Scuba Diving

The Philippines is truly one of the best tropical destinations in the world. With white sand beaches and clear blue seas, it will not disappoint even the most discerning beach connoisseur. But while the islets, coves, lagoons, rock formations, and even the palm trees in the country easily get a lot of love from travelers, its underwater world is the one that everyone needs to see to truly understand what makes the Philippines a real paradise.

As an archipelago, almost any location in the Philippines is surrounded by water. In addition, the country has some of the most extensive coral reef systems in the world, making it a haven for scuba divers. Every year, numerous underwater explorers from all over the world head to the Philippines to discover its hidden wonders, ranging from colorful coral gardens to amazing sea creatures.


So you think you can dive?

Aspiring divers in the Philippines are lucky to be in an archipelago as there are just too many dive spots that can be easily accessed during a weekend trip. But even before you can board a boat, let alone don the full scuba gear, you’ll need to have a license. Everyone in the world is required to be certified first before they can be allowed to explore the deep blue sea. Like any type of license, this proves that you know how to handle yourself in a risky situation like being underwater. Diving is considered a safe activity, but only for those who have the knowledge and experience, not just with swimming under the sea, but also with the gear, equipment, safety procedures, buoyancy, and many more.

There are numerous organizations in the Philippines that offer certifications. When you apply, you will go through a series of diving courses that will cover everything, from knowing how to set up your gear to navigating the open sea. There will be classroom lectures as well as sessions in an indoor pool. The remaining courses, meanwhile, will take place in an actual dive site where you will apply everything you’ve learned. Once you’ve gotten your license or c-card, you can use it to go scuba diving all over the Philippines. You can also use it if you want to go diving in another country.

For those who just want to experience what it’s like to dive, there are diving packages that will not require certifications. These offer just simple activities that are supervised by an expert. It comes with gear and equipment rental, use of boat, and basic lessons.


Diving is more fun in the Philippines

The country has been blessed with a majestic underwater world, and everyone should be able to see it at least once, whether through diving or even snorkeling. But for a memorable recreational diving experience, adventurers should head to the following areas for the best of what the marine life of the Philippines has to offer.

Anilao in Batangas is one of the top destinations in the Philippines for sea explorers. It is teeming with dive spots that are all full of vibrant corals and different types of marine creatures like colorful fishes, sea horses, eels, octopi, and many more. Best of all, it is just a few hours away from Metro Manila.

For those who don’t mind traveling farther, Puerto Galera in Mindoro is an ideal option. Known primarily for its white beach, this coastal town has a lot of incredible dive sites, which can be accessed from Sabang Beach. Its shores also have several diver resorts that offer equipment and gear rentals as well as boat trips to the dive spots themselves. In addition to countless marine animals, shipwrecks can also be explored when diving in Puerto Galera.

And of course, the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan is perhaps the ultimate destination for scuba enthusiasts in the Philippines. It is said to the only marine UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southeast Asia. It is very vast—more than 97,000 hectares of pure underwater ecosystem consisting of delicate corals and marine animals of all sizes. The experience will be filled so many encounters with enormous schools of fishes, sea turtles, rays, whale sharks, and many more.