Philippines scuba diving! That’s what you’ll be doing if you take a trip to the Philippines. This rich and diverse country has some of the best scuba spots on Earth. The water is crystal clear, many different fish species live here, and it’s home to a wide range of coral reefs.
Whether you’re new to scuba diving or an expert who needs a break from all those cold dives up north, this article will be perfect for you. We’ll show you reasons why diving in the Philippines will make your life complete!
Philippines Diving Environments
Diving in the Philippines is a popular pastime for locals and tourists alike. The tropical climate means that water sports are possible year-round, no matter what month you visit. However, if you’re visiting diver and plan on diving while here. Be prepared because strong winds throughout December through March might make currents challenging to navigate against.
The best time would be from April through June when there’s little whether going around. Everything will go more smoothly regardless whether it rains or not.
The months between June and November are the best time to see some of Asia’s most stunning creatures. Like whale sharks, manta rays, and thresher sharks! These gentle giants swim underwater in groups.
Another perfect time to scuba dive is in September and October, when the monsoon season has passed. These months are the excellent chance for divers to explore underwater caves. These caves only open up during this window of opportunity, making it easier for you to enjoy all that these spots have on offer.
If you can’t make it here at those times, though, don’t worry because diving weather doesn’t change from month to month, so there’s always going to be something new or different for you!
Submarine Condition
The waters of the Philippines are crystal clear and free from pollution, making for great diving. Visibility ranges from 5 meters on some islands to 40 in other areas around town. Weather can also affect visibility, but it’ll only be fair winds or calm seas if you’re lucky enough, so your experience won’t disappoint either way.
The Philippines has some of the warmest waters in all of Asia. Still, divers can get by with just a short-sleeve wetsuit since temperatures are usually between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Best Marine Life Attraction
- Eagle, Devil, and Manta rays
- Mantis shrimp
- Barracuda
- Triggerfish
- Scorpionfish
- Batfish
- Octopus
- Pelagic fish
- Thresher sharks
- Trumpetfish
- Tuna
- Hammerhead sharks
- Green sea turtles
- Large reef sharks
- Grey reef sharks
- Sea Snakes
Ways of Diving in the Philippines
There are different types of diving:
Muck Diving
The Philippines is a photographer’s paradise, with underwater photography opportunities in Anilao and Dauin. The clear waters of these locations offer excellent visibility to showcase all sorts of nudibranchs and frogfish that live on the bottom floor or just beneath it – some may say they have an advantage because their surroundings make them invisible!
Muck diving can be done anywhere across this country since most places boast beautiful tropical fish communities which don’t get too big, so divers will indeed find something interesting no matter where you go. Still, if there were one thing we could recommend, it would be scuba diving in Moalboal, Cebu.
This location offers divers the chance to see all sorts of sea creatures like whale sharks and manta rays that come into shallow waters for an easy feed or to rest! It’s also famous for its scallops which are delicious when served as sushi, so you should try them out if you have the chance since their season is usually between January and April.
Coral Reefs and Lighthouse Reefs
This type of scuba diving is recommended only for advanced divers who know how to navigate currents successfully. There can sometimes be strong undercurrents due to weather conditions changing dramatically throughout the seasons–one minute, it might be stormy. Still, then suddenly calm again, so this is something you have to look out for if scuba diving in the Philippines!
The best time to dive here would be from July through October since during these months, weather conditions are usually ideal with little or no rain, making it easier for divers to scuba dive without too much trouble. The area also has some excellent wall dives, where divers may see a variety of reef fish as well as nurse sharks and sea turtles resting on the sandy floor awaiting their next meal – be careful not to scare them if they approach you because some could mistake your fins for food, so only communicate with them when authorized!
Two more scuba diving spots include Bato Caves which have limestone formations that attract lots of marine life like octopus, cuttlefish, and scallops while scuba diving in Moalboal.
Diving with Sharks
Malapascua Island, commonly known as “The Philippines’ Galapagos,” is a popular destination for scuba diving with sharks because it boasts Thresher sharks, which are locally referred to as “Banana” fish since they have long tails that they use to grab prey like squid or octopus before eating them whole. There have been sightings here where divers even got a chance to scuba dive with threshers on a night dive; how incredible would this be?
If you’re lucky enough, then maybe scuba diving in Bohol will allow you to see whale sharks, scalloped hammerheads, and even the rare megamouth shark!
Most people go scuba diving in Puerto Galera, which offers steep drop-offs, colorful corals, and schools of scalloped hammerheads–this is also an excellent place to scuba dive with sharks in the Philippines because local fishermen have reported sightings here. Hence, it’s likely you’ll be able to spot one too while scuba diving!
Wreck Diving
Wreck divers will enjoy exploring Coron’s WWII shipwrecks. Swimming among these submerged vessels is an unforgettable experience that’s well worth doing if you’re ever in Asia!
Puerto Princesa scuba diving was recently recognized as one of Asia’s finest scuba diving sites, and it’s easy to see why. This area is a marine biodiversity hotspot, so if you’re searching for an adventure, look no further!
