Overview
If you
never tried scuba diving or snorkelling in the Philippine Islands then you have
really missed out on something! The Philippines is a scuba diver’s fantasy come
true, with more than 36,000 kilometres of coastline. It has one of the most
productive marine eco-systems in the world. The diversity is phenomenal and
caters to all levels of dive enthusiast - be it a novice or professional.
The
warm waters surrounding the Philippine’s 7,107 islands offer a showcase of
underwater marine life from rare nudibranchs to 27 species of clown fish, rays,
gorgonians, turtles, and even the very rarely seen exotic fishes like harlequin
ghost pipefish, Spanish dancer, fire gobies, frog fish, not to mention the
gregarious colors of the soft corals and the vivaciousness of the hard corals.
Discovering shipwrecks also adds to the thrill of exploring the Philippine
under water. If large fish is a fascination then schooling sweet lips, Thresher
and Hammerhead Sharks and barracudas will not frustrate you. Even mammals are
commonly seen, both dugongs (sea cows) and dolphins. The mighty whale shark,
the largest fish in the world also frequents Philippine water.
You
will find here everything you could possibly imagine from the WWII shipwrecks
in Coron to Spanish wrecks in Subic and Puerto Galera, to comparatively
unspoilt reefs of Tubbataha, and the whale shark of Dansol, the Philippines is
undeniably blessed with infinite natural beauty and splendor. No wonder, the
Philippines was internationally recognized as one of the best 3 diving spot in
the world together with Palau and Maldives.
The
convergence of the waters of the South China Sea, Celebes Sea and Pacific Ocean
gives the Philippine water plethora of over 2000 species of marine fish as well
as 500 species corals.
The
Philippines is divided into 3 geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
All regions are an absolute smorgasbord of world class dive sites that gives
you so many options that every dive will be diverse and mind- blowing. Scuba
diving in the Philippines has everything to satisfy the fussiest divers.
Almost
all the islands in the Philippines cater for divers of all levels of experience
– be it easy shore diving to advance wreck diving or technical diving.
Dive centers in the Philippines are well equipped and are authorized by
distinguished agencies for upholding standards of professionalism and safety
measures. The varieties of courses offered in Scuba diving are highly validated
by certifying agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI and USAC. For beginners, the
Philippines provide the highest level of instructions with teaching in all
major languages. But compared to other country diving here is very reasonably
priced.
The
Philippines have a beautiful landscape and even more beautiful underwater.
Best time to Dive:
Diving
in the Philippines is all year round however, the most suitable time is
generally December – June. the monsoon season is July –September.
The hottest months are April, May and June with temperature of 33°c. Water
temperatures are 27-31°c all year round.
There
are factors that could extremely affect the visibility, but in general you will
be diving in relatively clear waters with a visibility range of some 20-40
meters.
TOP PHILIPPINE DIVE SITES
TUBBATAHA REEF IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Philippine’s diving jewel in the
crown”.
Tubbataha’s
trademark among the world divers is its coral ”walls” with extensive colonies
of fish, where the shallow coral reef abruptly ends giving way to great depths.
Underwater visibility can often exceed 30 meter seascape with underwater caves
teem with marine life.
Situated
in the heart of the Sulu Sea between Palawan, Negros and Malaysian Borneo, 181
km (98 nautical miles) south of Puerto Princesa, the capital province of
Palawan is the main gateway to Sulu Sea. The term “tubbataha” is derived from
two Samal words which means “a long reef exposed at low tide”. It is composed
of two coral atolls (with inner lagoons) the North and South reef, separated by
an 8km wide channel. Its landscape includes crevices, cavelets, stony corals
and overhangs and gradual slopes, with 300 species of vivid corals and 379
species of fish at least 40 families.
Tubbataha
Reef is a protected marine sanctuary and home to some of the most beautiful
coral reefs in the world. The seemingly diverse ecosystem of this sanctuary
rivals the Great Barrier Reef.
These
picturesque tropical atolls, host an amazing variety of tropical reefs, turtles
and large pelagics. There are schools of jacks, surgeons, sweetlips and
snappers everywhere. It is however, the delightful draw for so many divers are
the turtles, tuna, white and black tip sharks, eagle rays and mantra rays,
barracudas, leopard and hammerhead sharks and shovel nose sharks are very
common. It is indeed an amazing explosion of life and color making this an
experience never to be forgotten.
