With 7,107 islands, the Philippines offers bodies of water with highly diverse marine wildlife and seascape for all kinds of divers and dive enthusiasts to explore.
Countless diving spots in the country are suitable for divers of different skills, from beginners who are simply looking for fun recreational activities to intermediate divers seeking new underwater challenges to hone their skills and experts in search of new adventures.
At the top of the list are Anilao in Batangas and the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan.
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was declared in 1993 a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its high density of marine species and different kinds of birds and marine turtles.
Anilao and Tubbataha Reefs diving spots, favorites of deep and open water divers, host different types of sharks, schools of fish, turtles, and colorful corals.
For adventure-seekers and history junkies, the Philippines also has many exciting seafaring stories and countless sunken ships to explore such as World War II vessels, including Japanese freighters and gunboats that have become homes to various marine species.
Further, the country has ideal training spots for neophyte divers. Cebu has underwater caves, passageways, and terrains teeming with marine life. Night diving is even possible in a few areas. The open water in El Nido in Palawan and in Cebu are favorite haunts of nocturnal creatures that look majestic in the moonlight.
Experienced divers have a variety of spots to choose from: there’s Subic, Batangas, and Palawan in Luzon; Cebu, Bohol, Negros Island in Visayas; and Davao and Camiguin in Mindanao.
On top of amazing underwater discoveries underneath crystal clear waters, Filipinos’ innate warmth and hospitality, as well as unique offerings, make the experience more fun.