Top Eight Best Diving Spots in the Philippines
by nobert soloria bermosa on 01/05/08 at 9:03 am
Here’s a list of world-class diving sites in the world.
Looking for the best diving spots in the world? Here’s a list of the top eight best dive sites in the Philippines with world class diving facilities and white sand beaches.
The Philippines was cited as one of the top three best diving spots in the world, together with Maldives and Palau. Among the internationally recognized best dive spots in the country are;
1. Tubbataha Reef Marine Park,Sulu Sea
It is famous for its diverse marine life. Tubbataha Reef Marine Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world and the best place for snorkeling and diving in Asia.
The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 33,200 ha, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.
2. Malapascua Island, Cebu
It is famous for its rare sharks.
Malapascua is one of the least spoiled tourist spots in the Philippines. Labeled as the next Boracay by the Lonely Planet, Malapascua has everything for the traveling diver.
Malapascua diving offers: the only daily thresher shark sightings in the world, white tip sharks, mantas, hammerheads (seasonal), wrecks, mandarin fish, pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, beautiful unspoiled coral gardens and a huge diversity of marine life.
3. Puerto Galera, Mindoro
This diving site is noted for its colorful reefs.
A little further from Anilao using Batangas Pier as jump-off point, Puerto Galera is a natural harbor with fine beaches, green scenery and sheltered coves. Puerto Galera has grown to become a diving haven due to its marine diversity, complemented by other activities. At least two dozen sites have been identified, each providing good opportunity for photography. Most divers prefer to go to Puerto Galera from March to October.
4. Anilao, Batangas
Anilao’s proximity makes it a popular destination for weekend diving trips.
Even excursions are ideal in this southern town where resorts are situated within short boat rides to excellent dive sites. Diving is mainly in coral slopes and shallow gardens among sandy patches. Choose from any of the 24 dive sites between the coast of Anilao and Maricaban Island. The most popular site is the Cathedral (average of 60 ft.), a roofless cavern with a blessed cross flanked by two large sea mounts.
5. Balicasag Island, Bohol
Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country.
Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country. The waters are brimming with schools of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish. Dolphins and pilot whales can also be viewed from a distance.
6. Apo Reef, Negros Oriental
Apo Reef National Park is another UNESCO World Heritage Site
Apo Reef National Park is acclaimed as one of the best diving sites in Asia. It is a 34-kilometer reef, with a narrow channel running east to west, dividing this reef into two lagoon systems, north and south. Apo Reef is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the largest in the Philippines.
7. Palawan’s Surrounding Islands
Coron, El Nido and Busuanga are just three of the many dive sites in Palawan.
Coron Bay is one of the most popular diving destinations in the Philippines. This site is one of the most famous wreck diving destinations in the entire world due to the amount of historic sunken ships which can be visited and seen with great clarity due to this area’s waters usual transparency.
El Nido is one of the world class diving destinations in the Philippines. El Nido dive sites are also the home of the exotic and colorful tropical marine life. With its unexploited underwater scenery, divers will have a good look on the colorful tropical fishes and corals. In El Nido alone, there are 20 dive sites already.
8. Boracay, Aklan
Boracay is the best tropical beach in the world.
Boracay is one of the most popular diving areas in Southeast Asia. Boracay is a great dive holiday location, simply because it combines a wide range of dive activities with one of the best beaches in the world plus the numerous good quality resorts, restaurants, bars and night time events. There are 15 diving sites in the area.
For more tourist destinations in the Philippines see
11 Reasons Why You Have To Go To The Hundred Islands
The Top Five Island Tourist destinations in the Philippines
Ifugao Rice Terraces: The 8th Wonder of the World
Best Island Tourist Destinations in the Philippines
Best Tourist Destinations in the Philippines
What Makes Batanes Unique From Other Tourist Destinations?
The Top Six Most Popular caves in the Philippines
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22 Comments
salvatore
May 1st, 2008
Now this is very interesting, I would love to go to all
these places to scuba dive. The water looks clear and
clean. Thankyou Buddy for the read. Well done.
tracy sardelli
May 1st, 2008
Very interesting Nobert. The pictures are beautiful, makes me wish I was there.
Alexa Gates
May 1st, 2008
very interesting!
Lucy Lockett
May 1st, 2008
It is more diverse than I imagined it to be! Very beautiful, you are spoiled!