Night
diving- when the currents have slowed- is very popular. Lovers of macro life
are always impressed by the number of nudibranch, shrimps and pipe fish in the
waters.
As the
Philippines only National Marine Park, Tubbataha is protected as one of the UNESCO
World Heritage Sites and reputed as country’s best dive spot with its ample
marine life, provides neophyte divers with their first encounter with a
Tubbataha shark.
Divers
visit Tubbataha to experience the splendid creation of Tubbataha’s exceptional
underwater world.
Travel
Brief:
Liveboards
are the only way of accessing Tubbataha Reef. Puerto Princesa on the island of
Palawan as the main departure point. Puerto Princesa is served by domestic
flight from Manila (1 hour flight) by Philippine Airlines, Air Philippine and
Cebu Pacific.
Diving
Season:
The
dive season runs from March until June. This time of year typically gives
outstanding diving conditions clear skies, flat seas and excellent visibility
(30 to 45 meters).
ANILAO , BATANGAS IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Described as the macro
photographer’s paradise”
Anilao is regarded as the origin of diving in the
Philippines and the cutting edge of the Philippine diving industry. Anilao is
the diving courtyard of Manila and neighboring towns, a mere 140 km away and
just about 3 hours travel time from the city. Anilao is a world class diving
destination. The waters here practically have everything most divers craved
for, shallow coral gardens among sandy patches, coral slopes, and steps of
small drop-offs.
Anilao is legendary because of its outstanding
corals and reef life, astonishing diversity of fishes and captivating dive
sites. This diving site is excellent for novice or amateur divers as well as
veteran divers and a great snorkeling site as well.
You can choose from 24 dive sites between the
coast of Anilao and Maricaban Islands. Anilao dive sites are exceptional for
photography because of the good visibility.
Travel brief:
From Manila there are daily buses to Batangas
City, the terminal is located at Pasay City. From there a jeepney ride for
Mabini Town, then another ride bound for Sulo. You can get off your resort of
choice once you are in Sulo.
Diving Season:
Diving is good all year round.
THE FAMOUS DIVE SITES IN ANILAO
The
Cathedral
The
Cathedral is situated in the south portion of Anilao along the west coast of
the Calumpan Peninsula. It’s the most popular dive site in Anilao, with a depth
of 10m-18m (33ft-60ft.). The Cathedral is a roofless cavern consisting of two
large sea mounts. The Cathedral is a warm-up for most open water student divers
and for advanced navigational night dive. With a moderate current usually south
bound and visibility can reach 24m (80ft.). Cathedral underwater panorama is
lively and multihued. There are puffed up soft corals and multicoloured feather
stars all around especially when the current is running.
The
Cathedral dive site is a marine park sanctuary. They have countless of vibrant
sponges, sea squirts, Christmas –tree worms in the corals, hydroids and
nudibranchs. Sometimes a pygmy sea horse, giant black frog fish and marble
sting ray can be chance upon, as well as pair of grey bamboo sharks at the
depths of 38m.(125 ft.).
Cathedral’s
main attraction is fish feeding and the famous cross planted by ex-Philippine
President Fidel D. Ramos in 1983 and blessed by Pope John Paul II, hence the
name ”Cathedral” was obtained.
Beatrice
Rock
Beatrice
Rock presents a sequence of small drop offs with channels in between. This site
is densely teeming with reef fish including schools of snappers, triggerfish,
surgeon fish, jacks and anthias, and blue-ringed octopuses and turtles could be
seen from time to time.
Beatrice
Rock is located North of Sepok Point, the northern end of Maricaban Island, the
condition is generally calm with strong currents, but it could get very intense
at times. Visibility can reach 24m (80 ft.). It’s best to dive during neap
tide.
Sumbrero Island
Sumbrero Island is one of the best dive for novice
divers, underwater photographer and as well as for all divers. Sumbrero Island
has a depth of 8m-25m (26 ft.-82 ft.) and visibility can reach up to 25m (82
ft.). They called this place a coral garden of Anilao, the underwater landscape
is full of life with thousand of assorted kinds of fauna.
