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Asia • Continents

Diving in the Philippines *

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Only a small portion of the more than 7,000 islands that compose the Philippines are inhabited. This is a unique country, multiculturally diverse and with an extraordinary cuisine. Tagalog is the official language of The Philippines; however, the majority of the inhabitants also speak English. This region has the best diving conditions from July to March. From shipwrecks and impressive marine life to idyllic beaches, this country offers incredible adventures for everyone.

Diving in the Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago composed of over 7,000 islands in three main regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Some of the best variety of diving can be found in this country. The Philippines is also known for having one of the most significant biodiversity in the world. Each one of its islands has many pristine coral reefs, stunning deep walls, and historical wrecks. Scuba divers, XR divers, freedivers, and snorkelers will find the perfect adventure to enjoy. Fringing coral reefs surround many of the islands. The Philippines has many Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) with abundant marine life.

Travel Information for the Philippines

Power Plug Type:A, B, C
Airports:CEB, MNL
Currency:PHP
Dial Code:+63
Language:en, tl
Electricity:220 V / 60 Hz
Timezone:UTC+08:00
Network Provider:Smart

Popular Destinations

Eastern Visayas © iStock/Marc_Osborne

Eastern Visayas

13 Dive Sites • 2 Centers Eastern Visayas is a region that includes the islands of Leyte and Samar.
Philippines
Central Visayas © iStock/GoodOlga

Central Visayas

175 Dive Sites • 86 Centers One of Philippines’ main island group are the Visayas, which is made up of eight main islands: Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Siquijor, Panay, Masbate, Leyte and Samar.
Philippines
Bicol Region © iStock/onfilm

Bicol Region

5 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Bicol is a region in the Philippines in the island group of Luzon. The main diving regions in Bicol are Donsol, Masbate and Ticao Island.
Philippines

Popular Destinations

Eastern Visayas © iStock/Marc_Osborne

Eastern Visayas

13 Dive Sites • 2 Centers Eastern Visayas is a region that includes the islands of Leyte and Samar.
Philippines
Central Visayas © iStock/GoodOlga

Central Visayas

175 Dive Sites • 86 Centers One of Philippines’ main island group are the Visayas, which is made up of eight main islands: Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Siquijor, Panay, Masbate, Leyte and Samar.
Philippines
Bicol Region © iStock/onfilm

Bicol Region

5 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Bicol is a region in the Philippines in the island group of Luzon. The main diving regions in Bicol are Donsol, Masbate and Ticao Island.
Philippines
Ticao Island © Aqualung

Ticao Island

4 Dive Sites Ticao Island is famous for its pristine corals and a healthy array of macro life.
Philippines
Malapasqua © Mares

Malapasqua

7 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Head to the northeast of Cebu Island to arrive at Malapascua Island, which offers a wide arrange of macro/muck diving with rock and coral formations.
Philippines
Moalboal © Mares

Moalboal

5 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Travel to southwestern part of Cebu to find Moalboal, which means “bubbling water”.
Philippines
Mactan © Mares

Mactan

26 Dive Sites • 36 Centers In Central Visayas, you will find Mactan Island, that has many dive sites on the east side, all reachable by a short 15-minute boat ride.
Philippines
Panglao © Mares

Panglao

13 Dive Sites • 11 Centers Scuba diving in Panglao Island is a popular activity offering many areas that are full of long coral covered walls teeming with an abundance of life.
Philippines
Anda © Mares

Anda

13 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Anda is a paradise with a long stretch of white sand beaches that have only recently started to be developed for tourists.
Philippines
Cabilao © Scubapro

Cabilao

1 Dive Sites • 2 Centers Cabilao is a small island located about 30 km (18.6 miles) from Tagbilaran, just in front of Bohol’s north coast.
Philippines
Panay © Scubapro

Panay Island

1 Dive Sites Panay Island is the sixth-largest island in the Philippines, and it’s located southeast of Mindoro Island.
Philippines
Boracay © Scubapro

Boracay

11 Dive Sites • 3 Centers Surrounded by crystal clear waters and healthy coral reefs that support a wide range of marine life, you will find Boracay island.
Philippines
Padre Burgos © Aqualung

Padre Burgos

9 Dive Sites In the province of Southern Leyte you will find one of the Philippine’s most famous scuba diving destinations, Padre Burgos.
Philippines
Mindanao © Shutterstock/Shutterhooks

Mindanao

1 Centers In the south of the Philippines you will find the second largest region of islands of this country, Mindanao.
Philippines
Mindoro © iStock-holgs

