Top Eight Best Diving Spots in the Philippines

Here's a list of world-class diving sites in the world.

Looking for the best diving spots in the world? Here's a list of the top eight best dive sites in the Philippines with world class diving facilities and white sand beaches.

The Philippines was cited as one of the top three best diving spots in the world, together with Maldives and Palau. Among the internationally recognized best dive spots in the country are;

Tubbataha Reef Marine Park,Sulu Sea
It is famous for its diverse marine life. Tubbataha Reef Marine Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world and the best place for snorkeling and diving in Asia.

The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 33,200 ha, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

Malapascua Island, Cebu
It is famous for its rare sharks.

Malapascua is one of the least spoiled tourist spots in the Philippines. Labeled as the next Boracay by the Lonely Planet, Malapascua has everything for the traveling diver.
Malapascua diving offers: the only daily thresher shark sightings in the world, white tip sharks, mantas, hammerheads (seasonal), wrecks, mandarin fish, pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, beautiful unspoiled coral gardens and a huge diversity of marine life.

Puerto Galera, Mindoro
This diving site is noted for its colorful reefs.

A little further from Anilao using Batangas Pier as jump-off point, Puerto Galera is a natural harbor with fine beaches, green scenery and sheltered coves. Puerto Galera has grown to become a diving haven due to its marine diversity, complemented by other activities. At least two dozen sites have been identified, each providing good opportunity for photography. Most divers prefer to go to Puerto Galera from March to October.

Anilao, Batangas
Anilao's proximity makes it a popular destination for weekend diving trips.

Even excursions are ideal in this southern town where resorts are situated within short boat rides to excellent dive sites. Diving is mainly in coral slopes and shallow gardens among sandy patches. Choose from any of the 24 dive sites between the coast of Anilao and Maricaban Island. The most popular site is the Cathedral (average of 60 ft.), a roofless cavern with a blessed cross flanked by two large sea mounts.

Balicasag Island, Bohol
Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country.

Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country. The waters are brimming with schools of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish. Dolphins and pilot whales can also be viewed from a distance.

Apo Reef, Negros Oriental

Apo Reef National Park is another UNESCO World Heritage Site

Apo Reef National Park is acclaimed as one of the best diving sites in Asia. It is a 34-kilometer reef, with a narrow channel running east to west, dividing this reef into two lagoon systems, north and south. Apo Reef is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the largest in the Philippines.

Palawan's Surrounding Islands

Coron, El Here's a list of world-class diving sites in the world.

Nido and Busuanga are just three of the many dive sites in Palawan.
Coron Bay is one of the most popular diving destinations in the Philippines. This site is one of the most famous wreck diving destinations in the entire world due to the amount of historic sunken ships which can be visited and seen with great clarity due to this area's waters usual transparency.

El Nido is one of the world class diving destinations in the Philippines. El Nido dive sites are also the home of the exotic and colorful tropical marine life. With its unexploited underwater scenery, divers will have a good look on the colorful tropical fishes and corals. In El Nido alone, there are 20 dive sites already.

Boracay, Aklan
Boracay is the best tropical beach in the world.

Boracay is one of the most popular diving areas in Southeast Asia. Boracay is a great dive holiday location, simply because it combines a wide range of dive activities with one of the best beaches in the world plus the numerous good quality resorts, restaurants, bars and night time events. There are 15 diving sites in the area.