Mainit Point
Mainit point is located at the southern most part
of Calumpan Peninsula. Dive here is certainly with current because of proximity
to Maricaban Straight and current can be very fierce and can spoil the
visibility. However during good condition visibility can reach 24m (80 ft,).
There is a cave in Mainit point in which a
Whitetip Shark has been spotted. There are vivid corals and the fish life
includes powder blue surgeon fish, scorpion fish, wrasse, snappers, Moorish
idols, porcupine puffer fish as well angelfish and butterfly fish.
Mainit Point is ideal for short go with the flow
dive and barracuda watching.
Ligpo
Island
This
dive spot has a small drop off made up of slanted walls of rocks with sandy
bottom sloped. Ligpo Island is a tiny island and diving can be done in a day.
Basically the water in Ligpo Island is calm however, it can have a very intense
current that change swiftly and not an ideal dive site for amateurs when
current is running. But there’s a brighter side if the current is running, a
variety of oceanic species can be seen, with the usual yellow gorgonians, vibrant
sea fans and a long nose hawk fish. Visibility can reached up to 24m (80 ft.).
Ligpo Island is good for night diving during neap tide that occurs semi
monthly.
Twin
Rock
Twin
Rock is a popular choice of professional underwater photographers with a depth
of 5m-15m (16 ft.-50ft). Visibility can reach 65 ft. Twin Rock dive site is
generally calm with slight current. A good sight is the remains of a capsized
barge lie here on a steady slop with algae, feather stars, small reef fish,
sponges, and schools of barracudas are a common sighting too.
Other
superb and fascinating dive sites in Anilao are Mapating Rock, Eagle Rock, Red
Rock, Bahura, Kirby’s Rock, Merriel’s Rock, Sepok Wall, Bethlehem, Layag-Layag,
Devil’s Point, Red Palm, Koala, Arthur’s Rock, Caban Cove, Darly Laut, Bonita
island and Malajibomanoc Island.
VERDE ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES
“The epicentre of marine
biodiversity”
Do you
know that the center of marine biodiversity in the universe is in the
Philippines?
Yes it
is! And Verde Island is the “center of the center” of the world’s marine
biodiversity in a joint study by America’s Smithsonian Institute. Verde Island
is known to have the most number of species per square meter of corals and more
than half of the worlds shore fish species inhabiting its water. Verde island
can be considered the marine counter part of the Amazon River Basin according
to Kent Carpenter, global marine species coordinator for the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Verde
island is located between Batangas City and Oriental Mindoro in Luzon Island, a
mere two hour drive from Manila and 30-minutes boat ride from Batangas City
Port.
Visibility
in Verde Island is endless, it could reach up to 80 meters. Corals are
exquisite and marine life so prolific. The Verde island Passage Marine Corridor
boasts 1,736 species and one had the feeling of diving in an aquarium and
indeed spell binding.
Verde
Island is also home to such threatened species as hawksbill, giant grouper,
olive ridley, humphead wrasse, giant clams and green turtles.
Given
the low cost diving amenities offered by local dive operators in this world
class diving site, and the underwater adventure in this marine Eden would
surely gratify both discerning scuba divers and of course those who are running
on a tight budget and looking for rock bottom rates.
Verde
Island is a major destination for fun loving travelers who seek sun, sand and
sea.
THE FAMOUS DIVING SPOT IN VERDE ISLAND
The
Pinnacle
The
Pinnacle or Drop-Off Verde Island dive site is 80 meters deep and you can do a
maximum depth of 30 to 40 meters depending on your experience level. You have
to monitor the condition here as the current are moderately strong and
unpredictable. But under good condition, exploring the pinnacle could be
rewarding, corals are marvellous and marine life are abundant and seeing
schools of pelagic fish is an awesome sight and perfect site for photographer
too.
The
Washing Machine
The
washing machine dive site is a supreme adventure that gives you adrenaline rush
that looks like you are in for a roller coaster ride. Washing machine dive site
not only give you spectacular view of the marine life but also this site is a
number of small interlocking canyons that set off a washing machine effect that
would rip you indiscriminately, you will be yanked in all directions could be
thrilling and definitely not to inexperienced who will not see this as fun
diving.