Mindoro

22 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Visit the world’s second largest connecting coral reef system, Apo Reef, which is also one of the major diving attractions in the Mindoro region.
Philippines
Pandan Island © Mares

Pandan Island

13 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Visit the tropical island of Pandan, which can be found on the west coast of Occidental Mindoro, in the Philippines.
Philippines
Apo Reef © Mares

Apo Reef

2 Dive Sites About 15 nautical miles west of Occidental Mindoro province, and in the Mindoro Strait, you can find Apo Reef.
Philippines
Puerto Galera © Mares

Puerto Galera

6 Dive Sites • 3 Centers Puerto Galera has plenty of shipwrecks waiting to be explored, as the Spanish used this place as a haven for their ships during the typhoon season.
Philippines
Verde Island © Mares

Verde Island

Verde Island is an important diving destination with strong currents perfect for advanced divers.
Philippines
Negros © iStock/DKart

Negros

18 Dive Sites • 11 Centers Negros is world-famous for its amazing and diverse dive sites, where divers of all levels of experience can find some of the most beautiful diving sites.
Philippines
Dauin © Scubapro

Dauin and Dumaguete

18 Dive Sites • 11 Centers Dauin and Dumaguete are two mainly muck diving sites with one of a kind black volcanic sand, sloping reefs, and coral gardens.
Philippines
Sipalay © Scubapro

Sipalay

More than 40 exceptional dive spots for all levels of divers are part of this awe-inspiring region.
Philippines
Sipaway © Aqualung

Sipaway

Experience the beautiful underwater wonders of Sipaway Island, which is part of Negros Occidental.
Philippines
Palawan © iStock/Freeartist

Palawan

40 Dive Sites • 11 Centers Also known as “The wild west of the Philippines“ due to its location and remoteness, the archipelago of Palawan is one of the largest provinces in the country.
Philippines
El Nido © Aqualung

El Nido

6 Dive Sites • 1 Centers In El Nido Bay, experience spectacular dive sites with incredible walls, mesmerizingly colorful coral gardens and magnificent marine life.
Philippines
Puerto Princesa/Honda Bay © Mares

Puerto Princesa/Honda Bay

1 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Dive into the waters of Puerto Princesa and see lionfish, cardinals, snapper, sweetlips, nudibranchs, and also find plenty of magnificent corals.
Philippines
Tubataha Reef © Mares

Tubataha Reef

16 Dive Sites Head to Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a World Heritage site, for the ultimate diving experience of the Philippines.
Philippines
Coron Island © Mares

Coron Island

4 Dive Sites Expect jaw-dropping WWII wrecks and cave dives around Coron Island.
Philippines
Busuanga © Mares

Busuanga

13 Dive Sites • 5 Centers Beautiful corals, especially big lettuce corals and sponges, as well as shoals of fish, such as fusiliers, snappers or batfish await you in Busuanga.
Philippines
Dimakya © Mares

Dimakya

The tiny island of Dimakya is located on the northern end of the archipelago, and they offer quiet stays and a fantastic variety of dive sites.
Philippines
Central Luzon © Shutterstock/ARTYOORAN

Central Luzon

23 Dive Sites • 10 Centers The region of Luzon is home to many world-famous diving destinations like Anilao, Puerto Galera and Subic Bay.
Philippines
Subic Bay © Scubapro

Subic Bay

7 Dive Sites • 1 Centers One of the highest number of historic ship, aircraft, and vehicle wrecks in the world can be found in Subic Bay, which is located about 120 km north of Manila.
Philippines
Anilao © Scubapro

Anilao

16 Dive Sites • 6 Centers Around 40 dive sites can be found in Anilao; the most famous are Sombrero Island, Maricaban Island, Cathedral and Mapating.
Philippines
Davao © Aqualung

Davao and Samal

All year round you will find perfect diving conditions in Davao, which has most of its dive sites concentrated on a group of islands to the east of Davao City.
Philippines

Featured Training Centers

Featured Training Centers

This data is provided from the logbook information in the MySSI app

Dive Sites in Philippines

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The dive spots and related content on MyDiveGuide are provided for informational and promotional purposes only. This information, including user-generated content, is not definitive advice or recommendations. Divers are fully responsible for planning their dives, ensuring adequate safety equipment, verifying diving permissions, and complying with local laws and regulations. SSI, MyDiveGuide, and affiliates assume no responsibility or liability for divers' actions, choices, or any incidents. Always dive within your training limits, prioritize safety, and confirm that diving is permitted at your chosen location.