Diving in the Philippines is one of the best in Asia-Pacific with famous diving spots such as Malapascua Island and Coron Bay and famous dives such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. The Philippines are a great destination for scuba divers who love wreck diving and muck diving. It is one of the underwater photographers’ favourite destinations for macro photography. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving in Dauin, Apo Island, Balicasag, Puerto Galera and Verde Island.
The marine life in the Philippines is mostly about thresher sharks, turtles, whale sharks, reef sharks, manta rays, mandarin fish, coral reefs, pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go for both beginners and experienced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a 3 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often from November to June, but the islands can be dived year-round. The best dive sites can be reached by boat or from the shore.
Below you will find all my best scuba diving stories from diving in the Philippines. I share my top tips on how to organise your trip, my favourites dives, what is the best itinerary or how to do it without breaking the bank. From a travel budget point of view, the Philippines are a lower budget destination, so you may need to save up but not as much as you think.