APO REEF IN THE PHILIPPINES
“The Largest coral reef in the Philippines
and the second largest
contiguous coral reef in the world
after the Great Barrier Reef.”
The
Apo Reef Natural Park is the largest atoll like reef in the Philippines. The
27,469 hectares Apo Reef is located in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro South of
Luzon and is surrounded by mangrove forest and also a sanctuary of birds. Apo
Reef Natural Park is a protected area. The main geographical feature of the
reef is submerged.
Its
varied corals are more or less 34 sq. km of reef of extensive marine fauna with
high density of coral growth and nearly 500 psychedelic coral species. And has
an island with terrestrial vegetation.
The
coral island is separated by a channel that opens to the west and it has a
shallow lagoon. Divers will enjoy the steep walls that are covered with aquatic
invertebrates and crustaceans like the tunicates, slugs, sponges, and nudibranch.
Hawksbill and green and turtles, batfish, fusiliers and butterfly fish are
common. Sighting of different sharks, great barracudas, tunas and mantra rays
frequent this reef especially when the current is strong.
Getting
to Apo Reef is quite a long journey but it’s definitely worth all the trouble
for you will be surely enchanted with this island paradise.
Travel
Brief:
From
Manila: take the bus plying Batangas in terminals in Cubao or Pasay City to
Batangas pier (more or less 2 and a half hours travel time in a
traffic day).
From Batangas
Pier: take the RORO boat travelling to Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
(2 hrs and a half travel time)
From Abra de Ilog: take a van or bus going to Sablayan,
Occidental Mindoro (another 3
hours).
From Sablayan: 3 hours travel by pump boat but
first go to the local government eco-
tourism office and
register and pay there.
Diving Season:
To be able to relish the captivating Apo reef, visit
Apo between March and June. Water is generally calmer and visibility is
heightened.
PUERTO GALERA IN THE PHILIPPINES
“One of the world’s most beautiful harbor.”
Hole in the Wall
Puerto
Galera is a place of exceptional beauty with picturesque scenic views, first
rate pristine beaches and sheltered coves. There is always something to
mesmerize the divers and tourist in this paradise called Puerto Galera.
Puerto
Galera is in the province of Oriental Mindoro, South of Luzon and approximately
150 km from Manila. Puerto Galera means Galleon Point in Spanish, this port was
used by the Spanish explorers and colonialist during the long period of Spanish
rule in the Philippines.
Puerto
Galera is famous for magnificent and adrenaline charged drift dives and is home
for over 30 dive sites, abundant with thousands of different species of fish,
shells, walls coated with soft and hard corals and the stunning ship wrecks.
There are shallow coral reef gardens, easily reached and perfect for snorkeling
and underwater photography.
The
Hole in the Wall, the Canyon and the Escarceo Point are some of the “must do”
dives in Puerto Galera. Escarceo Point is the favorite area of both novice and
experienced divers, and macro life photography is perfect at this site and has
the best coral in the area. The Hole in the Wall is home for large varieties of
aquatic invertebrates. The Canyon on the other hand needs a good dive guide
with its strong current making this perhaps a thrilling dive for experienced
divers.
There’s
no limit of activities in Puerto Galera for thrill seekers and for those who
wants to have a relaxing holiday.
Travel Brief:
Puerto Galera is more or less 4 hours from Manila,
two hours by bus and 2 hours by boat.
From Manila: Take a bus bound for Batangas at
Pasay or Cubao terminal to Batangas
Pier, from which you will
transfer to a boat bound for Puerto Galera.
Diving Season:
Because of the tropical climate, diving is good
all year round with the hot and dry season from March-June.
MALAPASCUA ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES
“The only daily sighting of the
friendly TRESHER SHARK in the world”
Malapascua
Island is a paradise where time almost stands still. If you’re looking for a
little more privacy in your vacation then Malapascua Island is the place for
you.
Malapascua
is a tiny island about 8km north east of Cebu in the middle of the emerald
green water of the Visayan Sea, blessed with splendiferous immaculate stretch
of white shore line and crystal clear waters. It is small that you can walk
around the island for just 3 hours. It could be a good exercise to start your
day in the quiet island.
