It’s no surprise that scuba diving enthusiasts consider the Philippines a mecca: with over 22,500 miles of tropical coastline and 7,641 islands, the opportunities for underwater exploration are endless. And, with a location at the apex of the famed Coral Triangle, the diving in the Philippines is hard to beat.
With so many regions to choose from, deciding where to go can be a bit overwhelming. Let us guide you through the best places to scuba dive in the Philippines, no matter if you’re looking for wonders big or small.
What makes the Philippines so good for diving?
With a variety of macro life comparable to Indonesia, the Philippines earns much of its underwater fame predominantly from a colorful kaleidoscope of critters. Divers will encounter frogfish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, anemone crabs, and many other tiny creatures on any worthwhile bucket list.
And it’s not just the small stuff—the Pacific Ocean laps at the Philippines’ eastern coastline and weaves throughout the islands, bringing in nutrient-rich waters and pelagics. Divers can spot majestic mantas, elusive thresher sharks, whale sharks, hammerheads, dolphins, and mola molas, which all call these warm waters home.
Out of the water, the Philippines has a laid-back vibe, and the friendly locals make tourists feel right at home. There are flights between the main islands and ferries between the neighboring islands to help with your island-hopping underwater adventure. If you’d rather dive, dive, dive, take your pick of several Philippines liveaboards. So let’s dive into some of our top picks for the best scuba diving in the Philippines.
Anilao & Batangas
The critter capital of the Philippines, Anilao is packed with both budget backpacker-style accommodation and high-end resorts that cater to macro-lovers and underwater photographers. The region is known predominantly for muck-diving, so expect leisurely dives where you’ll slowly scan sandy bottoms for various macro critters. A few of the best sites are:
→ Twin Rocks
Accessible from the shore, Twin Rocks is a great example of all that Anilao has to offer.
This double-pinnacle features calm waters and an average depth of 55 feet (16 m). Harlequin shrimp, hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and much macro life can be found here. However if wide-angle is more your vibe, soft corals abundantly decorate the site.
→ Isla Verde
South of Batangas Bay and reasonably close to Puerto Galera is Verde Island. Its mid-channel position, between Luzon and Mindoro, ensures nutrient-rich waters constantly come through and support marine life. Scattered around the island there are a variety of dive sites full of soft corals and turtles drifting through. Most sites have reasonable currents, so these sites are generally better for more experienced divers.
Type: Muck
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Access: Shore and boat
Calamian Islands
Referring to the collection of islands north of Palawan, the Calamian Islands have a few scuba diving highlights, each with its unique twist. Coron is the shipwreck capital of the Philippines, if not Southeast Asia, giving Truk Lagoon a run for its money.
On the northern side of Busuanga Island there is the opportunity to swim with dugongs. Nearby Apo Reef is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of breathtaking marine life and coral systems.
Coron
If you’re into shipwrecks, you must visit Coron. On September 24, 1944, a squadron of U.S. bombers flew over the Japanese fleet hiding in Coron’s natural harbor and opened fire, sinking twelve ships in just 15 minutes.
These WWII ships, now reborn, host an array of marine life and offer divers a unique insight into history. Divers need good finning techniques to avoid disturbing the sediment, and a decent torch is essential for exploring all the dark corners.
→ Kogyo Maru
Kogyo Maru has six big cargo holds that make it one of the most easily accessible wrecks of Coron, whether it’s just to have a quick peek inside or if you’ve got full wreck certification. Kogyo Maru’s cargo holds some interesting artifacts such as rolls of wires and even a bulldozer. Marine visitors include turtles, groupers, and schools of fish.
→ Okikawa Maru
The Okikawa Maru lies upright at 85 feet (26 m), with the main decks at 39 feet (12 m). One entrance is through the propeller shaft, which is a tight spot, so watch your fins. Once inside, divers pass by the engine rooms where oil barrels have tipped over and leaked fuel. Due to the increase in pressure, the oil has condensed to become like Play-Doh, and divers can pick it up. But watch out, it will rub off on your hands!
→ Akitsushima
One of the more advanced wrecks of Coron, Akitsushima was a true battleship, designed to carry seaplanes and decorated with a set of 25mm AA machine guns. Over 330 feet (100 m) long, lying on its portside, the deepest point is 115 feet (35 m) on the sandy bottom. Divers can enter a few ways and the exit is normally through the final torpedo-sized hole on the main deck.
