Where are the best places for diving in the Philippines?
My friends recommended El Nido, Siargao, Oslob, Moalboal, Dumaguete, Apo Island or Purto Galera. I only have 6-7 days so I can at most do 3 places. What do you recommend? Any dive shops I should look into??
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Anilao, Batangas is the nearest diving spot from the Metro.
You have to fly out from Manila to go to these places: El Nido, Palawan - Island hopping Siargao - Surfing Oslob, Cebu - Swim with whale sharks Moalboal, Cebu - swim with sardines, sea turtle, dolphin watching Dumaguete - Dolphin watching. This is where you can take a pump boat going to Apo Island Apo Island - Diving/Snorkeling area
By Land/Ferry: Puerto Galera - Diving/Snorkeling area
By Land: Anilao, Batangas - Diving area. This is a 3hr drive from Metro Manila.
If you're an advanced diver, go to Verde Island, Puerto Galera. That's close enough to Manila, you can go without flying. Anilao in Batangas is also known for nudis.
If you want fantastic beach, nightlife, and some ok diving, go to Boracay. More info: https://www.solitarywanderer.com/diving-boracay-island/
If you want a quieter island vibe, head to Camiguin Island. Has no direct flight from Manila though. You have to go via Cebu. That said, it's their first Dive Fest so you get 30% off each dive. https://www.solitarywanderer.com/diving-in-camiguin-philippines/
Best bet, go to Cebu, dive in Malapascua for the thresher sharks, Moalboal for the sardines, and then head to Apo Island (several hours' bus ride and ferry away) https://www.solitarywanderer.com/diving-apo-island/
Perfect. Thanks for the tips!!
Each area is different and you really can't compare them to one another. They do have specific attractions that make divers flock to their area. It depends on what your interests are when diving. Also, you may need advance certification and experience to go to certain sites. Here are some of the places I've been to, their main attraction/site, and the dive center I went with: El Nido - Helicopter Island, Submariner Dive Center Coron - WWII Shipwrecks, Coron Divers Apo Reef - Whitetip Sharks, Coron Divers Malapascua - Thresher Sharks, The Shark's Tail and Exotic Moalboal - Sardine Run, Kasai Village Dive Academy and Nelson's Diving Mactan - Nalusuan, Mactan Scuba Diving Center (MSDC) and Liquid Soul Dive Dumaguete/Dauin - Macro (like Critters), frogfish, and you can do a daytrip to Apo Island, Baki Divers Apo Island - Turtles, Baki Divers Panglao, Bohol - Balicasag, Amola Dive Center/Hippocampus Dive Anilao, Batangas - Macro, Scubakada/Scuba Academy Manila Subic Bay - Wrecks (Fair warning tho, visibility is not good here), Boardwalk Dive Center and Arizona Dive Center
Again, for me those are just the main attractions in those sites but they have more to offer once there. Hope this helps! :)
Awesome. Thank you for the tips! I have a rescue and DPV certification so I'm not very concerned about meeting the requirement. Just wanted to get a sense of which dive sites to go to for what. Appreciate your insight here!
The best in the Philippines is Tubbataha Reefs.