Malapascua
Island is famous tourist who wants to swim and snorkel, but also a famed dive
center which offers divers an everyday sighting of the friendly big Thresher
Shark. The Thresher Shark live in deep waters but a cleaner fish in that area
attracts the Thresher to come out of his turf to seek its service to be cleaned
almost everyday, and this paved way for the daily sighting of the Thresher
shark. But aside from that divers will be dazzled by the striking unspoiled
coral garden, the ship wrecks and the vast diversity of the marine life.
Malapascua
Island have some dive sites worth exploring, like the Gato island, Shark Point
and Dona Marilyn, indeed a little paradise that has everything for those who
adores the sun and want adventures and also for those who seek refuge from
daily stress and with the concrete jungle they lived in and once you’ve gone
here- you’ll always keep coming back.
THE FAMOUS DIVE SITE IN
MALAPASCUA ISLAND
Shark Point
Set your alarm clock for a pre-dawn start to take a 20
minute boatride to the sunken island of Monad. The island has a diameter of
just 1.5km, with a sloping depth of 12m dropping to 45m. Shark Point is where
thresher sharks are frequently spotted, with the occasional Hammerhead and
Manta ray too! This dive site is well worth the early start.
Gato Island
Gato Island
Gato Island is 40 minutes by boat, where fishing is not
permitted so allowing underwater life to thrive. The island offers beautiful
swim throughs and terrific macro life, with seahorses, pipefish and many
different nudibranches. Fan corals provide the perfect environment for the
camouflaged pygmy seahorse.
Dona Marilyn
A typhoon in 1982 sank this cargo ship, which now sits at
a comfortable 32m. The wreck is 90m long and lies on its starboard side on a
sandy bottom. There are a good variety of corals, lionfish, scorpionfish and
batfish, along with occasional sightings of nurse sharks, whitetipped reef
shark and species of ray.
Travel brief:
By air: There are international flights and
domestic flights to Cebu-International Airport
in Cebu City, the main gate way to
Malapascua Island. Silk Air (Singapore
Airlines), Cathay Pacific, Malaysian
Airlines and Qatar Airlines are the four
international airlines that fly to
Cebu.
By bus from Cebu City to Maya: Take taxi from the
airport to Cebu North bus station.
Two
companies the Ceres and Rough Riders goes to
Maya, the travel time takes 3 ½ hours.
Maya to Malapascua: At Maya pier an outrigger boat
will bring you to the island in 30-
45 minutes. Regular
boats leave for Malapascua until 4:30 PM.
Diving Season:
Diving is ok the rest of the year, but to avoid
the occasional rains, come at the driest climate between March to June.
CORON, PALAWAN IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Famous for wreck diving
destination in the world”
JN Akitsushima, Coron, Palawan
When most divers think of wrecks, places like Truk Lagoon
and wrecks like Egypt's Thistlegorm spring to mind. Coron is the main port of a
tiny eastern Filipino Island called Busuanga. During WWII this dusty island and
its immediate locale was occupied by Japanese invaders. On 24th Sept 1944 some
120 Hellcat fighters and Helldiver bombers took flight on a mission to destroy
Japanese targets in the Philippines. Travelling 350 miles to reach their
target, the strike was to be the most distant at that point of history, yet 45
minutes after reaching Coron Town the 15-18 Japanese vessels at anchor there
were left behind burning, exploding and sinking.
Coron, is one of the most mystical islands in Palawan with
a length of approximately 30 km. Found in waters surrounding the island are
limestone walls which rise to heights of 22 meters offering a spectacular view
above and below water. One of Coron's attractions is "Barracuda Lake"
wherein all who dare, get the chance to meet the "lonely" fresh water
barracuda. He's a biggy, 1.5 metres long.
Coron is
one of the most famous wreck diving destinations in the world. From the 24
ships that sank during the bombardment of American Forces on Japanese warships
during WW II, only 12 wrecks have been located in dive able depths ranging from
25 - 40 meters.
THE FAMOUS
DIVE SITES IN BUSUANGA & CORON
Barracuda
Lake or Thermal Lake
Located on Coron
Island, is a reverse thermal lake, the water temperature at surface, is 28
Celsius (80 F). The temperature stays constant to approximately 14 meters at
which point a very visible thermocline separates the "cool" upper
water from the 40 degree [104 F] water below. The deeper one penetrates, the
hotter the water becomes. Normally, the hot water should rise, but in the case
of Barracuda Lake, the lower water contains considerable limestone salts, which
create heat. The scenery in the lake is spectacular, both above water and below
surface. If you are lucky, you will see one of the barracudas that make their
home in the lake. Barracuda Lake is one of the most beautiful and strangest
dives you will ever make.
