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Types of Diving in the Philippines<\/h2>\nWreck Diving<\/h3>\n
Wreck enthusiasts will love exploring the WWII shipwrecks located all over Coron, Palawan. Swimming through, in and out of the shipwrecks is an unreal feeling and is something I highly recommend doing if you’re in the country.<\/p>\n
Muck Diving<\/h3>\n
If you love small critters, the Philippines has some pretty amazing muck diving which showcases loads of nudibranch, frogfish, and more. Anilao and Dauin in Dumaguete boast of pretty impressive creatures, and is perfect for those who want to practice their underwater photography.<\/p>\n
Large Pelagics<\/h3>\n
If you like big creatures, the Philippines doesn’t disappoint either as it is home to some pretty amazing creatures. Scuba diving in the Philippines gives you the opportunity to swim with thresher sharks, whale sharks, large tuna, and more.<\/p>\n
Top Dive Sites in the Philippines<\/h2>\n
Given the number of islands, the variety of dive sites are as plentiful. While choosing the best dive sites in the Philippines is an incredibly difficult feat, here are our top picks to help you plan your next diving adventure.<\/p>\n
Tubbataha Reef<\/h3>\n
Location:<\/strong> Southeast of Palawan, Sulu Sea Tubbataha is arguably the best dive site in the Philippines as it is incredibly well preserved due to its remoteness. It is often only accessed via liveaboard boats<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Divers from all around the world flock to this 97,030 hectare Marine Protected Area in Palawan which is made up of two huge coral atolls, the North and South Atoll as well as the Jessie Beazley Reef around 20km away.<\/p>\n Home to about 90% of all the coral species in the Philippines, a trip to Tubbataha is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Tubbataha Reefs can only be explored through liveaboard boats so unlike most popular dive sites, you will have most of the reef and ocean to explore without running into other divers.<\/p>\n Apart from being secluded, you will see walls covered in whip coral and gorgonian sea fans.<\/p>\n While choosing between all the dive sites are hard, a few of the best sites in Tubbataha are Amos Rock<\/strong> (Southwest Rock), Shark Airport<\/strong>, and Washing Machine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In Amos Rock, prepare to marvel at the stunning whip and gorgonian corals as you drift in the dive site. You’re also likely to spot gray reef and whitetip sharks, large groupers, and mackerels. Shark Airport is a wide plateau-like shelf that is home to hawksbill and green sea turtles as well as whitetip sharks who cruise along the drop-off edges. Lastly, the Washing Machine, which as you can tell from the name, has incredibly strong currents that shift often.<\/p>\n Naturally, where there are currents, there are also large pelagics and animals drifting close by. The currents are all pretty strong in Tubbataha so a good level of skill and expertise is recommended.<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Cebu City, Negros Experience diving with one of the most fascinating creatures ever, the elusive thresher sharks which are frequent visitors in the Malapascua area. In fact, it is probably the only place in the world where you can see a thresher shark daily.<\/p>\n Home to over 20 dive sites, Malapascua is a dream for divers as it boasts of warm tropical water conditions, unbelievable diversity, and stunning landscapes.<\/p>\n The Monad Shoal<\/strong> is a submerged island with a steep 200m drop-off. It is home to threshers, manta rays, devil rays, and varieties of sharks.<\/p>\n The cave or \u201cthe tunnel\u201d<\/strong> is another site that shouldn\u2019t be missed. This 30m tunnel has loads of fish and more importantly, whitetip shark that circle near the exit. This site is recommended for more experienced divers.<\/p>\n Kimod Shoal<\/strong> is another site that features a sunken island that attracts schools of about 200 hammerhead sharks which are regularly seen between December and May.<\/p>\n Read: Where to Stay in Cebu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> If you want to try scuba diving in Malapascua, check out this activity with thresher shark dives<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Cebu City, Negros Memorable to me because this is the place where I first began discovering the beauty of the underwater world, Moalboal is a beautiful place with stunning house reefs and playful turtles.<\/p>\n What makes this place so exciting is the large school of sardines which call this place home.<\/p>\n Often, large pelagics attracted by the food grace the diver\u2019s presence and you’ll get to watch an unbelievable show of cat and mouse as the sardines move and change shapes. Right by the shore of Panagsama Beach in Moal Boal town, you can find a school of around one million sardines that you can choose to either dive or snorkel with.<\/p>\n While snorkeling can be loads of fun, from down below, you can sit quietly and watch the school of sardines transform into various shapes.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> If you’re not a certified diver just yet but you want to enjoy the underwater world in Moal Boal (including the sardines), check out this sardine snorkeling tour<\/a>. <\/b>For experienced divers, you won’t want to miss diving at Pescador Island<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n Take a 15-minute boat ride and soon, you will find yourself in by Pescador Island<\/strong> which is famous for its cathedral cave. This spectacular swim-through starts at around 30m deep and has various exits at around 18m.