Scuba Diving in Puerto Galera
The Ultimate Guide
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.
Difficulty
Easy
Temperature
27–30 °C
Visibility
15–30 m
Diving Highlights
Best Months to Dive
Getting to Puerto Galera for Diving
✈️Transportation
The easiest gateway is Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
From there, take a two‑ to three‑hour car or bus transfer south to Batangas Port (110 km),
then board a public ferry or bangka for the one‑hour crossing to Puerto Galera.
Several dive resorts offer private transfers from Manila, saving time and hassle.
Once in Puerto Galera, most dive shops and accommodation are concentrated around Sabang Beach and Small La Laguna, and the majority of dive sites are within a 15‑minute boat ride.
Country
Philippines
Currency
Philippine Peso
Electricity
220V, 60Hz, Types A/B/C plugs
Cost of a Dive Trip in Puerto Galera
Day Trip
Dive Resort
Meal
Accommodation
Best Dive Sites in Puerto Galera
🐠Alma Jane
A 60‑ton steel‑hulled cargo vessel built in 1966 and intentionally scuttled in 2003, Alma Jane sits upright on the sandy bottom at 20–30 m with her highest deck at 22 m. The hull and mast are encrusted with hard and soft corals, home to schools of fish and moray eels. Inside you’ll find snapper, sweetlips, batfish, puffers and plenty of shrimps—bring a torch and good buoyancy control.
🐢St Christopher
Sunk in 1995 by local dive shops, this 18‑m wooden boat now sits at 20–24 m. Juvenile damselfish and sergeant majors guard their eggs on the artificial reef while crabs and shrimps patrol the deck. Moderate currents mean this is an easy wreck dive that’s great for training and critter spotting.
🦈Sabang Wrecks
A group of three small wrecks—including a steel yacht and two wooden boats—lying between 15 and 21 m just off Sabang Beach. They form an easy muck playground for photographers with resident eels, scorpionfish, stonefish, lionfish and frogfish. Schooling jacks often circle above the site while colourful corals grow on the decaying hulls.
🐙Canyons (Verde Island)
Off the tip of Boquete Island in the Verde Island Passage, three underwater canyons drop from 20–28 m and are linked by narrow swim‑throughs. Strong currents funnel through these channels, attracting schools of jacks, trevallies, sweetlips and snappers. This site is often done as a thrilling drift dive and is considered one of the most biodiverse spots in the Philippines.
🐚Pinnacles (Verde Island)
These rocky spires rise from 20 m to the surface on the east side of Verde Island. Vertical walls are covered with barrel sponges, sea fans and soft corals, sheltering butterflyfish, juvenile angelfish, sea snakes, triggerfish and grouper. Pelagics such as rays and tunas occasionally cruise by, and the reef top is alive with anthias and chromis.
🦑Washing Machine
Named after the swirling currents that spin divers around a series of seven shallow gullies, Washing Machine delivers a roller‑coaster drift when the tides run strong. The gullies’ walls are draped with colourful hard and soft corals and home to thousands of orange anthias, Moorish idol and banded sea snakes. On slack days the site becomes a gentle coral garden.
🐡Giant Clams & Coral Cove
In Puerto Galera Bay, Giant Clams sanctuary hosts hundreds‑year‑old clams up to 1.5 m wide; the sandy slope and seagrass are prime territory for hairy frogfish, mimic octopus and flamboyant cuttlefish. Nearby Coral Cove is a muck site with nudibranchs, ribbon eels, pipefish, frogfish, seahorses and even orangutan crabs—a macro photographer’s dream.
🦀Sinandigan Wall
A dramatic wall dropping to about 30 m on the outer side of Sabang Point. The upper part is covered with hard and soft corals, while the sandy ledges at depth hide leaf scorpionfish, crocodilefish, nudibranchs and colorful shrimps. Visibility is usually excellent and the site is sheltered from strong currents, making it suitable for photographers and intermediate divers.
What Divers Say About Diving in Puerto Galera
Alex Thompson
Marine Biologis / DivemasterIf you love variety, Puerto Galera will keep you busy for weeks. I was blown away by how many different dive styles there are here—one morning we’re floating over a meadow of giant clams with pygmy seahorses hiding in the algae, the next we’re hurtling through “The Canyons” with barracudas flashing past in the current. The macro life is insane: I spotted blue‑ringed octopus, tiny frogfish and more nudibranch species than I could count. Meanwhile the wrecks like Alma Jane and St Christopher are carpeted in soft corals and schooling sweetlips. What surprised me most is how easy it all is—dive sites are just minutes away, and between dives you’re back at the resort eating grilled fish or lounging by the pool. Currents can be strong during spring tides, so bring a reef hook and be ready for an adrenaline rush. But when the moon is quiet the place turns into a macro photographer’s playground. Overall, Puerto Galera offers big‑fun diving at small‑budget prices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diving in Puerto Galera
When is the best time to go scuba diving in Puerto Galera?
Diving is possible year‑round, but the northeast monsoon from November to May brings dry weather and calm seas. Currents strengthen around full and new moons every month, creating exciting drift dives; plan around the lunar cycle for the conditions you prefer.
What marine life can I see in Puerto Galera?
Expect a mix of critters and larger fish—blue‑ringed octopus, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, frogfish, cuttlefish and ribbon eels inhabit the slopes, while schooling jacks, snappers, trevallies and occasional reef sharks patrol the channels. Giant clams, soft coral gardens and resident sea turtles are also highlights.
Are the dive sites suitable for beginners?
Yes. Many sheltered bays and house reefs offer calm conditions perfect for Open Water courses. However, some sites like The Canyons and Washing Machine have strong currents and are better suited for experienced divers. Dive centres can match sites to your skill level.
How many dive sites are there?
There are more than 40 named sites around Sabang, Small La Laguna and nearby Verde Island. These include macro dives, muck sites, walls, wrecks and dramatic canyons, so you can dive a different spot every day for weeks.
What are the water temperatures and visibility like?
Sea temperature rarely drops below 27 °C and peaks around 30 °C in June. Visibility commonly ranges 15–30 m and can reach 40 m at nearby Verde Island; averages are 18–20 m and may drop to 8–10 m after storms.
Can I do wreck diving in Puerto Galera?
Absolutely. Alma Jane is a 32 m steel‑hulled cargo ship intentionally sunk in 2003 and now encrusted with coral. There are also smaller wrecks like St Christopher and the group of Sabang Wrecks, all within recreational depths.
How do I get from Manila to Puerto Galera?
Travel south to Batangas Port by car or bus (about 2–3 hours), then take a ferry or bangka to Puerto Galera. Some dive resorts provide private transfers that cut travel time in half.
Is Puerto Galera expensive?
No. Day diving is affordable (around US$120 for three dives), and local meals and accommodation are inexpensive compared with other famous destinations. This makes Puerto Galera popular with budget travellers.