Cathedral Cave
A
cavern under Coron Island, Palawan directly connected to the sea. Location:
South end of Coron Island on the East side.
Cathedral
Cave is a beautiful dive spot. It starts 6 meters deep at a hole in the bottom
of the sea next to the sheer rock wall of Coron Island. You enter a tunnel and
descend to 12 meters. If you take the time to look, you see the antenna of
juvenile lobsters waving from holes in the tunnel above and out from under the
rocks below and cowry shells clinging to the ceiling of the tunnel. Then you
pass out of the tunnel and see a shaft of daylight penetrates the interior of a
cave. The roof of the cave has collapsed sending down a full sized tree. The
skeletal trunk and main branches of the tree rest on top of the sand mound in
the middle of the cave. You follow the light and surface inside a big
underground cathedral. You pass over the sand dune and continue ahead and left
to another passage that leads to a chamber with an air pocket above ocean
level. Back through the tunnel into the open sea and you dive among corals with
15 to 20 meter visibility.
Akit Sushima Wreck
Akit Sushima sits on her side and the diver is treated to
spectacular cathedral like views. A well lead tour will take you around the
engine room and point out many interesting features. The main part of the
penetration here is easy wide uncluttered decks lying on her side the spaces
are wide. The more experienced you are the tighter spots you will found
yourself being led into. Most people have ended up the wrong side of a jammed
toilet door on dry land, but not many have been unable to find their way out of
the toilet due to a silt-out 18m below the surface.
Concepcion Wreck
This is a
wreck of a Japanese cargo ship sunk by American submarines during World War II.
The cargo ship was on its way to Leyte Gulf from Japan, laden with war
materials for the beleaguered Japanese forces during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Some of the portions are still intact although the valuable fittings have been
salvaged. Its location and the fact that the main deck is only 9 meters deep
make the wreck an interesting dive site. The wreck is host to an amazing number
of fish.
Dumumpalit Island
This
90-meter high island site on a reef extends northeast and southwest, with the
latter offering the best diving. The bottom slopes gently from the shoreline to
24 meters and the slope is covered by a whitish-pink soft coral garden.
Visibility is ussually around 30 meters.
Framjee Bank/Magallanes
Bank
An
experienced boatman is needed to locate these sites which lie beneath the
surface with no convenient navigational landmarks close by. The shallowest
sections are in about 6 meters of water, with gradual slopes leading off into
infinity. The areas are known for big pelagic fish and sharks. When currents
are running, here are big bonito and tuna.
Northwest Rock/Sail
Rock/Kalotoko Rocks
All three are prominenet landmarks with a dense fish
population, inclusing big jacks, fusiliers, barracudas, Spanish mackeerels and
small, black and whitetip sharks. There are a few small reeef fish. The short
drop-offs end at around 4.5 to 8 meters deep, with slopes studded with coral
pathes running down to around 18 to 28 meters. Kalotoko is reportedly a good
area for shark observation.
Brown Rock
More appropriately called Butulan Rocks, these two barren,
brown-colored rocks are 50 meters high and are easily identified. The eastern
and western sides of the southern rock make interesting dives with a good coral
garden on the western side. Parrot fish are common and hammerhead sharks
measuring up to 2.5 meters long have been seen.
Other
dive sites around Coron and Busuanga
- Tangat Wreck
- Mamiya Maru (WW II Wreck)
- Irako (WW II Wreck)
- Taee Maru (Concepcion Wreck)
- Akit Sushima (WW II Wreck )
- Dimalanta Wreck (WW II Wreck)
- Olympia Maru (WW II Wreck)
- Black Island Wreck
- Gunboat at Lusuong
- Gunboat at Tangat
- Malajon Island
- Matay Island
- Delian Island
- North & South Cay Island
- Tana Island
Travel
Brief:
By plane
By boat
- SuperFerry stops in Coron on its way to Puerto Princesa. Leaves Manila on
Friday afternoon and arrives in Coron early Saturday morning. Heads back
to Manila on Sunday night. Wait until a couple of days before it departs
to get cheaper tickets. Don't wait too long, though.
