With 7,641 islands scattered across 300,000 sq km of ocean, the Philippines boasts some of the best diving spots on the planet. It is home to nearly 9% of the world’s coral reefs and is considered the epicenter of global marine biodiversity. “From historic wrecks to stunning roller-coaster drift dives; from migrating giant whales sharks to record numbers of nudibranch species - the Philippines has a mind-boggling array of wonderful diving.” Here are our top 5 picks for the country’s best diving sites:
Puerto Galera - no questions asked. When you think of diving, you immediately picture in your mind the archipelago’s dive central - bustling, fun, and great value. Its crystal clear waters allow for great visibility. It has abundant marine life, being home to more than 800 species of nudibranch alone and a huge variety of diving environments. One of the most exciting would be the renowned Canyons.
Malapascua island - a quaint picture-perfect spot in Visayas, this is one of the few places in the world where there are regular sightings of thresher sharks. The Monad Shoal which is a flat-topped, submerged seamount about 8km from the island, is used by the sharks as a cleaning station. These creatures get there early so be sure to be on the reef by dawn.
Anilao - located on the northern shore of the Verde Island Passage is Anilao. It has dozens of operators and resorts to choose from. The dive sites in this area range from seamounts and pinnacles to current-washed coral reefs. You can even explore some shipwrecks, coral gardens and soft-sediment seagrasses and sponge.
Coron Bay - “On 24 September 1944, a squadron of 24 US bombers burst out of the sky above Coron Bay on the northern tip of the island of Palawan, the most westerly of the Philippine islands, located the Japanese supply fleet hiding among the islands below, and proceeded to blow it apart. Today Coron Bay has the best wreck diving in Southeast Asia, all packed into one relatively small area. “
Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental - if you’re looking for a diving resort in Davao, you’d probably come to think of those located in Talicud Island of Camiguin. But think again, because one of the newest beach resorts in Davao with diving activity as part of its itineraries is Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. It’s in the far ends of Davao Oriental, which is conveniently adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. The open waters make it a great spot for deep dives where you can see some of the rarest species of marine life. It’s now known to be a new favorite spot for macro photography underwater. You can check out more about this fresh spot at campbernardino.com and just type “what to do in Camp Bernardino de Lavigan” for more ideas.
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