Going diving in the Philippines is one activity that is on hundreds of people’s bucket lists and quite rightly so as it is one of the most fantastic spots in the world for diving. You may or may not know that the Philippines are right in the middle of true marine biodiversity, and coral reefs are the main source of marine species hence, diving is incredibly popular.  Of course, there are many destinations within the Philippines that are fantastic, so we will try here to review some of the best for you today.  These include:

• Tubbataha Reefs - Palawan
• Apo Island
• Malapascua Island
• Peurto Galera

Dive Philippines – Tubbataha Reefs

The Tubbataha Reefs are found of the coast of Palawan, which is on the western side of the Philippines.  It is an atoll, which is rarely found in nature and was nominated as being one of the new seven wonders of nature; this should give you an idea of the beauty you can expect.  The marine life is amazing, and you are likely to come across barracudas, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, Moorish idols, kawksbill sea turtles (which are endangered) and moray eels.  This spot really deserves its place in the top diving destinations, not just in the Philippines but for dive sites in the world.

Dive Philippines – Apo Island

Apo Island can be found in Dauin, Negros Oriental and is a renowned dive site in the Philippines.  If you visit the really laid back city of Dumaguete, you won’t be able to miss Apo Island.  It is an incredibly primitive island, but the diving opportunities are fantastic.  However, with it being such a primitive island, you may want to plan in advance to make sure that there is diving equipment available if you don’t have your own.

Dive Philippines – Malapascua Island

Malapascua Island can be found on the northern side of the Cebu Province, which is right in the middle of Visayas.  It is so peaceful and lovely there that you may find you don’t want to leave!  In fact, it may be advised to go there last if you intend to go on a diving trip across the Philippines as many people who start their dive vacation off here decide to stay put.  The diving opportunities are great, with an incredible diversity of marine life including mandarin fish, thresher sharks, white tip sharks and even the rare and elusive pygmy seahorses, to name but a few.

Dive Philippines – Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera is quite a large area and the best diving site has to be Verde Island, which is in Oriental Mindoro.  It is only a short distance from Manila, so is easily accessible for tourists who are likely to arrive at Manila airport.  Puerto Galera is a great place to go wall diving and wreck diving.  There is also plenty of marine life, including banner fish, turtles, lizardfish, batfish, mandarin fish and jacks.  However, the currents can be very strong and it is important to be an experienced diver before taking on Puerto Galera.

Did you know that certain parts of the Philippines have been described as the “centre of the centre of the world’s marine life”?  Another interesting little fact is that there are only seven species of sea turtles the world over, and five of these occur in the Philippines.  The Philippines are also the best place in the world to go for nudibranches, with these bizarre sea slugs living here in abundance.  Do remember, as a diver, that you have a responsibility towards ocean and marine conservation, so please don’t be tempted to take souvenirs, drop any litter or touch the marine life.  Also, be very careful not to follow a turtle in your enthusiasm, as they dive deep very quickly, and many divers have been caught at dangerous depths unaware.  This, of course, has many tremendous risks that all divers should be aware of.

The reality is that if you want to dive Philippines, you probably don’t have enough time in your life to visit all the different sites.  The Philippines themselves are made up of over 7,000 islands, each one more beautiful and unique than the next.  It is a true archipelagic country, not just in geography but also in culture.  For some reason, archipelagic countries all seem to be populated by welcoming and friendly people, which is the case in the Philippines.  You are sure to have a great time diving and you may lose your heart not just to the underwater world offered by the Philippines, but also the country itself.

Photos courtesy of Raymond