The Philippines sits in the Indo-Pacific’s Coral Triangle, which is home to Asia’s richest marine ecosystems. Think of corals in every texture possible, a variety of fish in every color of the rainbow, and some of the biggest marine mammals and predators ever known. We can say that Five Diving Spots in the Philippines into the Philippine waters is like entering a kaleidoscope!
With over 7,000+ islands, it was difficult to narrow down the list to just Five Diving Spots in the Philippines. This list is by no means exhaustive but covers different types of dive sites for divers of various interests and experience levels. No matter where you’ll go next, a unique and exciting experience is always in store for you in the Five Diving Spots in the Philippines you’ll surely love.
Apo Island
Diving in Apo Island never gets boring as there are several dive sites to explore. And the first one on your list has to be Rock Point West. It’s found on the southwestern side of the island and has a massive coral garden. Watch out for butterfly fish, frogfish, groupers, snappers, nudibranchs, and sea turtles.
But if you’re an experienced diver who’s up for some thrill, head to the northern tip of Coconut Island. You’ll find “Washing Machine,” another fascinating dive site – and it already sounds intriguing, right? It earned its moniker because of the presence of a strong current that pushes divers through seven canyons in the waters.
Watch out for wrasses, jacks, tunas and snappers. Some also report seeing larger marine life such as gray reef and white-tip sharks, hammerhead sharks, barracudas, and manta rays.
You’ll also encounter lots of volcanic rock formations under the waters. Keep an eye out for Boluarte Rock of Apo Island as you go to the north-eastern side of the island from Dauin. It’s the most iconic and prominent rock formation of them all.
Siete Pecados
Another popular spot in the Five Diving Spots in the Philippines is a destination called “Siete Pecados” means seven sins in Spanish, which you probably wouldn’t expect from a marine park. But the name is nothing to worry about. It was just derived from a popular legend among the locals.
According to the legend, there were seven sisters who went swimming against their mom’s will. All of them drowned and left seven islands in their wake. So don’t let this dive spot’s name scare you from exploring it!
Siete Pecados is the nearest and most known diving spot in Coron, Palawan. Tourists love this spot because it feels like you’re just swimming in a giant aquarium! And besides that, you don’t have to be a licensed diver to witness this underwater wonderland, making this also a good choice among the Five Diving Spots in the Philippines.
You can just snorkel or free dive in Siete Pecados, and you’ll already see the teeming marine life. There are lots of angel fish, butterflyfish, peacock wrasse, pufferfish, and Moorish idols. You might even spot sea turtles and whale sharks if you’re lucky enough!
Anilao Batangas
Beaches in Batangas are stunning, but the marine life is just as beautiful. One of its resident little critters is the nudibranch. And due to the abundance of these colorful sea slugs, Anilao has been dubbed as the Capital of Nudibranchs. In fact, Anilao has 600 out of the 800 nudibranchs in the world.
But there are a lot of other sea creatures to see in Anilao. There are over 20 dive sites to see, ranging from coral dives, muck dives, drift, wreck, wall, and caves. You’ll virtually encounter every variety of fish and critters imaginable.
Secret Bay is a popular muck site with a wide area of sand that gradually slopes down to 40 meters. And having keen eyes will definitely be handy when you’re here! First-time muck divers are often asked to kneel on the sand and wait until they notice some movement. That’s because the critters can be as small as a grain of rice, making them hard to see immediately.
Meanwhile, the Blackwater diving spot might be more interesting for seasoned divers. A long line of strong lights are dropped to over 100 meters deep. These will attract sea creatures from the darkness, and most of them are probably weirder than what you can imagine.
Lusong Coral Garden
Most Coron guides would say that Lusong Coral Garden is the best site for snorkeling and freediving. The aquatic area is vast, and the marine life is extensive. There are a lot of fish and coral species to see, and you probably wouldn’t notice how long you’ve been in the water!
This dynamic and colorful underwater landscape is home to lots of reef fish, such as clownfish, butterfly fish, anemones, angel fish, puffer fish, and blue or gray Linckia sea stars. You’ll also see corals of different types and textures, such as gorgonian sea fans and large Acropora table corals. The site is so densely packed with corals, that they even outnumber the fish!
Lusong Coral Garden in Coron constantly experiences strong currents that keep the waters crystal clear, so it’s easy to admire the fish and corals. Aside from that, the nutrient-rich waters also keep the sea creatures healthy and thriving.
And if you’ve got a little bit more energy after exploring Lusong Coral Garden, we suggest you also go around the corner of the island. You’ll see a gunboat shipwreck that has been encrusted with corals and barnacles, serving as a playground to the Parrotfish, Damselfish, Stonefish, Lionfish, and more.
Nalusuan Island
Nalusuan Island is a dive sanctuary maintained by the fishermen in the area. Thanks to them, the marine biodiversity is alive and well, making Nalusuan Island a hotspot for underwater photographers.
Nalusuan Island is a great spot for divers of all skill levels, and even snorkelers. The shallow reef is about 2 meters deep only, and you can already see much of the marine biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled for starfish, crabs, sea urchins, and sponges, to name a few.
Then beyond the shallow part, you’ll find a steep, sloped wall with sandy parts that leads to the seabed. This part is filled with hard and soft corals and coralline algae that are home to interesting little critters.
You have the chance to swim among schools of angelfish, sweetlips, groupers, and triggerfish. Stingrays, tuna, barracudas, and sea turtles inhabit the area as well. Some divers also report seeing juvenile whale sharks, white tip sharks, and grey reef sharks during their dive.
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