<\/p>\n There is also an artificial plane wreck that you can visit while you\u2019re diving in the area.<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Occidental Mindoro Considered the second-largest atoll reef in the Philippines, Apo Reef is a must for avid divers. While most of the reefs are submerged, the reefs are marked by three islands namely Apo Island, Apo Menor, and Cayos del Bajo.<\/p>\n This 34km reef has a narrow channel running east to west which divides the reef into two lagoon systems (north and south). Liveaboard journeys have all opened up to this area, making it even more accessible and convenient to explore.<\/p>\n Shark Ridge<\/strong> is popular for its black and whitetip reef sharks, as well as the many shallow caves where you can find eels, lobsters, and large groupers.<\/p>\n Apo 29<\/strong> is also a popular site known for its swift currents where you can possibly see thresher sharks, hammerheads, and other large reef sharks.<\/p>\n Highlights:<\/strong> Apart from the wreck dives, the visibility is pretty fantastic and the amount of fish and corals are great. In some areas, you can also see some dugongs or sea manatees.<\/p>\n Home to many stunning reefs and wreck dives, Palawan is one of my favorite places on earth. Between the WWII shipwreck swim-throughs<\/strong><\/a>, and crystal clear waters and lagoons, not only is Palawan beautiful, but it also has a diverse and abundant marine life.<\/p>\n As Palawan encompasses a large area, dive sites are spread all over El Nido and Coron. Here, expect to see a number of shipwrecks, some of which you can only fully explore after two full dives. Each wreck promises you fantastic swim-throughs inside large engine rooms as you swim alongside turtles and large groupers.<\/p>\n When I was last there, one dive boat was lucky enough to see a whale shark simply hanging around one of the wrecks.<\/p>\n Although Barracuda Lake<\/strong> is not visually striking due to the lack of marine life, if you\u2019re looking for an out-of-this-world experience, dive in Coron\u2019s famous lake. Here, you can swim through large caves and cathedral as you dive through an almost alien-like world full of underwater rock formations.<\/p>\n Other sites that are great for exploring are Destacado Reef<\/strong>, Dilumacad Underwater Tunnel<\/strong>, and North Rock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Read: Where to Stay in Palawan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n If you enjoy swimming with turtles, head on over to Apo Island, home to some spectacular hard corals and turtles that endlessly graze and swim around.<\/p>\n At present, the island is home to over 650 documented species of fish and around 400 species of corals. Most of the Philippines\u2019 450 species of coral can be found here. This spot was also included in one of the top 100 dive sites in the world.<\/p>\n Located on the northwest side of Boracay Island is the popular dive site Yapak 2 where you can find sharks rays, barracudas, tuna, and other large schools of fish. Lucky divers can also chance upon whale sharks while in the area.<\/p>\n Apart from the vibrant marine life, the site has a deep wall that starts at 30m\/100ft and plunges straight down.<\/p>\n Currents can be very strong so only experienced divers are recommended for this site. When in the area, you will be rewarded by seeing large marine life such as gray and whitetip reef sharks, snappers, and triggerfish.<\/p>\n
\nHighlights:<\/strong> When diving in Tubbataha, you can see eleven different species of sharks, over 479 species of fish, and large pelagics such as jacks, manta ray, tuna, and whale sharks. It also has the highest population density for whitetip reef sharks so a shark sighting is pretty common while you\u2019re here!<\/p>\n![\"philippines-liveaboard-corals\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/philippines-liveaboard-corals.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Dive Sites in Tubbataha Reef<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Malapascua Island<\/h3>\n
\nHighlights:<\/strong> Seeing the graceful thresher shark swim across the water. Close encounters with these creatures are also very common as they don\u2019t tend to be very shy.<\/p>\n![\"philippines-diving-thresher-shark\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/philippines-diving-thresher-shark.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Dive Sites in Malapascua<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Moal Boal<\/h3>\n
\nHighlights:<\/strong> Apart from the incredible experience of swimming with the sardines, the other house reefs in Moal Boal are equally as stunning with lots of jacks, sharks, and playful turtles.<\/p>\n![\"philippinesdiving-sardines\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/philippinesdiving-sardines-960x640.jpg\")
Best Dive Sites in Moal Boal<\/h4>\n
Apo Reef<\/h3>\n
\nHighlights:<\/strong> Apart from the stunning beaches, you are also bound to see large schools of pelagic fish like barracuda and groupers. You will also see a varied species of sharks and manta rays.<\/p>\n![\"philippines-diving-turtle\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/philippines-diving-turtle.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Dive Sites in Apo Reef<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Palawan<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nBest Dive Sites in Palawan<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Other Popular Diving Destinations in the Philippines<\/h2>\n
Apo Island<\/h3>\n
Yapak<\/h3>\n
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