Only a little coral life has grown here due to a specific paint coating that was used on some ships. However, this gives divers a unique chance to appreciate the grandeur of Akitsushima as the fish wizz around.
Type: Wreck
Skill level: Beginner to Advanced
Access: Boat
Busuanga Island
→ Busuanga Island
Dugongs, the equatorial cousin of the American manatee, can be found along the northern seagrass coastline of Busuanga Island. Although not technically a scuba diving spot, skin diving with these calm sea cows is a special moment. Snorkeling with these wild animals is highly regulated and must be done with the few operators in the area.
Type: Skin diving
Skill level: Beginner
Access: Boat
Apo Reef
Located in the open ocean between Busuanga and Mindoro is Apo Reef—not to be confused with Apo Island in Dauin. The Apo Reef Natural Park is the largest atoll in the Philippines and a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With nearly 400 fish species recorded in such a concentrated area, Apo Reef has been affectionately nicknamed “Little Tubbataha.” Given Apo Reef’s mid-channel position, currents and conditions can get intense. But if you’re up to the challenge, you’ll be greatly rewarded.
→ Apo 29
Apo 29 is one of the best and most challenging dive sites of Apo Reef. The site is an underwater mound that rises to 82 feet (25 m), and the dive is conducted as a bluewater dive. Many operators require a minimum of 100 dives and experience with strong currents.
Divers who tire of relentlessly searching in the sand will find Apo 29 thrilling, as it teems with a variety of sharks, including hammerheads, gray reefs, and whitetips, as well as schools of tuna, snappers, and jackfish.
→ Hunter’s Rock
Divers at Hunter’s Rock can expect to see a wide variety of marine species, including sharks, manta rays, schools of tuna, and barracuda, among others. However, this spot is perhaps most well-known for its thriving population of sea snakes. Especially in June and July during the mating season, snakes swarm here in the thousands.
Type: Bluewater
Skill level: Advanced
Access: Day boat or liveaboard
Tubbataha Reefs National Park
In the heart of the Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site and the perfect opportunity for divers to experience a liveaboard, as that’s the only way to access the park’s remote location. What’s more, Tubbataha is only open for diving from mid-March through mid-June, so if you’d like to visit it’s crucial to book far in advance.
The park’s remote location attracts large pelagics like tiger sharks, cetaceans, and turtles. With its depth and tendency to feature strong currents, Tubbataha’s dive sites are for intermediate to advanced divers.
→ Amos Rock
Also referred to as Southwest Rock, this is a popular stopover for many liveaboard trips. Typical of Tubbataha, the topography of Amos Rock is predominantly large plateaus, with near-perpendicular walls dropping off into the deep blue, all smothered in beautiful corals and reef life.
All throughout the dive site, there are massive schools of jacks and barracudas, turtles, and large pelagics cruising by. Night diving is a great opportunity to inspect the macro life as it prepares for the evening shift.
→ Shark Airport
A large open plateau dropping to 50 feet (15 m), the Shark Airport is the largest cleaning station in Tubbataha. This attracts all kinds of marine life, which in turn attracts the big boys of the ocean—the sharks. Schools of gray reef, whitetips, and nurse sharks as well as peculiar guitar sharks and even whale sharks frequent the cleaning station.
Type: Reef and wall
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Access: Liveaboard
Malapascua
Malapascua, a tiny, unassuming island in the Visayan Archipelago, has over 15 dive shops—all because of one creature: the mesmerizing thresher shark. Divers might see a thresher shark at only a handful of spots worldwide, so when sightings are pretty much guaranteed at Monad Shoal, it’s no wonder that divers flock here. Around Malapascua, there is a collection of shallow and deep sites and a few islands further away for a relaxed day trip.
→ Monad Shoal
There are some dive sites so iconic, like Egypt’s SS Thistlegorm shipwreck, that they’re on nearly every diver’s radar, and Malapascua’s Monad Shoal is one. And it’s all thanks to the resident population of thresher sharks. Monad Shoal is a mile-long wall that starts as a plateau at 65 feet (20 m), dropping to around 115 feet (35 m).
Divers get low and stay still so as not to spook the threshers who come to Monad Shoal for their early morning cleaning. Word of warning—these shark dives leave at the crack of dawn (4 a.m.), but they are so worth it.
