Dive Sites, Surf Spots, and Game Fishing in the Philippines

[GearX]

RP a buffet of world-class dive sites

The Philippines is a smorgasbord of world-class dive sites and a diver's dream come true. The warm waters surrounding the country's 7,101 islands present an underwater wildlife extravaganza, so spectacular that divers return for an average of 10 trips each.

Priding itself as Asia's Dive Capital, the country lies in the center of the coral triangle which boasts of the most biodiversity and marine-rich waters on earth. It has often been said that the Philippines is to scuba divers, what Switzerland is to skiers, Hawaii to surfers, and Nepal to mountaineers. For those who like to snorkel or anyone seeking an underwater adventure, be a spectator to an aquatic symphony of over 2,000 species of marine fish, as well as more than 400 out of the 500 known coral species in the world.

1. Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is comprised of two distinct reef systems -- the North Reef and the South Reef. The marine park lies in the middle of Sulu Sea, southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. It is a major nesting spot for endangered sea turtles as well as rare species of fish such as the unusual fox–faced rabbitfish.

2. Anilao is the closest weekend paradise for divers based in Manila. Located in the southeast tip of Batangas and nestled in the midst of the quiet town of Mabini, Anilao possesses no presence of powdery sand beaches but the ocean facing it promises a tantalizing life of sea water creatures in its 35 dive sites.

3. Balicasag Island in Bohol is surrounded by a coral reef that is good for both diving and snorkelling. There is a marine sanctuary on the southern side of the island where you will find soft and hard corals in the shallows, together with anemones, sponges, crinoids and feather stars as well as barracuda, jacks, groupers and batfish, among others.

4. Moalboal in Cebu is beautiful and picturesque. Pescador and Sunken Islands are favorites among underwater photographers and snorkelers. The house reef boasts of interesting marine life such as white tips, eagle rays, turtles, frogfish, moray eels, devil fish, etc.

5. Apo Reef is located off the west coast of the island of Mindoro. Apo Reef diving has some spectacular drop-offs and walls with some of the best visibility in the country. If you like big fish action, Apo Reef will not disappoint you, it is abundant with schools of trevally, tuna, barracuda, hammerheads, white and black tip reef sharks, manta, eagle and sting rays, and turtles.

6. Apo Island in Negros Oriental, the most populous and diverse aquatic ecosystem in the world, was recreated at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on a 27,000 sq. ft. area costing million. This interactive state-of-the-art project called The Philippine Wild Reef Exhibit took almost 10 years to complete. But of course, why would you fly to Chicago to see the replica when you can see the real thing here.

7. Puerto Galera in Mindoro is blessed with one of the world's most beautiful natural harbors. It is known as the Pearl of Mindoro and is world–famous for its splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

8. Subic Bay in Olongapo is one of the best wreck diving sites in Asia. Subic's World War II wrecks covered almost the entire war period. No less than 25 Japanese ships were reported sunk during the war years. Some of these may have been removed in the late 1950s as salvage operations were done to open up the bay for shipping.

9. Malapascua in Cebu was discovered for its wide white sandy beach and later, for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots. Malapascua offers the only daily thresher shark sightings in the world.

10. Coron Bay in Busuanga island, Palawan is the final resting place for nine sunken ships from World War II. Also found in waters surrounding the island are limestome walls which rise to heights of 22 meters offering a spectacular view above and below water. Because the area draws so much interest, dive centers are plentiful, as are boats and rental equipment to visit the site.

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[dinabaw]

i think its not totally true .. i hope they can see Tawi-tawi and Sulu Archipelago

Subic Bay ?

[GearX]

Originally Posted by dinabaw

i think its not totally true .. i hope they can see Tawi-tawi and Sulu Archipelago

Subic Bay ?

I think the list has to do with the tourists...Sulu and Tawi-tawi first has to invite tourists so they can be up in the list. No matter how good their dive sites are but tourists are scared in going there....fear of the ASG..

[rage@cebu]

because im an experienced diver and ive only been to a few dive sites around Cebu... i would definitely recommend Moalboal and Pescador Island. if you want to be thrilled by sharks you can go to Malapascua Island...

if you wanna experience great diving around Cebu you can always contact me thru PM or you can book your dive @ Pacific Cebu Resort Inc., although booking here in the Philippines is limited to a few because the resort caters first to Japanese bookings...

[Sinjin P.]

WARNING!

