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Scuba Diving The Philippines

There is an island country in South East Asia famous for diveable historic shipwrecks, macro and muck diving, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive with thresher sharks.

This section contains detailed information about the top dive spots in the Philippines with extra tips and advice for new and experienced divers heading to the Philippine archipelago.

Where is Best for Diving in The Philippines?

The marine area in the tropical waters of the western Pacific known as the Coral Triangle encompasses:

Pro Tip: According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Coral Triangle is a 6 million square kilometre ecosystem that contains the highest coral diversity in the world (76%).

As a result, scuba divers and snorkelers exploring the best dive sites in the Philippines will find a profusion of reef structures (including man made coral reefs), and a superabundance of flamboyant fish life.

For example:

Many divers regard Puerto Galera as being the ultimate diving capital of the Philippines - and for good reasons! A short ten minute boat trip puts you in the middle of a photographic mecca for scuba divers and snorkelers.

Whereas, the Luzon dive sites - near the capital Manila - have become a popular destination for travelers to start a scuba diving adventure.

The former site of the US Navy facility at Subic Bay in the South China Sea has become the final resting place for a huge collection of sunken ships and aircrafts.

It's fair to say many wreck diving enthusiasts consider these WWII warship wreckages in Subic Bay ranking among the top 10 wreck dives in the world.

In other words:

The Philippines dive sites provide the ideal underwater environments to find soft coral formations, marine species in abundance, and an accumulation of sunken shipwrecks full of mystery and historical value.

List of Dive Sites in The Philippines

Check out these popular destinations if you enjoy scuba diving around rusty ruins or you want to try snorkeling in the crystal blue water of shallow bays:

Pro Tip: Most divers already understand the importance of coral reef polyps in reef ecosystems. To prove a point, thousands of fish species get food and shelter from the corals and artificial reef structures in these areas.

Best Diving Months in the Philippines

In general, you can dive the Philippines any time of year, excluding Tubbataha Reef. Nonetheless, the best months for scuba diving and snorkeling will be the dry season, from early November through to April (e.g. little rainfall and less typhoons).

Marine Life around Philippine Islands

The tropical waters in this part of the world are packed with marine life diversity and vibrant macro fauna. You can find various vertebrates and invertebrates clambering for shelter in the coral reef formations that exist around the coastlines, especially:

Pro Tip: Underwater locales where no-one has yet dived still remain undiscovered. But, you will get better access to the top dive sites if you already have a Drift Diving certification and Wreck Diver experience.

Related Information and Help Guides

Pro Tip: This video [1:01 seconds] presented by "PADI®" contains footage of the underwater landscapes, pinnacles, and flora and fauna found while scuba diving around the best dive spots in the Philippines.

Getting to The Philippines

International flights from Europe, Australia, and North America all connect with Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila), Clark International, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Kalibo International Airport in Boracay. From there, you can use the local ferries to reach your ultimate island destination.

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