Francie
May 1st, 2008
Great article, absolutely breath taking photos!!
quiet voice
May 1st, 2008
…Hi, this is one of the most
amazing articles I have read.
The pictures make you feel as
though you are scuba diving and
seeing the underwater creatures
in real time. Gees! Beautiful.
Thank you.
Gwen Cuizon
May 2nd, 2008
I’ve been to malapascua, cebu. it’s a major tourist destination here. better check it out if you happen to be in cebu. the other one i recommend is the dive spots in moalboal, also in cebu. it’s not as known as malapascua but frequented by most foreigners here coz it’s not as crowded.
Ruby Hawk
May 2nd, 2008
Very interesting, I would love to visit some of these interesting places but I’m afraid I have to make do with the rivers, creeks and swimming pool. Wonderful information.
Patz
May 3rd, 2008
I have been diving around Palawan but not in the sites you mentioned. It would be great to see those places for comparison. They’re tourist sites and many of the sites I’ve been are isolated places where we have to bring our own tanks to explore it as part of research work. But Tubbataha, they say, is one of the best.
Rose
Jul 28th, 2008
How about Moalboal Cebu
Petra Lambert
Sep 3rd, 2008
Great information
I am looking to take a PADI Open Water Course and hope to try and find a good company to train with.
Excellent!
Many thanks
cutesy
Oct 10th, 2008
these are indeed amazing! i miss being the Philippines…
David Wingo
Nov 20th, 2008
I am a divemaster(since 1994) have been diving in many areas of the Philippines and find that the info you gave about El Nido is false. While El Nido has some of the most magnificent seascapes/beaches in the world, the surrounding reefs have been severely damaged by cyanide and dynamite. The wrecks near Coron are extremely impressive however the visibility is usually very poor. There is a lake dive on Coron Island that is very unusual because you are basically diving in a hotspring once you get below 4-5 meters Malapascua Island, Cebu is famous for its Thrasher Sharks but other than that the diving is very average. The beaches there are great and there is a feel of being totally off the beaten path. Verde Island off Puerto Galera is also worth a mention. No where in my travels has anybody mentioned much about Boracay for its diving but I heard heaps about how its turned into a package tour tourist trap. Also, you failed to mention Apo Island off Negros, the diving there is fantastic and was recently listed as one of two areas in the Philippines by Skin Diver Magazine
song
Jan 2nd, 2009
this is my very first time to have access in the internet, it was so fun to have one…….
merle
Jan 5th, 2009
nice,very interesting
aizjane
Apr 7th, 2009
I’m proud of being a Filipino because a lot of beautiful spots are here. This place is bless of having a beautiful nature.
Anne
Apr 22nd, 2009
I was in most islands in visayas area and did several divings too. The beaches were nice, just the transportation is difficult. Was in moalboal too, its not crowded but in my opinion and my buddies, diving is not that good there. Malapascua is ok, the crowd is better than Alona Beach Panglao, good diving area as well. Olanggo island is also nice, and so the resort. Southern Leyte is pretty good, Napantao is world class. Apo island in Negros is no doubt, its nice there. Dumaguete too… well other areas i have not been yet. So this all i can say for now… need to add more vacations and locations
. Always have a nice day Pip 
toya
Apr 26th, 2009
it’s fun looking at the pictures. haha.
is it hard to dive? i don’t have any experience in diving. T_T
Douglas Rutherford
May 13th, 2009
Your pictures are beautiful and the scuba diving in these locations must be great. If you have never been to the BATANES ISLANDS, you should try the scuba diving there. The coral reefs are fantastic and there are wonderful Marine Sanctuaries to dive in also. The local dive company is in Basco Batanes on Batan Island. The company is called DiveBatanes and is run by a diver by the name of Chico Domingo. He is a great dive guide and has great gear.. You can contact him at http://www.divebatanes.com all his info is there. P.S. all of Batanes is wonderful and the people are too!!
manolo florida
Jun 20th, 2009
im 11 yrs old im a junior diver and im going to palawan,tubatahan and in balicasag i cant wait to see some big cool fishes
laloy
Jul 3rd, 2009
thank you for the nice information.now i know where is the best diving spot is.
Tikya
Jul 27th, 2009
Wow love to be in all the dive spots you mentioned! Thanks for sharing that to us..
I only been in palawan, Coron in no doubt is good diving spot be it wreck or coral reef.
I just wished to have a buddy to explore the marine life in the Philippines.
Keep it up Nobert!
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