Tourist divers keep coming back in the Philippines and the simplest reason is that we have the best dive sites in the country. With the help of the government and the locals, Philippine dive sites are protected and well-maintained.
From the dive sites rich in marine life to the creepy ones, Philippines have something to show off to the world when it comes down to beautiful dive sites.
The following are 10 best dive sites in the Philippines you probably don’t even know they exist.
10 Best Dive Sites in the Philippines
1. Apo Reef
Apo Island of Apo Reef by Macoy Mejia
Located in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, Apo Reef is one of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines rich in marine life. It is a 34-kilometers reef system making it the second-largest coral system in the world. It is considered to be a Natural Park and fishing is completely banned around the area.
2. Malapascua Island
Malapascua Island by Wow Cebu
Malapascua Island is being described to be as an isolated beach paradise. Diving in Malapascua Island is really becoming more and more popular with daily manta and thresher sharks sightseeing. What makes it more interesting is that, thresher sharks are rarely be seen by divers but in this island, it is present every single day! Malapascua Island is located at Daanbantayan, Cebu.
3. Pescador Island
Pescador Island by Tony Shih
Pescador Island is another one of the famous dive sites in the Philippines, a home of thousands of sardines. It is famous for its sardine run of which thousands of sardines gather and swim in one area. The island itself is a limestone island composed of sandy slopes and corals. There is a famous diving area called a “Cathedral” where there is a big hole you can swim through and explore what’s underneath the island. The island is located at Moalboan, Cebu.
4. Tubbataha Reef
Tubbataha Reef by Bo Mancao
Tubbataha Reef is known to have the most remarkable coral reefs on the planet. It is situated in Sulu Sea which is near Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It is a Natural Park protected by the government and the locals. Manta rays, turtles, amazing coral reefs, and many marine animals can be seen underwater. Although, getting through here and the fees can be expensive, it will help the government to preserve this dive site.
5. Ticao Pass
Ticao Pass by Ticao Island Resort
Tiacao Pass, popularly known as the “Manta Bowl“, is an amazing dive site in the Philippines located in Ticao, Masbate. It is famous for Manta Rays gliding around. With constant current and many plankton, it serves as a feeding ground for Manta Rays.
6. Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera Diving by Marco Vincent Divers
Puerto Galera is yet another recommended diving destination in the Philippines. There are around 30 dive sites in Puerto Galera, the most popular are Canyons, Shark Cave, Hole in the wall, and Sabang Wrecks. Here you can find plenty – shipwrecks, tiny cave, pink corals, turtles, octopus, sharks and many more. Click here to visit them all 30+ Puerto Galera Dive Sites. Puerto Galera is located in Mindoro, Philippines.
7. WWII Shipwrecks
WWII Shipwrecks Palawan | Image grabbed from Pinterest
WWII Shipwrecks in Coron Bay, Palawan is one of the interesting dive sites in the Philippines. Most divers want to explore the sunken Japanese warships and the marine life in this site. Though it maybe creepy, but that’s what makes it more interesting.
8. Barracuda Lake
Barracuda Lake Diving by Christine Dayrit
Barracuda Lake is one of the weird dive sites in the Philippines where there is a change in temperature and water color as you go deeper down the lake. It’s what Science called thermoclines, a visible later of cold, warm and hot water. What makes it more unnatural is the bottom of the lake. It is merely black. Barracuda Lake is located in Coron, Palawan.
9. Honda Bay
Honda Bay Diving by Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap on Flickr
Honda Bay in Palawan is a beautiful dive site in the Philippines surrounded with white sand and corals. Here you can find the great population of starfish located in “Starfish Island” in Honda Bay. Marine gastropod mollusk called “cowrie”, small to large sea snails, and many more! The marine lifeforms here is said to be almost the same as of Tubbataha Reef.
10. Anilao
Anilao by Martin Nussbaumer
Anilao in Batangas is one of the popular diving destination in the Philippines. This is a very accessible dive site since it is just a 2 – 3 hours ride from Metro Manila. Here you can find colorful corals and different fish species. Interesting life forms and coral formations can be found in Anilao.