Deep Rock
Located on the northern side of Malapascua, this amphitheater dive site is a coral-covered wall with a downward slope, both harboring a variety of life. If muck diving for macro is your preference, then spend time scanning the rocky bottom for mantis shrimp, blue-ringed octopus, or ornate ghost pipefish.
Once the bottom time runs low, ascend to the wall and its adjacent plateau to see the rich soft corals and friendly reef fish. Keep your eyes peeled for resident common octopus as well.
Gato Island
Starting with Monad Shoal, most dive shops will offer a 3-tank day trip that includes two dives afterward Monad at Gato Island. Just an hour away, Gato Island features a gently sloping bottom, random rocky outcrops, and swim-throughs, great for divers who love to investigate every nook. Depending on the current, divers can start with a shallow cavern that is home to some large lobsters and reef sharks at the exit.
Capitancillo Island
Capitancillo Island is a coral-covered plateau that drops from 40 feet (12 m) to over 150 feet (45 m). With a slight current, divers can just cruise by on this conveyor belt of color extending from the wall, whether gaping at impressive gorgonian fans or schools of flamboyant emperor angelfish.
During the surface interval lunch break, visitors can jump onto the tiny island and hear the tall tale of the island’s origin story. It is a lengthy 3-hour boat ride to get here, but when the sun’s shining and dolphins cruise by, you can’t complain.
Type: Walls and reefs
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Access: Boat
Moalboal
Over on the southwesterly coast of Cebu Island is Moalboal, made famous by its version of the Sardine Run, as well as local dive sites full of turtles and beautiful coral. There are a handful of dive shops along the shallow-water beachfronts, making it a great stopover for those wanting to learn scuba diving. Moalboal has plenty of hotels, shops and restaurants, so there’s lots to do when the sun goes down.
→ Panagsama Beach
Here snorkelers and scuba divers flock to Moalboal’s shallow waters to encounter thousands of sardines just off the beach. There is a little bit of current going up and down the beach, but you’ll just get out of the water a few 100 yards away. Panagsama is particularly popular with freediving students, who can dive inside a tornado of sardines as the fish swerve and swirl all around.
→ Pescador Island
Just a 30-minute boat ride away on a quaint Philippine catamaran is Pescador Island, Moalboal’s marine sanctuary. The topography around Pescador includes shallow plateaus, slopes, and walls, starting at 10 feet (5 m), and dropping down to 115 feet (35 m).
This creates interesting overhangs and swim-throughs, great for coral-covered photos of you and your dive buddy. As is the norm around Moalboal, turtles are everywhere, as well as tropical reef fish, fluffy soft coral, and of course schools of sardines.
Type: Reef
Skill level: Beginner
Access: Shore and boat
Dauin
If you’re the kind of diver who always has a dive torch ready, seeking out the smallest critters, then your thirst for the weird and wonderful will be quenched in Dauin. Second-best to Anilao for muck diving, the shore dive sites of Dauin offer many of the same creatures. And if bamboo bungalows don’t bother you, it’s yours for a fraction of the price.
→ Secret Corner
Perhaps not so secret anymore, this sandy slope features various rocky outcrops that support a diversity of macro life, on and off the reef. Hiding among the rocks, divers find warty frogfish, anemone crabs, and cleaner shrimps. Those who venture out into the seemingly desolate sandy bottom with their eagle-eyes guides will be rewarded with seahorses and rare octopus such as blue-ringed, mototi, and mimic.
→ Pyramid
Scattered on the sandy bottom here are several artificial pyramids that the dive site takes its name from. These structures are great for underwater photographers, who can find all kinds of critters without lying awkwardly on the seabed to snap a photo. This concentration of sea life also makes this a good choice for a shore night dive, as are most of the Dauin dive sites.
Type: Muck and night
Skill level: Beginner
Access: Shore
Apo Island
A nearby day trip from Dauin is the beautiful Apo Island, which couldn’t be more visually different. Where Dauin is all black sand and muck diving, at Apo you’ll find every substrate surface covered in healthy hard coral.
Numerous sites are dotted all around Apo Island, most with depths around 40 feet (12 m), which slowly undulate deeper, so all levels of divers can come. Most likely divers will lose track of how many turtles they see, among the brilliant barrel sponges, sea snakes, and schools of barracuda.
