Walls, canyons, wrecks and coral gardens can be found in many of the 7000 plus tropical islands which make up the Philippines. There are hundreds of dive centers, some very remote, spread through the nation. Philippine sites are famous for the diversity and range of marine life of the small to medium sized variety. They are among the world’s best, both for the experienced and novice divers.
The best time to dive in the Philippines is during the months of November through May. The wet season for most of the country is July to September, and should be avoided, as this time corresponds with typhoon season. Beginning in November and ending in May is what is considered the dry season. At this time, the sea becomes flat, calm and a brilliant azure, with incredible visibility especially during April and May.
Here are some of the mostought after dive sites in the Philippines, locations that I consider to be the 6 Top Spots for scuba diving in the Philippines.
1. Apo Island
This is a small volcanic island off the southeastern tip of Negros Island. This site is considered to be the best site in all of the Philippines – the Mother of all dive sites in the Philippines. It is also home of one of the most successful and best – run marine sanctuaries in the Philippines. It is a favorite among divers for its excellent visibility. It is home to big fish, mantas, white tip, hammerhead and whale sharks. However, currents are strong so it is not for a novice beginner.
Apo Island is available by a one hour flight from Manila to Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, or by a 40 minute flight from Cebu City in the Visayas. Apo Island is about 25 km south of Dumaguete. The departure point to Apo Island, which is only 7 km offshore, is Malatapay Beach. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Apo from Malatapay Beach by way of a charter boat.
2. Anilao
This site is a small 13 km peninsula in the Batangas province, easily accessible by car or bus from Manila. This is a very popular weekend dive site due to its close proximity to Manila, but it offers a wide variety of coral and marine life. The most famous dive site in Anilao, and sometimes in the country is Cathedral Rock, a marine sanctuary just offshore the Dive 7000 Resort.
However, for those looking for night life to go with your diving, there is not much to keep you entertained. In recent years, It has been overtaken in popularity by places like Puerto Galera and Alona Beach on Bohol Island. However, for a dive easily accessible to Manila, Anilao is the place to go.
3. Puerto Galera
Located in Mindoro Oriental province, this location not only has some of the most diverse coral reefs and marine life diving, it also is known for its sun, sand and wild nightlife. Diving is king, with drinking coming in a close second. There are many dive options, with plenty of intermediate and beginning dive sites, frequently used for certification purpose, as well as plenty of advanced dive site.
Getting there is by way of a tourist coach (bus) from Manila to Batangas, from which you then catch a ferry to Puerto Galera. The total trip takes about 4 – 5 hours.
4. Camiguin
Camiguin is a small volcanic island off the central north coast of Mindanao. Drop it down in the water next to the big island of Hawaii or next to Maui and it would not look out of place. This is due to its imposition volcanic silhouette. It has more volcanoes per square meter than any other island on earth. There is also lots of white sand beaches and hot springs on the island.
Camiguin is accessible by air from both Manila and Cebu City by flying into Cagayan De Oro in Misamis Oriental Province (which is on the North coast of Mindanao). There is now a fast craft ferry service from Cagayan De Oro to Camiguin. There is also a daily boat from Camiguin to Bohol and a Super Shuttle ferry from Camiguin to Cebu every Sunday.
5. Coron Bay
This is one of the most famous dive sites in the Philippines. It is located on Palawan. What makes it so famous are the great number of famous wrecks. Wreck diving is the name of the game at this site. Coron Bay is a world-class destination for wreck diving. The visibility is awesome and the sunken Japanese WWII fleet of ships are known around the world. There are at least 10 of them available to wreck divers.
Coron is accessible by air from Manila by way of Busuanga, and by sea with Superferry and Negros Navigation. Air Phlippines, Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and SEAIR airlines all service Coron.
6. Panglao Island
Located near Cebu City, in the Visayas, is Bohol’s Panglao island, where the action is centered around Alona Beach. The entire area is full of great dive sites, but the highlight is Balicasag Island, which is a 45 minute boat ride from Alona Beach. It has a marine sanctuary, where impressive submarine cliffs drop as deep as 50 meters. Both soft and hard corals can be found around the cliffs. Many diving veterans consider it the best dive site in the country, after the remote reef systems of Apo Reef National park (see 1 above).
Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have two daily one hour flights between Manila and Tagbilaran, the main city on Bohol. Panglao Island is on the southern side of Bohol, across a short bridge from the Bohol mainland. All the major resort on Panglao has transportation available from Tagbilaran airport to their property. Alternately, you can catch a cab or a van for hire at the airport.
Will Irwin