Diving Season
The diving season in
Coron/Busuanga is from October to May.
SUBIC BAY
IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Diving
to the relicts of past wars”
Olongapo and Subic Bay in the western portion of the
island of Luzon of the Philippines provides a very unique dive and vacation
experience. As a scuba diving destination it provides an outstanding
selection of wrecks to dive on. Historical wrecks such as the USS New York, an
Armor Cruiser built before the Spanish American war, the Oryoku Maru, A luxury
cruise ship converted to use in WWII by the Japanese to transport POW in
hellish conditions, one of the infamous “Hell Ships”, and the Seian Maru, a
Japanese freighter sunk in the closing days of WWII. These three wrecks are
within 500 meters of each other and as close to 300 meters from shore. In
addition to these three dive sites, seven other ship wrecks are within Subic
bay within reach of the recreational diver. Tech divers can add even more
sites. While Subic Bay is known for her wrecks, the bay also has some nice reefs
to dive.
Travel Brief:
Travelling
by Land from Manila
Subic Bay Freeport Zone is 110 kms. North of Manila, the Philippines' capital
city, where Saulog Transit and Victory Liner air-conditioned buses provide
passengers regular transport services to and from Olongapo City terminal. A
short jeepney ride takes you from the Victory Liner terminal to the Freeport,
while Saulog Transit terminal is just a stone's throw away from the vicinity.
Travel via Victory Liner Terminal
Main stations from Manila are Pasay (Edsa, Pasay), Caloocan (713 Rizal Avenue
Extension, Caloocan City) and Cubao (EDSA, Cubao). Buses' schedule (either
Zambales or Olongapo) is from 4:00 AM with 1 hour interval.
Travelling
by car via Lubao and rural road (Approx. time of travel: 3.5 hours)
From Manila take the North Luzon Expressway all the way to San Fernando exit
and pass thru towns of Pampanga (Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao) and Bataan
(Dinalupihan) to the Subic Bay Freeport Expressway (Tipo Road, Bataan).
Travelling
by car via SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) (Approx. time of
travel: 1.5 hours) From
Manila and any point in Luzon. Take the North Luzon Expressway all the way pass
San Fernando through Dau and exits to the Subic Bay Freeport Expressway (Tipo
Road, Bataan).
Diving Season:
You can
scuba dive Subic Bay pretty much all year round as there is always a wreck
sheltered from the elements.
Dive Sites
Hell ship Oryoku Maru
- On 15 December
1944, she had 1,619 American and British prisoners of war on board when she was
sunk, under heavy bombardment by American fighters while on her way from Subic
Bay to Japan. She was less than half a kilometer off the Alava Pier when
attacked. About 300 prisoners died during the short voyage from Manila and
during the attack.
El Capitan was a freighter of nearly 3,000 tons just under 130 meters long. She sank in
Subic Bay where she rests on a sloping bottom.
Seian Maru: During an air raid on Subic Bay, the 3,712 ton freighter Seian
Maru was bombed and sunk. This was only four days after the sinking of the Oryoku
Maru on 19 December 1944.
LST (Landing Ship
Tank) This is one
of the large LSTs that litter the floor of Subic Bay. She was scuttled in 1946
in the middle of Subic Bay between the southern tip of the runway and Grande
Island
The old USS New York
(ACR-2) which had been renamed the USS Rochester (CA-2) in 1917. At the
onset of the Japanese Invasion of the Philippines this ship was acting as a
floating workshop and storehouse. Already decommissioned, the armored hull of
the old cruiser was too valuable to allowed to be captured, and so she was
scuttled in December 1941 by American forces.
San Quentin: During the Spanish–American war in 1898, the Spanish scuttled
their San Quentin in the hope of blocking the passage between Grande
Island and Chiquita Islands near the mouth of Subic Bay.
