for experienced freedivers.

There is something to explore at different levels of experience.

Six Years of Marine-Life Encounters

After years of freediving around Pamalican Island, we’ve built a long list of marine-life encounters that keep bringing us back.

Among the most memorable are the more than 30 resident sea turtles we’ve encountered around the island over the years. Green sea turtles are by far the most commonly seen, but Amanpulo is also home to olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. All three species can be found nesting around the island, making Pamalican an important part of their life cycle.

Pamalican’s turtle population is also supported by Amanpulo’s ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts, helping protect these remarkable animals and their nesting grounds.

But the turtles are only the beginning.

Giant Humphead Parrotfish

One of the most impressive residents of Amanpulo’s reefs is the humphead parrotfish—one of the largest reef fish in the world.

Over the years, we’ve encountered hundreds of these massive fish around Pamalican Island. Some are so large that seeing one glide past you while freediving feels almost prehistoric. The largest humphead parrotfish recorded by our team has been around 1.3 metres long, making these encounters especially memorable.

Beyond their size, humphead parrotfish play an important role in the reef ecosystem. They use their powerful beak-like teeth to scrape algae and dead coral from the reef as they feed. The coral they consume is eventually processed and excreted as fine particles of calcium carbonate—essentially fish-produced sand.

So, while parrotfish are certainly not the only source of Amanpulo’s beautiful white sand, they are part of the natural process that creates and maintains sandy beaches around tropical coral reefs.

The next time you walk along Amanpulo’s soft white beaches, it’s fascinating to think that some of those tiny grains may have made their way through the digestive system of a parrotfish.

Guitarfish in the Shallows

Not every memorable encounter in Amanpulo requires going deep.

Right in front of the Beach Club, in only around 2–3 metres of water, we regularly encounter guitarfish resting along the sandy bottom.

Their unusual shape—part ray, part shark-like in appearance—makes them one of the more fascinating animals to spot while freediving around the island.

Because they stay in such shallow water, these encounters can be especially enjoyable for divers who are still building their confidence. You don’t need to chase depth to experience remarkable marine life in Amanpulo.

Giant Stingrays

The reefs and sandy areas around the island are also home to large stingrays.

We've encountered giant diamond stingrays and cowtail stingrays, adding another layer of marine life to an already diverse underwater environment.

Manta Rays and Eagle Rays

Amanpulo’s waters can also bring encounters with some of the ocean’s most graceful rays.

Over the years, we’ve encountered groups of manta rays around the island, including several unforgettable moments during our freediving certification courses. More than once, while our students were training along the 20-metre line, manta rays appeared and began circling around us. Having these enormous animals quietly moving through the water while we were completing our training is an experience that never gets old.

We’ve also encountered groups of eagle rays moving through deeper areas of the island. Around 20 metres, we’ve seen them passing through what appears to be part of their regular route through the area.

Reef Sharks

There have also been sightings of both blacktip and whitetip reef sharks around the island.

Sharks aren't guaranteed on any particular session, but their presence adds to the diversity of larger marine animals encountered in Amanpulo's waters.

Schools of Fish

Amanpulo is not only about the larger animals. Some of our favorite encounters are with the smaller fish that fill the reefs with movement and life.

At the corner of Rocky Cove, we regularly encounter a school of young jacks gathering together in the shallows. They may still be small, but watching the school move as one through the clear water is always a beautiful sight.

We also encounter large schools of anchovies, sometimes forming shimmering clouds that seem to fill the water around you. When thousands of tiny fish suddenly turn together, the entire school can catch the sunlight and transform the water into a moving silver curtain.

The reefs are also home to numerous species and color variations of clownfish, adding flashes of color throughout the coral.

And then there are the familiar batfish, which we often encounter around some of the island’s dive sites. They have become some of our favorite resident reef fish to look for during our dives.

And Then There Are the Unexpected Encounters

Some of our most memorable sightings aren't animals we see regularly.

There have been dolphin encounters around the island, including dolphins passing offshore.

We've also had sightings of mother-and-pup dugongs in the area.

And during one particularly special season, a blue whale was spotted passing by the island.

These are the kinds of encounters that cannot be scheduled into an itinerary.

The ocean decides when they happen.

That's one of the reasons we never promise specific marine-life sightings during our freediving activities. Instead, we take guests to areas where we've historically encountered particular species and let the ocean do the rest.

Freediving for Beginners in Amanpulo

You don't need to be an advanced freediver to enjoy Amanpulo.In fact, some of the island's most beautiful experiences happen in relatively shallow water.

For beginners, we can focus on relaxation, breathing, equalization, body position, and comfort in the water while exploring reefs at appropriate depths. For experienced freedivers, there are opportunities to explore deeper sites and pursue more advanced training.The important part is that the depth doesn't define the experience.

A 5-metre dive where you spend a few quiet moments with a turtle can be just as memorable as a deeper dive.

When Does Azul Teach Freediving in Amanpulo?

Azul's freediving operations at Amanpulo are centered around the island's Festive Season from December to January and the Easter-to-summer period.

These periods are when Val and the Azul team return to the island to conduct freediving classes, workshops, and activities for guests.

The timing also gives us opportunities to experience the island during different seasonal conditions and observe how the marine life changes throughout the year.

Because ocean conditions can change from day to day, specific sites and activities are always selected based on the conditions at the time.

Come for the island.

Stay for the ocean.

Freedive with Azul.

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