Everyone please be mindful of what you post. CvC scenarios will not be tolerated. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter.

[PINOYmeat]

its interesting and good to know that 4 of the ten top dive sites are in central visayas!

[Sinjin P.]

^ And even more if we count Central Philippines as a whole

[pau_p1]

hmmm... so Boracay must be in the next 10 huh.. ... well I don't know how to scuba so I just snorkel.... in that list I've only been to Puerto Galera and Balicasag Island... In Balicasag, I didn't appreciate it much, probably because we arrived in the island late and had to depart early the next day...

I liked snorkeling in Puerto Galera more... well Honda Bay and Boracay are good places for snorkeling too..

about Sulu and Tawi-Tawi... I do bet that there are a lot of undiscovered tourist dive sites there being an archipelago as itself.... we'll just have to make sure the area is safe for tourists though and they'll be explored...

[dinabaw]

well i know some divers go there (sulu & tawi-tawi) and i think they are not keen to let others know the places ...


in Gov. Generoso (Mati) you can dived w/ butandings , dolphins, dugongs but they don't want to let other divers to go there

[PINOYmeat]

i think they have to deal with the security issues first, mas makakasama yun pag may tourist na tapos biglang nadamay sa gulo, baka yung kakarampot na nagdidive dun ay mawala pa pag may hindi magandang nangyari sa isang nagdidive dun.

[Sinjin P.]

^ Yep and madadamay ang reputasyon ng buong Pilipinas

[dinabaw]

i commented w/ this article bec the writer does'nt have any idea what his "talking about" and btw its not the issue of security issue here, the issue here is where in the Philippines are the best dive sites and if he labelled the most popular dive sites i agree w/ him , but best dive sites? i think he never been to the best dive sites in the Philippines , well he have to see first the 7,100 islands of the Philippines

btw not all divers are tourists most of them are explorers

[Sinjin P.]

^ I guess its best in all factors - popularity, scenery, security, etc.

[PINOYmeat]

agree, when you say best, it should include security. but i agree, basilan and the sulu archipelago has some of the nicest beaches in mindanao, and that would include dive sites

when you dive, you explore... so you tour, then youre a tourist in your own right.

[dinabaw]

thats' your opinion some divers are "stay-in" just like proffesional surfers do

[PINOYmeat]

"stay in"... meaning they dive on one particular place over and over again? just like some "professional" surfers do? are they amateurs? because most (a big number) of divers dont just "stay-in", and as you said, they explore.

[dinabaw]

it means they reside or have a particular place to dive or surf ,just like in Siargao prof. surfers and not amateurs are already residing or coming back to Siargao bec of the great waves there .

i think you misled the meaning of a tourist and an explorer

[PINOYmeat]

but surfing is waaaay too different from diving, surfing needs a good climate and a good shoreline (which needs to be favorable to big waves etc...) and shorelines exposed to an open sea (para mas swak ang salpok ng waves) so i think that explains why there are "stay-in" surfers, and napakahirap maghanap ng good surfing area, new hotspots for surfing are mabenta kasi kakaunti lang ang magagandang surfing areas particularly in the phils. and though i believe na there are "stay-in" divers, most of the divers pa rin are not "stay-in" kasi you eventually get bored diving the same spot over and over again, you would be wanting for more than what you have experienced before, and, borrowing your line nga, you would want to explore, if you want to explore, what are the things that you should consider? diba one main priority is security? you wouldnt want to dive an in an area with battleships sailing above you..

[dinabaw]

i think your way off, your insisting too much on security ..well thats a "tourists diver", why diving is not a risk?

if you really an avid or an addict diver you know where to stay. its very expensive to travel to other dive sites so you have to pick your "best dive site. and why can't you explore in one place? i know many prof. divers "stayed- in" Malapascua and even put up a diving shop or diving school there.

[PINOYmeat]

i know im way off on emphasizing on security, but why wouldnt i? security is the issue on question if we talk about diving in sulu and tawitawi, simple as that. those divers "staying-in" in malapascua started off as "tourist divers".... as most "stay-in" divers today are. diving is risky, but no matter how careful you are, how advanced your gadgets and training are, if you get exposed to "external (conflict related) risks" that is beyond your control, eh goodluck na lang.

dont get me wrong here, im not against any development in the sulu archi or other divesites in other areas, whats best for sulu and tawitawi is best for the country as a whole, sulu and tawitawi do have good dive sites, but again, issues on security would exclude them to belong among the best/top list.