DUMAGUETE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
“It is
a paradise for macro-lovers”
Dumaguete, on Negros Island, with its spectacular variety
of dive sites, is making waves among divers for they will find awesome walls,
stunning coral gardens and prolific fish life - much of which is accessible
from the beach. Just 30 minutes from Dumaguete is Apo Island, popular with
divers for its vibrant marine life. Experienced divers know Dumaguete for muck
diving where you can discover unusual and juvenile creatures like tiny
transparent shrimps, neon nudibranchs and huge basket sponges adorned with
hundreds of colorful crinoids. Divers wanting to see it all here
are in luck because some dive centers offer island hopper cruises to allow
multiple dives on different islands.
The diveresorts around Dauin are also the starting-point
for full daytrips to the well knows surrounding islands like Apo Island,
Sumilon Island or Siquijor Island.
The dark volcanic sand is home to a enormous variety of critters. The 15
divesites around Dauin can be
reached within 15 Minutes with a speedboat. Some of them are accessible even as
a Most operators are offering up to four dives daily and additional Night dives
and Mandarin fish-dives. All divespots in this area are protected areas, so
called “Marine-Sanctuaries“
Travel Brief:
Negros Oriental is accessible
by land, sea and air transportation: It is one hour and 15 minutes by plane
from Manila, and 40 minutes from Cebu to Dumaguete City, capital of Negros
Oriental. There are daily direct flights from Manila and Cebu. There are also
daily sea voyages to and from different points in the Visayas and Mindanao and
twice a week to and from Manila.
Diving Season
All-year round, outside of
typhoon belt.
DIVESITES
Apo Island
South
of Dumaguete City is Apo Island which features walls and coral mounds. Pelagic
fish frequent the area inclusing the black-tip and whitetip sharks. Care must
be taken particularly during full moon as currents are strong and
unpredictable. To reach Apo Island, one can take a 35 minute ride by outrigger
from Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.
Sumilon Marine Sanctuary
Sumilon Island, just off the southern tip of Cebu,
lies approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Dumaguete City. On its western
side is the Philippine's first marine sanctuary, which is the laboratoryfor
marine biologists of Siliman University. who undoubtedly are inspired by its
magnificent coral gardens and drop-offs. Crystal waters account for oustanding visibility.
Varied and abundant marine life provide endless numbers of interesting dives
for pleasure as much as for scientific observation. Sea snakes, turtles, sting
rays, mantas, barracudas, garoupa, schools of jacks and even whale sharks -
they are all here.
Dumaguete
Another
first for the country is Dumaguete's aritficial tire reef built from old tires
and laid just off the beach in front of Dumagute City by marine biologists of
Siliman University in 1977.
MOALBOAL IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Island
of Micrcosm”
A three hour trip from Cebu City at the southwest coast of Cebu Island is Moalboal. White sandy beaches offer a
relaxing atmosphere. Most of the resorts and Hotels there are in the in the middle
price-class. But it is also not to hard to find some budget accommodations.
Diving and snorkeling is good along the Panagsama Beaches between Capton und Tongo Point..
The main attraction of this region is Pescador Island. The tiny little island is like
Cabilao and Pescador Island a microcosm by itself. Pescador Island is the
main-focus of the Moalboal dive-operators. During peak-season, like holy week
or Chinese New Year it can get quite crowded under water. Under water, the
narrow coral reef surrounding the Island and it slopes gently between 3 and 9
meters before it drops vertically down to 40 meters and more. The corals in
shallow waters are in good conditions and the big variety makes the waters
around Moalboal and Pescador Island a great spot for Snorklers and Scuba
divers.
Pescador
Island is
unprotected from waves and weather in the middle of the ocean. The surface
conditions can be quite rough and the currents strong. Visibility can reach 40
meters (130ft) and more.
Travel Brief:
From
Manila you can fly to Cebu International Airport, then you can take taxi to
Moalboal but it will cost you around P2,500-3,000, the ride takes around 2.5
hours. Other ways to get to Moalboal would be to take a taxi to the Liberando
bus terminal or the South Bus station across the road. Librando and Ceres buses
go to Moalboal,. Make sure you are on a bus going via Barili, or you will end
up in the South of Cebu.
In
Moalboal most tourists stay at either Panagsama Beach (Basdiot) or White beach (Basdako).
There is plenty of accommodation near either beach, although Panagsama has the
most bars and restaurants.
Diving Season
November
until June is the best month for snorkeling and diving if you are planning to
visit the Moalboal area
