Philippines

Cebu

Cebu is the most accessible island in the Visayas, and home to some wonderful scuba diving.

Diving Malapascua is a thrill for more advanced divers due to regular sightings of Thresher Sharks. Oslob, to the south of Cebu City is famous for whale sharks, while you can dive on beautiful coral reefs in Moalboal or Mactan Island.

This is a great area for island-hopping, combining well with Bohol and Negros Islands.

Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines may be the country's most famous diving spot, certainly for larger marine life. This small group of islands and atolls that give their name to the Tubbataha Reef National Park lie at the centre of the Sulu Sea.

The depth of the sea brings cold, nutrient rich waters to the surface around these remote atolls. This brings not only large marine life, but a huge biodiversity too.

Coron Bay & El Nido

Coron Bay's diving is all about shipwrecks. Here, a fleet of Japanese warships were sunk in WWII, creating one of the Philippine's most popular and unique diving destinations.

There is more good diving around El Nido, which has great beaches and lovely coral reefs.

Puerto Galera

Originally a safe harbour during typhoons, Puerto Galera has become one of the Philippines' most popular tourist & diving destinations.

Situated only 150km south of the capital Manila, the curious geography of the area has created not only a perfect natural harbour, but also many picturesque beaches and coves to enjoy.

Negros & Dumaguete

Negros Island is a large island in the Visayas. It’s eastern shore is separated from Cebu by a narrow channel, while it’s west coast faces the Sulu Sea. Much of the diving is in the south of the island.

Like many of the Philippines dive spots, it is blessed with the combination of big fish encounters and fascinating smaller critters that will keep avid divers happy for many dives.

Subic Bay

Subic Bay is all about wreck diving. This area of Luzon has a rich maritime history and was a key harbour in WWII, resulting in excellent diving options for wreck afficanados.

The wrecks of Subic Bay are not the only option for divers on the island of Luzon however. Others may also wish to explore Nasugbu to the south, or La Union to the north.

Southern Leyte

Southern Leyte may not be as famous as some of the Philippine's more celebrated diving spots, but don't let that fool you.

Leyte is the most easterly island of the Visayas region, and the island is also the least developed. It boasts exceptional scuba diving.

Currently, diving here is concentrated in Southern Leyte, which is gaining a reputation as one of the best places in the Philippines to see Whale Sharks.

Boracay

Just off the northern tip of Panay Island, south of Mindoro is the small island of Boracay.

Famed for its white, powder sand beaches - reputed to be some of the world’s best - Boracay is one of the Philippines’ most famous tourist spots and is now open to visitors once again.

The island is also one of the most popular places to learn to dive in the Philippines, with a wide range of dive sites to suit all levels.

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