There is no doubt that the Philippines is home to a variety of biologically diverse marine and aquatic resources. We take great pride in having a dive site with everything. It is understandable why diving and marine sports are regarded as some of our nation's top tourist destinations and activities. From adventure to eco-tourism activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing, the majority of the thriving tourism activities available in the nation today are water-based.
You probably won't get bored because the Philippines is home to sardine baitballs, thresher sharks, whale sharks, and mantas, as well as amazing reefs, reef sharks, and wonderful marine life. In the Philippines, there are many dive resorts that provide diving and lodging packages, in addition to a large number of well-run and maintained dive centers. You can typically request a discount if you bring your own gear and/or are a certified diver.
How and where should you go? Check this out.
7 Freediving Spots Near Me
Anilao, Batangas
Anilao is located in the province of Batangas, just a few hours from Manila. Whether you are a total beginner or have some experience under your belt, Anilao is the best place for diving spots. Additionally, this region is home to a large number of freediving schools, and you can easily find a dive resort. The island of Anilao is renowned for having some of the best diving locations in the world because of the abundance of marine life and coral reefs there. It is one of the best scuba diving destinations near the Metro.
Balicasag Island, Bohol
One of the top tourist destinations in the Visayas after Boracay and Cebu, Balicasag Island diving is a must-visit while visiting Panglao Island in Bohol. One of the best places to visit when island-hopping in the Philippines is this dive site in Bohol. It is surrounded by five stunning dive sites, including the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary, which is known for its 200-meter drop-off. As its name suggests, Turtle Point is home to the most hospitable resident sea turtles that you can dive with on the island, but do not rush to approach one.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Tubbataha Reef is located in the province of Palawan, which is also home to some of the best beaches in the Philippines. Tubbataha, the first national marine park in the Philippines, has made significant advancements thanks to the dedication of passionate scientists, conservationists, and scuba divers over the years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the biggest marine protected areas in the nation. You will be able to see 360 different species of coral, or half of the corals that the world has today, as well as 23 different species of sharks and rays, such as nurse sharks, manta rays, devil rays, and eagle rays. Other species you may see include whale sharks, tiger sharks, whitetip, silvertip, blacktip, and hammerhead sharks.
Apo Reef Natural Park
The second-largest coral reef in the world and the biggest atoll in the Philippines, Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP), is located about 30 kilometers off the western coast of Mindoro Island. It is one of the best-known diving locations near Mindoro and Pandan Island, which are situated in the Mindoro Strait in the Philippines between Coron, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro. You should go with Sablayan Divers, a new dive place with the most experienced dive instructors on board, if you want to explore Apo Reef on a day trip, night dive, or overnight dive. It's also one of the best dive resorts in Occidental Mindoro. Muck diving in the Philippines is also among the best in the world and is every photographer’s dream, which they can do at Apo Reef.
Coron, Palawan (the wreck diving capital of the Philippines)
The greatest number of sunken ships are located near Sangat Island in Coron; 11 of them are within recreational scuba diving depths of 25 to 40 meters. The shipwrecks are in excellent condition, and advanced scuba divers strongly advise exploring them as part of Coron tour packages. When island-hopping in Coron, snorkeling can also provide non-divers with a glimpse of some of these shipwrecks.
Apo Island, Negros Oriental
What makes Apa Island a good diving spot? Apo is a 12-hectare volcano island located 30 minutes by boat from Daunin. This is an acclaimed tourist attraction in Negros Oriental because it is near Dumadagate's city center. It attracts more than just diving enthusiasts. In 1982, some parts were deemed marinely protected, and these efforts paid off. Apo Island has more than 615 recorded marine species and 400 coral species in total.
Malapascua, Cebu (Best for Thresher shark Diving)
Malapascua dives in Cebu are the most famous dive sites in the Philippines for the pelagical shark threshers. It is not surprising that shark enthusiasts keep coming to Malapascua Island because it is one of the places where thresher shark sightings are most frequent. Malapascua is the best diving spot in the Philippines if you want to see these wide-tailed creatures in the water!
The Best Time to Dive in the Philippines
There are four main weather seasons in the Philippines, making it a challenging place to visit in terms of weather conditions. As a result, you can go diving in the Philippines any time of the year, but there are some places you should avoid during the rainier months. Since it is the dry season from December to April, this is generally the best time to dive throughout the whole country. The traditional rainy season, which runs from June to October, is particularly heavy in Palawan and should generally be avoided.
Explore the Underwater Beauty of the Philippines.
The Philippines' incredible natural beauty is due in large part to the fact that most areas are still unexplored and home to premier scuba diving locations. Countless beautiful beaches can be found all over, so bring your mask and snorkel along! Of course, you can also easily purchase or rent a snorkeling kit locally for a reasonable price or go scuba diving.
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