Night Diving
The scenery varies from tall coral walls, caves, tunnels, trenches, and even drift dives, making this destination perfect for all sorts of divers. You can find lots to explore, including nudibranchs hiding under boulders or exploring sponge gardens during night scuba dives around Puerto Galera. When darkness falls, their colors become much brighter, making them easy to spot. This area is also known for pygmy seahorses that cling onto soft corals or gorgonians, so scuba diving here is a must!
Puerto Galera scuba diving offers steep drop-offs with visibility up to 40 meters, perfect for seeing lots of different marine life like barracuda, sharks, and rays. If you’re lucky, then scuba diving in Puerto Galera might even offer the opportunity to see whale sharks passing by from time to time–this can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed if offered while scuba diving!
Best Dive Sites in the Philippines
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera in the Mindoro Island channel holds the title of most developed and populated tourist destination in the Philippines. Underlying its popularity is a plethora of dive sites located just minutes from the shoreline, making this place perfect for any scuba lover or fisherman looking to take advantage of what they have right at their fingertips: endless opportunities!
Sabang Wreck
You get three at the cost of one at Sabang wreck, where a trio of vessels line the seafloor. Two wooden boats and a steel yacht are ripe for exploring and swarming with macro life.
The Verde
The Verde is a dive site where experienced divers can explore intriguing and unusual creatures. Huge wall dives allow you to swim through tunnels of aquatic life, while drift diving offers scenic views like none other in this area! Frogfish cruise the depths along with snapper and trumpet fishes; Anthia fish live nearby, as do humphead wrasse – what more could any diver ask for?
Sabang Point
Batfish are fascinating fish that can be found throughout the world’s oceans. Now you’ll have an opportunity to explore their otherwise hidden underwater homes with this trip!
You won’t believe your eyes as we lead our boat at night through Sabang Point and into its deep waters where colorful species swim by searching for food or just passing the time until morning comes again.
The Canyons
The Canyons is a dive spot that features an exciting array of sea life. With three canyons, you’re bound to see rare soft pink coral and giant gorgonians!
Hole in The Wall
The hole in the wall site is an excellent place for divers of all skill levels because it has gentler currents than Canyons and Verde.
Negros
The fourth-largest island in the Philippines, Negros acts as a gateway to many desirable dive locations, including Apo Island. The surrounding areas are home to pristine coral reefs and rich marine life, offering divers an unforgettable experience for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike!
Apo Island
Jump in the water with colorful coral beds and play hide-and-seek in between them! The protected area is also famous for the Apo reef natural park.
Cebu
Cebu is a gateway to the Philippines and serves as a key commercial center for trade and tourism. Despite its international airport and status as a business metropolis for trade and tourism, it’s home to beautiful dive sites teeming with life.
Monad Shoal
The Monad Shoal is a great dive site not only for divers but also as an opportunity to see the elusive thresher sharks. Divers can regularly spot these deep-sea dwelling creatures at Monad shoals and other locations in Manus province because of its unique environment that coexists with many different fish species.
Mactan Island
Lionfish, turtles, and rays are all high on the list of aquatic creatures that you can find in Mactan. While diving there, I saw this one guy who had his tank full of lionfish! It was so funny because they’re delicious too – almost like sushi but better since it’s raw rather than cooked (and the flavor lasts longer).
Dakit Dakit
The Dakit-Dakit is an excellent spot for beginners. The shallow waters are populated by butterflyfish and orangutan crabs, so this would be the perfect place to start if you’re looking into getting your feet wet without risking too much money!
Boracay
The archipelago features a wide variety of habitats, including bays with vacuums, seashells, and wrecks. Wrecks, walls, and reefs may be found in the waters of Boracay Island. Just beyond its white-sand beaches may be discovered locations for every diving bucket list.
Crocodile Island
At Crocodile Island, novices are advised to have a look at the sloping coral reefs. While looking for macroscopic marine pals, join forces with Sweetlips, boxfish, and Lionfish.
Boulder
Boulder is a popular site among cave divers because of its maze of caves and tunnels. The environment is ideal for substantial aquatic species, including sharks and rays.
Yapak 1 & Yapak 2
The remote islands of Yapak 1 and 2 are exceptional wall dives with drops of 30-70 meters. The steep walls are decorated with corals in nearly every shape and hue. The waters around the Cayman Islands are home to country-specific dive sites like Yapak 1 and 2, which are teeming with giant fish such as tuna and snapper, as well as reef sharks and eagle species.
Are you ready to begin your Philippines Diving Expedition?
If you’re looking for an action-packed, immersive experience that will leave your head spinning and feet tingle with excitement, then look no further than Scuba Diving in Puerto Galera – the Philippines. This region has hundreds of thousands of new divers granted certification each year!
With so much to offer, there’s no excuse not to book your stay with BADLADZ. We promise you won’t regret it! Explore all that BADLADZ has to offer – from our scuba diving course for beginners, group dive packages, or other fun activities like banana boats, jet skis, kayaking, mud karts, and many more. If you’re looking for a nightlife experience as well, don’t worry because we’ve got some of the best clubs in town just waiting around the corner. Let’s make this trip something worth remembering together! Visit our website and book your stay at BADLADZ.
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