Best places to dive in the Philippines!
In case you missed it, the Philippines just bagged the Best Overseas Diving Award by the Marine Diving Awards 2020, as reported by The Department of Tourism. If this news isn't enough to convince you to check out our country's premier diving spots post-quarantine, we don't know what will!
More than just pristine, white-sand beaches, the Philippines is home to an abundance of great diving spots that both local and foreigners flock to just to experience. So if you've got a diving license, these stunning underwater experiences will surely make a lasting impression on you. Check out our top ten picks for diving spots in the Philippines:
- Apo Island
- Balicasag Island, Bohol
- Puerto Galera
- Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu
- Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Anilao, Batangas
- Monad Shoal, Malapascua, Cebu
- Coron, Palawan
- Sumilon Island, Dumaguete
Apo Island – Dauin, Negros Oriental
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
If you asked any seasoned diver, they’re most likely to recommend Apo Island for your diving adventure – and it’s no wonder why! This little island in Negros Occidental is swarming with incredible underwater wonders – all perfectly visible thanks to the island’s crystal clear waters. One experience under Apo Island’s waters will have you convincing all your friends to join you for round 2!
Balicasag Island— Bohol
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Dive into Bohol's most exceptional diving scene - Balicasag Island! Home to various fish, dolphins, and even schools of barracudas, the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary makes for the perefct diving spot for anyone interested in an underwater adventure.
Visitors can choose from five different diving spots, including the popular Black Forest, which is home to an abundance of black corals. Other diving spots include the Royal Garden, Diver's Haven and the Cathedral Wall.
In addition to that, Balicasag Island is a lot less popular, and therefore less crowded, as compared to other beaches in Bohol, so you can definitely enjoy a quiet R&R before and after the dive.
Puerto Galera
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Relatively close to Manila, a road trip to Puerto Galera can make for a really great vacation! Not only is it favored by locals for its beautiful beaches, but their diving spots are also a top choice for beginning and advanced divers.
For some recommended diving spots in Puerto Galera, Canyons is a premier choice for advanced divers for its stronger currents, Sabang Wreck is especially known for its shipwreck diving experience, while Verde Island is known to have the highest biodiversity in the country.
Pescador Island—Cebu
Pescador Island in Cebu is regarded as one of the country’s premier diving sites due to local regulations stating the protection of corals and their marine species. It is known for having one of the country's most spectacular sardine run experiences at Panagsama Beach. Nearby at Magic Point and Talisay Wall, you can also experience incredible diving opportunities with exceptional underwater scenes.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is one of, if not the most, popular diving spots in the country - and for good reason. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is teeming with hundreds and thousands of fish, corals, schools of dolphins, whales and sharks! It is so vast that many say you may need an entire week to fully experience this world-renowned diving area.
A famous diving spot at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is the Amos Rock, which is a congregation for thousands of corals and various species of fish - a true sight to behold!
Anilao, Batangas
Photo Credit: Desmond Williams via Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/N2rsYv5oqeM)
If you're looking for a diving spot close to Manila, Anilao, Batangas comes highly recommended. With over 50 diving spots to choose from, and all of which beaming with flourishing biodiversity, this premier diving area is a playground for divers.
Monad Shoal, Malapascua, Cebu
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thresher_Shark_at_Monad_Shoal.png)
This one's for thrill-seekers! Monad Shoal in Malapascua, Cebu is known for its underwater wonders, making it a top choice for advance divers. Specifically, divers come here to see the gathering spectacle of pelagic thresher sharks (deep sea sharks) as early as 4:30 AM.
For those who prefer a less-extreme, yet equally thrilling underwater experience, the nearby Gato Island is a sanctuary of various fish species and sea snakes that's also perfect for macro photography!
Sumilon Island, Dumaguete
Prepare to swim with the gentle giants of the sea and get to take pictures with them! Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Sumilon Island and feel its dreamy white sandbars in between your toes.
A must-visit destination on your trip to the Philippines, Sumilon Island's marine sanctuary is beaming with various species of fish and coral. The island is an ideal spot for both snorkeling and diving thanks to its thriving marine life with a lot of opportunities to catch blacktip sharks!
Coron, Palawan
More than it's pristine beaches and aquamarine waters, Coron has been considered a go-to spot for many divers for its unique underwater experience. While this diving spot doesn't lack in marine life, the real stars here are the sunken ships from World War II. Loaded with history, Coron's diving opportunities will be a memorable for anyone who chooses to brave this excursion.
