Diving Destinations in Philippines
Explore the most incredible underwater destinations in Philippines. From tropical reefs to dramatic walls, discover your next diving adventure.
Anilao
Anilao, a small barangay in Batangas province just two hours south of Manila, is often called the macro capital of the Philippines. More than 50 dive sites fringe the coast and nearby islands, offering an intoxicating mix of coral‑covered pinnacles, muck slopes and blackwater encounters. Critter enthusiasts come for the legendary muck dives at Secret Bay and Anilao Pier, where mimic octopuses, blue‑ringed octopuses, wonderpus, seahorses, ghost pipefish, frogfish and dozens of nudibranch species lurk in the silt. Shallow reefs like Twin Rocks and Cathedral are covered in soft corals and teem with reef fish, while deeper sites such as Ligpo Island feature gorgonian‑covered walls and occasional drift. Because Anilao is so close to Manila and open year‑round, it’s the easiest place in the Philippines to squeeze in a quick diving getaway.
Bohol
Bohol, an island province in the central Visayas of the Philippines, is a diver’s playground with a huge variety of sites. The main hub is Panglao Island, where Alona Beach serves as the launch point for local reef dives and day trips. Nearby Balicasag Island is world‑class: its 5‑ to 18‑m plateau drops into walls where clouds of jackfish and sardines swirl and sleepy green and hawksbill turtles munch on soft corals. To the west, Cabilao’s reefs hide hammerhead sharks and pygmy seahorses, while the remote east coast of Anda offers muck dives, turtle nurseries and even mantas and whale sharks. Other favorites include Napaling’s year‑round sardine balls, Pamilacan’s manta and shark‑filled walls and Cervera (Snake Island) with its resident sea snakes. Whether you love colourful coral gardens, deep walls, big pelagics or tiny critters, Bohol has something for every diver.
Coron
Coron, a mountainous island at the northern end of Palawan, is a world‑renowned destination for World War II wreck diving. On 24 September 1944, US carrier aircraft bombed and sank a Japanese supply fleet anchored in Coron Bay; today more than ten massive shipwrecks lie between 10 and 40 m, encrusted with corals and teeming with life. Divers can swim through cargo holds, engine rooms and anti‑aircraft guns of vessels like Morazan Maru, Akitsushima Maru and Olympia Maru, while schools of glassfish, batfish and macro critters shelter in the shadows. Beyond the wrecks, Coron offers freshwater lake dives like Barracuda Lake – famous for its clear water and thermocline – plus vibrant coral reefs around Sangat and Lusong Gunboat. With dramatic limestone peaks and turquoise lagoons above water, Coron combines history, scenery and adventure in one extraordinary trip.
Dumaguete
Dumaguete on the southeast coast of Negros is the jumping‑off point for some of the Philippines’ most diverse diving. Along the nearby town of Dauin, a series of shallow marine sanctuaries and black‑sand slopes hide critters galore: frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus, ghost pipefish, seahorses, pipefish and nudibranchs. Artificial reefs made from car tyres and pyramids provide extra habitat. Offshore, Apo Island’s walls and plateaus burst with hard and soft corals, schooling jacks and barracudas, and friendly green turtles. With day trips to Oslob’s whale sharks or Bais’ dolphin‑watching, and excursions to nearby Siquijor, Dumaguete offers a perfect mix of macro muck diving and classic coral reefs.
Malapascua
Malapascua is a small island off the northern tip of Cebu famed for its resident thresher sharks. Every morning at dawn, divers ride out to Monad Shoal and sit on a coral plateau 20–30 m deep, quietly watching as pelagic threshers rise from the abyss to use the cleaning station. But the excitement doesn’t end once the sharks disappear into the blue—around the island you’ll find coral‑covered pinnacles, drift dives, walls and gentle reef slopes teeming with life. Macro hunters can stalk flamboyant cuttlefish, pygmy seahorses and frogfish in the muck around Dauin, while wide‑angle lovers will enjoy schooling jackfish, batfish and barracuda at sites like Bugtong Bato and Gato Island. A relaxed village atmosphere, white‑sand beaches and day trips to neighbouring islands such as Kalanggaman or Capitancillo round out the experience.
Moalboal
Moalboal is a laid‑back beach town on the west coast of Cebu known for its spectacular sardine run and easy access to Pescador Island. Vast clouds of millions of sardines swirl just off Panagsama Beach all year, creating a shimmering wall of fish that you can dive or snorkel through. Just offshore, the limestone island of Pescador offers steep walls, caverns and canyons covered in hard and soft corals; turtles, sea snakes, frogfish, schooling jacks and the occasional thresher or whitetip reef shark can be seen here. Many other sites along the coast feature shallow coral gardens and sandy slopes teeming with nudibranchs, cuttlefish and reef fish, making Moalboal perfect for both beginners and experienced divers.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera sits on the northeast tip of Mindoro Island in the Philippines and has long been rated among Asia’s best and most diverse diving areas. The town faces the Verde Island Passage – part of the Coral Triangle – so its reefs host an incredible mix of hard and soft corals, seahorses, frogfish and other critters alongside schooling jacks and occasional pelagics. More than forty sites line the bays and headlands around Sabang and Small La Laguna, meaning everything from easy house‑reef dives and shallow muck sites to current‑swept canyons and colourful wrecks is only a short boat ride away. Currents are governed by the lunar cycle; strong spring tides around full and new moon create exciting drift dives, while neap tides offer gentle conditions that are perfect for macro photography. Because the water stays warm all year (27–30 °C) and visibility often reaches 15–30 m, Puerto Galera attracts both beginners and experienced divers seeking a fun, affordable destination with lively nightlife on land.