Diving in the Philippines

Explore a World Beneath the Surface

With 7,641 islands, the Philippines can legitimately be called Asia’s beach capital. A tropical climate, warm water, vast coral reefs and mind-blowingly beautiful flora and fauna make this country a true scuba diver’s paradise. With more than 1200 marine life species, and more likely waiting to be discovered, the underwater ecosystem is the epicenter of marine biodiversity. At some resorts, shore diving on the house reef is popular, but divers can also hop on a day boat or live aboard to access the sheer reef walls and atolls offshore. You can find almost every underwater adventure and experience here, including interactions with dugongs or spying the skittish scythe-tail thresher shark. With a rich WWII history, wreck diving is the focus of areas such as Coron, off Palawan and Subic Bay. Topside, you’ll feel truly welcome as the Filipinos warmly embrace visitors and are generally very friendly and relaxed.

Visibility

Depending on the location and the weather, visibility can range from 5-45 metres/15-150 feet.

Water Temperature

Nice warm water, varying between 23-30°C/73-86°F depending on the area and season.

Weather

You can dive year-round in the Philippines, but there are three distinct seasons that affect dive conditions. December through March is the northeast monsoon that can bring strong winds. April through June is usually dry with warm days and little wind. July through November is the southwest monsoon, which is wet but the water is warm. Air temperatures average 25-32°C/78-90°F with high relative humidity.

Featured Creatures

The Philippines is a great place to see scorpionfish, emperor, barracuda, Moorish idol, flute mouth, tuna, batfish and trevally. Some of the more unusual creatures spotted also include pygmy sea horses, parrotfish, lionfish, triggerfish, unicorn fish, trumpet fish, wrasse, mantis shrimp, squid, and octopus. Bigger animals also get into the picture with eagle rays, devil rays, manta rays and sharks, including thresher sharks and hammerhead sharks.

Recommended Courses

Take the AWARE – Coral Reef Conservation, AWARE – Fish Identification and PADI Digital Underwater Photographer courses to understand and to capture the beauty of the marine life. With walls, currents and wrecks, it’s a good idea to take the PADI Deep Diver, Drift Diver and Wreck Diver courses. Technical diving on the deep wrecks requires special training, look into PADI TecRec courses, including the PADI Rebreather Diver course, if interested.

BOHOL

Bohol is a laid-back island province in the Central Visayas known for its Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and white-sand beaches — but beneath the surface lies an underwater paradise. Surrounding Panglao Island and its nearby islets are some of the richest marine environments in the region. Bohol’s dive sites are accessible, diverse, and teeming with marine life, making it a favorite for both beginners and experienced divers.

Dive Highlights:

Balicasag Island – Steep walls, schools of jacks, turtles, healthy hard corals
Pamilacan Island – Deepwater diving with tuna, barracuda, and coral gardens
Doljo Point – Slopes with macro species like seahorses and nudibranchs
Arco Point – Easy tunnel dive for beginners, known as “The Hole in the Wall”

MALAPASCUA (Cebu)

Malapascua is a small, tranquil island north of Cebu that rose to global fame for one reason: the thresher sharks of Monad Shoal. But this island is more than just one star attraction. With white-sand beaches and a community deeply involved in marine protection, Malapascua also offers incredible macro diving, coral reefs, and underwater tunnels.

Dive Highlights:

Monad Shoal – Early morning dives for daily sightings of thresher sharks
Gato Island – Caves and tunnels, home to white-tip sharks and seahorses
Lapus Lapus & Deep Slope – Rich in macro life, frogfish, and shrimps
Kemod Shoal – Manta rays, schools of barracuda, and pelagic fish

NEGROS ORIENTAL & SIQUIJOR

Negros Oriental and neighboring Siquijor are hidden gems in the Visayas for underwater photography and relaxed diving. The coastal town of Dauin in Negros is the muck diving capital of the Philippines, while Apo Island stands as a testament to successful marine conservation. Siquijor, shrouded in mysticism, offers peaceful, less-crowded reefs with great coral health.

Dive Highlights:

Apo Island (Dauin) – Community-managed marine sanctuary with turtles and coral walls
Dauin Coast – Black sand muck diving for flamboyant cuttlefish and pipefish
Siquijor (Paliton Wall, Tubod Sanctuary) – Turtles, sloping reefs, and macro critters

MOALBOAL (Cebu)

Moalboal is a charming coastal town on the western side of Cebu known for its accessibility and world-famous sardine run. With rich reef systems, dive resorts, and chill vibes, Moalboal attracts underwater photographers, backpackers, and dive enthusiasts alike. It’s a place where a single shore entry can take you into the heart of a natural fish tornado.

Dive Highlights:

Panagsama Beach – The iconic sardine run, visible just meters from shore
Pescador Island – Steep walls, white-tip sharks, and huge schools of fish
Tuble Reef & Airplane Wreck – Macro subjects and artificial reefs
House Reef – Frequent sightings of turtles and critters in a shallow reef

PUERTO GALERA (Oriental Mindoro)

Tucked into the Verde Island Passage — the heart of marine biodiversity — Puerto Galera offers incredible variety: walls, drift dives, macro havens, and wrecks. Its proximity to Manila makes it a top weekend getaway for divers. The area’s reef systems have recovered well over the years thanks to local marine protection efforts.

Dive Highlights:

Canyons – Fast drift dive with schools of trevally and snappers
Hole in the Wall – Swim-through site with abundant reef life
Sabang Wrecks – Shallow wrecks home to frogfish and lionfish
Verde Island – Pristine walls and currents, ideal for advanced divers

ANILAO (Batangas)

Anilao, just 2–3 hours south of Metro Manila, is the birthplace of Philippine diving. It’s renowned globally for macro photography and critter spotting. The reefs are dense, the variety is immense, and the accessibility makes it a favorite for underwater photographers, beginner divers, and weekend warriors.

Dive Highlights:

Secret Bay & Basura – Muck diving at its finest: rhinopias, pipefish, and rare nudibranchs
Twin Rocks – Great coral cover, anthias, and turtles
Beatrice Rock – Sloping site with strong currents and macro action
Mainit Point – Bubbly hot springs and reef diving
Cathedral Rock – Underwater cross surrounded by schools of fish

EL NIDO (Palawan)

El Nido is famous for its jagged limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and turquoise waters — but below the surface, its dive sites are equally enchanting. The dive spots here are scenic, relaxed, and often framed by soft corals and dramatic topography. While not as advanced or pelagic-focused as other regions, El Nido is perfect for divers looking for beauty and tranquility.

Dive Highlights:

Dilumacad Tunnel – 35-meter tunnel dive with cave exit
South Miniloc – Soft coral gardens and dense fish populations
North Rock & Paglugaban Island – Larger pelagic species and reef fish
Helicopter Island – Healthy coral gardens, perfect for beginners

CORON (Palawan)

Coron is a paradise for wreck diving. Beneath its calm, emerald waters lie the haunting remains of a Japanese fleet bombed during WWII. These ghostly ships, now encrusted with coral and marine life, offer some of the best wreck dives in the world. Add to that lakes with unique thermal layers and you’re in for a truly one-of-a-kind dive experience.

Dive Highlights:

Irako, Akitsushima, Okikawa Maru – WWII wrecks, deep and covered with marine life
Barracuda Lake – Dive between thermoclines and haloclines in a brackish lake
Siete Pecados – Coral-covered islets with vibrant reef fish
Lusong Gunboat – Shallow wreck ideal for snorkeling and novice divers