With so many islands to discover, it is smart that the Philippines is among the greatest diving locations on the planet. Spectacular reefs, whale sharks, mantas, and underwater UNESCO World Heritage websites invite divers into the crystal clear waters of the Pacific. However that are the perfect dive websites within the Philippines?
Whereas practically any vacation spot will yield superb scuba diving, the greatest diving holidays within the Philippines are discovered aboard liveaboard diving vessels. These well-appointed yachts will transport you to in any other case unreachable reefs and can help you dive the perfect websites throughout a number of islands in only a quick period of time.
Listed here are our final suggestions for the 10 greatest dive websites within the Philippines. You received’t need to miss these!
1. Amos Rock – Tubbataha Reefs Pure Park
One of the vital distant diving locations within the Philippines, Tubbataha Reefs Pure Park is simply reachable by liveaboard between March and June. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage website and boasts 600 species of fish, 360 species of coral, 13 whale and dolphin species, and 11 species of shark.
You’ll want every week to discover all of the websites, however don’t miss Amos Rock the place a gorgonian-covered wall hosts a wide range of comfortable corals and large faculties of fish. The realm is known for its giant reef sharks.
Dive Sort: Reef
Really helpful Degree: Intermediate
Featured Creatures: Reef sharks, groupers and large faculties of reef fish
Search Philippines Flight Costs
2. Monad Shoal – Malapascua
Because the Philippines’ greatest shark dive, Monad Shoal is residence to common sightings of thresher sharks. At 100 toes (30 meters), divers are practically assured no less than one remark of the crazy-tailed shark over two diving days.
That is essentially the most constant website on the planet for thresher sharks, and occurs to be the one place a thresher shark was photographed giving beginning. Seize your gear and head to this tiny paradise for a thrill of a dive. Learn every little thing you should learn about diving in Malapascua right here.
Dive Sort: Shoal
Really helpful Degree: Superior
Featured Creatures: Thresher Sharks
3. Canyons – Puerto Galera
Simply accessible from Manila, Puerto Galera is a diving paradise with crystal clear waters, ample marine life and a wide range of diving environments.
Whereas there are a number of dive websites value observe, essentially the most wanted is Canyons. Right here, currents sweep divers via three beautiful canyons coated in a wide range of comfortable corals and sponges. Take your time inside these buildings to search out giant faculties of fish together with barracudas, batfish, snappers, emperors and trevally.
Dive Sort: Drift
Really helpful Degree: Superior
Featured Creatures: Barracuda, batfish, snappers, trevally and emperors
4. Apo 29 – Apo Reef Pure Park
Identified to be the second largest coral reef on the planet, Apo Reef Pure Park is the second UNESCO World Heritage website reef within the Philippines. It’s fairly a journey from the primary islands, so that you’ll discover Apo Reef can be greatest dived from a liveaboard.
Make sure you embody Apo 29 in your dive plan – it’s typically thought-about among the finest but most difficult dive websites within the space. The big seamount rises to 82 toes (25 meters) under sea stage.
Right here you would possibly spot numerous reef sharks, thresher sharks, hammerheads, manta rays and faculties of pelagic fish. The most effective time to go to is between November and Might, and bear in mind that many dive operators require 100 dives as a prerequisite for a dive safari to Apo Reef.
Dive Sort: Seamount
Really helpful Degree: Superior
Featured Creatures: Manta rays, reef sharks, hammerheads and thresher sharks
5. Manta Bowl – Ticao Move, Donsol
An underwater shoal protecting 7 hectares of flat space, Manta Bowl sits between the plankton-rich waters of the Ticao and Burias Passes. With always flowing present, the alley has turn out to be a magnet for manta rays as each a cleansing and feeding station.
The most effective time to identify these swish creatures is between December and Might. Different occasional guests embody huge whale sharks, hammerheads and tiger sharks.
Dive Sort: Drift (with reef hooks)
Really helpful Degree: Intermediate
Featured Creatures: Manta rays
6. Okikawa Maru – Coron Bay, Palawan
Typically known as the “Poor Man’s Chuuk Lagoon,” Coron Bay served as a short harbor for a number of Japanese warships throughout World Battle II. In September 1944, 11 of those ships had been sunk by an Allied air assault.
As we speak, these wrecks are fascinating dive websites, and one of the accessible is the Okikawa Maru, a 525 toes (160 meter) lengthy tanker. The highest of the ship’s superstructure sits at 32 toes (10 meters) under the floor, making this an amazing wreck for all ranges. Simply bear in mind that robust currents are sometimes current.
Dive Sort: Wreck
Really helpful Degree: Newbie
Featured Creatures: Macro life
7. Coconut – Apo Island
To not be confused with Apo Reef, Apo Island is situated off of Dauin, close to Dumaguete. The complete space is a world-class diving vacation spot, however drift-lovers will need to add Coconut to their must-dive record. You’ll quickly realise why it’s among the finest dive websites within the Philippines!
Regionally referred to as the Washing Machine, this website isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. However you’re certain to see LOTS of fascinating marine life, together with large faculties of pelagic fish, banded sea kraits and sea turtles. Sometimes bait balls type. So discover a sheltered spot and watch the motion unfold.
Dive Sort: Drift
Really helpful Degree: Superior
Featured Creatures: Barracuda, trevally, sea kraits and sea turtles
8. Yapak – Boracay
There’s extra to Boracay than powdering white sand seashores that stretch on for so far as the attention can see. The diving round this paradise can be nice, and the perfect website is Yapak. You by no means know what you would possibly see alongside this 106-foot (32-meter) wall.
Drift alongside looking to the blue for tuna and sharks that float effortlessly by. Flip to the wall and seek for macro life, together with vibrant nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses. In case you are extraordinarily fortunate, you would possibly even get a glimpse of the unusual mola mola ascending from the depths.
Dive Sort: Wall
Really helpful Degree: Superior
Featured Creatures: Tuna, pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs
9. Divers’ Heaven – Balicasag
A coral reef paradise, Balicasag is a brief boat experience from Bohol. Ask anybody they usually’ll inform you that considered one of their favorite dive websites round this small island is Divers’ Heaven, a wall dive between 30 and 130 toes (10 and 40 meters).
Massive faculties of fish comparable to jacks and barracuda populate the realm and are seemingly detached to divers. As a result of currents are mild and the depth could be decided by the diver, it is a nice website for novices.
Dive Sort: Wall
Really helpful Degree: Newbie
Featured Creatures: Jacks, barracuda and reef fish
10. Manit Muck – Anilao
The most effective night time dive on our record, Manit Muck is considered one of a number of worthwhile dive websites in Anilao. Also called Secret Bay, this website could even rival among the muck diving present in Indonesia.
At any time of day, you would possibly discover Ambon scorpion fish, ghost pipefish, Wonderpus octopus, mantis shrimp and nudibranchs. However be sure you dive Manit Muck at night time to see this surroundings come to life. Essentially the most life is concentrated between 10 and 70 toes (3 and 21 meters).
Dive Sort: Muck/Night time
Really helpful Degree: Newbie
Featured Creatures: Mantis shrimp, octopus, nudibranchs, seahorses and pipefish
Now, isn’t it time you booked your dive journey to the Philippines?
And don’t neglect to be part of our GTS low cost membership to avoid wasting critical money on diving within the Philippines – and the remainder of the world too!