→ Coconut Point
Perhaps one of Apo Island’s most popular dive sites is the visually rich Coconut Point. The water is so blue and so clear that it almost borders on purple. The site is no deeper than 80 feet (25 m) and the current slowly drifts divers along. If you’re an underwater photographer who loves the big and the beautiful, there are plenty of stunning soft coral seascapes and massive barrel sponges to snap.
→ Mamsa Point
Mamsa Point derives its name from the local word for jackfish, which are plentiful in this location. The dive begins on a gently sloping sandy seabed decorated with various coral formations. From there it leads to a sandy bottom where bubbles rise, hinting at subaquatic volcanic activity.
The site is notable not only for the vast schools of twisting jackfish, but also for diverse marine life including frogfish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, and ribbon eels, making it a must-visit for all divers.
Type: Drift and reefs
Skill level: Beginner
Access: Boat
About the Philippines
Like most Southeast Asian countries, the flights can be the biggest expenditure and after that, most other costs are relatively low. Eating a pork adobo (braised pork belly) in a local restaurant with a San Miguel beer—also called an SMB—will set you back just a few bucks.
The Philippines has volcanic beginnings and its fertile soil supports rich rainforests and interesting ecosystems. For those days out of the water, it’s worth exploring the cascading waterfalls and freshwater pools, hidden away within the dense foliage. Driving around locally on a rented moped is fairly easy, though the roads can be questionable at times.
Getting around the country can be tricky with so many islands and regions spread over so much distance. There are flights and ferries between all main destinations and most resorts/dive shops can organize a pick-up or drop-off, making island-hopping with all your scuba gear a little easier. Get around this with a pre-booked tour package or liveaboard, which eases the hassle of getting around.
When to go
The Philippines has a tropical climate that ranges from a warm 77 F (25 C) to a hot 95 F (35 C) year-round. The drier months, which make up the peak season, run from December to May.
The typhoon season arrives in the late summer and fall, from June until November. Although a cheaper time to travel, visitors should note that ferry crossings or longer day diving trips may get postponed or canceled, and alternate options aren’t always available.
Take a moment to look at this.
I went to live in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines specifically for diving: 2018-2019. I was able to make do with a monthly budget of $1,000 USD for living expenses which included diving for two years. I had unknowingly spoiled myself and haven’t done any scuba diving outside of the Philippines since. I was able to get a discount for a dive package which came out to Php800 (Php50=$1 USD) per dive at the time.
Interesting, you are doing a good work
It’s too bad your article is not mentionning Punta Ballo, Sipalay in the province of Negros Occidental (Visayas). This place was declared “marine sanctuary” by former president Gloria Arroyo who is an expert diver and visited the place several times. Punta Ballo with its fabulous white sand beach and colourful reefs is comparable to Phuket or Boracay but without the crowds.
Tubbataha 1 apu reff 2 cebu moalboal 3 coron 4 malapascua 5
Boracay yapak ok, Puerto galera ok,
Anilao ???? must check it out.
Dived the Philippines much during early 70s. Nasugbu Batangas, was fabulous, Anilao, Mactan, Cebu islands .. miss those places and my diving partner, Timmy Sevilla, who is sadly gone to better diving areas in the sky.
You dive in some of the best divespots in the area, Moalboal, Liloan, Santander, Sumilon Island, Balicasag Island, Alone Beach, Panglao Island, Siquijor Island, Apo Island, Dauin and other dive spots along the coast of Negros. In January I was joining an amazing trip with dolphins company, whalesharks, beautiful coral gardens and fishes I never seen before. It was a small boat so if you are 10 friends you get the boat for yourselves. Enjoy!
Sorry to hear that. Hope you get the chance soon! Thanks for sharing Robin.
I gotta go. was planning a trip last year but unfortunately it was canceled. Now I want even more! Thanks ????
I have 3 days in Manila next weekend Fri-Sat-Sun, then fly back to the states. Is there good day-trip diving anywhere near Manila?
Thank you for sharing.
It sounds like an amazing trip you had! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
We went to the Philippines last year, and it was so great! Throughly world calss diving! Diving Tubbataha Reefs is the best I have ever tried. Big big recommendations from Oregon. Happy thanksgiving to you all!