Philippines Guide

One of the popular wrecks in Philippines visited by diving enthusiasts is the Black Island Wreck. The Malajon Island, one of the islands in the Calamianes group of Islands, is also known as Black Island because of its black rocks.

Coron, Busuanga Island and the Calamianes Islands (site of Black Island) are collectively known in the Philippines as the Calamianes group of Islands. They are the northern islands of Palawan. Busuanga Island, the main island of the Calamianes group of Islands, is about an hour and 20 minutes by air from Manila, Philippines.

Busuanga Island is in between the Sulu Sea and South China Sea. The most spectacular nature scenes of the Philippines are found on Busuanga Island. Here you’ll find underwater and land caves, huge limestone cliffs, jungles, rivers, hot springs, and mangrove swamps.

On September 24, 1944, Busuanga Island became a witness of World War II. The US Navy conducted an aerial bombardment of Japanese support vessels and cargo in the waters of this island. A number of shipwrecks were kept secret in the waters of this island. Busuanga Island now has become a sanctuary of the diverse species of marine life that make these wrecks their home.

The wreck lies right off the Black Island beach, right in front of a stranded ship at shore. Malajon Island is on the west side of Busuanga Island. Getting there will require a three to five hour boat ride. You can spend the night in the small resorts in the area while diving in Black Island Wreck and other wrecks along the way.

The Black Island Wreck is a small converted tanker designed to carry specific fuels. These fuels were placed in isolated tanks to replenish the fuel supply of the land-based depots. These tankers were from the Japanese Imperial Army.

The Black Island Wreck is a great dive site for wreck diving novices because of the shallow depth. The wreck’s depth starts at 21. 32 meters is the deepest point with a 20 meter visibility The dive site is also perfect for undersea photographers and night divers. The wreck has plenty of fish who make their home in it.

There is also a huge diversity of marine life on the Black Island Wreck. You can find large scorpionfish as well as lionfish on this site. You’ll be fascinated by the schools of batfish, trumpetfish, and sweepers that share their habitat. Emperor angelfish and six-banded angelfish are also live around the Black Island Wreck. Sponges, hydroids, and crinoids are also found here.

You will have a beautiful dive experience in the clear waters of Black Island Wreck near Busuanga Island.

Tags: philippines travel tips, philippines-beaches, Divers, traveling, filipino food, Tourist Destinations, scuba diving

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Anilao is a town in Batangas that is a famous destination for weekend trips, especially for diving. Many resorts in Anilao offer great diving packages to excellent dive sites in the area. There are about 24 dive sites in Anilao. Among these dive sites are the following listed below.

The Cathedral - This dive site is a marine sanctuary in Anilao. The Cathedral has two big mounds where a cross was planted in between these mounds. The dive site looks like an underwater roofless amphitheater. The Cathedral is a famous dive site in Anilao where many types of reef fish can be found.

The Sombrero Island - This dive site is a drift dive in Anilao. The name of the island is derived from its appearance during low tide, shape like a hat or sombrero - a local term. The Sombrero Island is a good dive site for coral lovers.

The Mainit Point or Hot Water Point - This is a dive site in Anilao that has everything to offer. Hard corals, nudibranches, ribbon eels, and mantis shrimp are among the marine life that can be found in the Mainit Point. Occasionally, sharks can be found in this dive site. This dive site also has natural hot springs where you can boil eggs in them.

The Mapating or Shark Cave - This dive site in Anilao is a challenging one even for experienced divers. Strong water current prevails in the Mapating. A great variety of sharks, pelagic fish, and other marine life are rich in this dive site, which has a series of drop-offs.

The Twin Rocks - This is a dive site that has a capsized barge wreck. The giant clams, batfish, frogfish, and mushroom corals are among the things that you can find in the Twin Rocks in Anilao. Some blue spotted stingrays are also present in this dive site in Anilao.

The Ligpo Island - This is a dive site in Anilao that can be circumnavigated in just one dive. The Ligpo Island is also a good dive site for coral lovers where different types of corals can be found including large gorgonians. Various reef fish and sometimes, pelagic fishes can be seen swimming nearby in this dive site.

The dive sites mentioned above are just some of the wonderful sites in Anilao, Batangas. Anilao is about two-and-a-half hours away from Manila, Philippines. Buses traverse daily in this route from Manila to Anilao.

Anilao, Batangas is a wonderful place to go for weekend diving trip with its plenteous dive sites around. It is truly invigorating and refreshing when you visit the various dive sites in Anilao.

Tags: Filipino, philippines travel tips, White Beach, Mindanao, Visayas, Scuba, Bicol

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Boracay is a famous tourist destination in the Philippines with its white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, world-class beach resorts, and places of entertainment. Boracay is considered as an island paradise. Diving is one of the favorite activities that tourists do in Boracay.

There are a number of dive sites present in Boracay. The dive sites are situated at the north and south ends of Boracay. Many wonderful and interesting marine life can be found in the dive sites. The following are among the famous dive sites in Boracay.

Bel-at Beach - The Bel-at Beach dive site in Boracay has amazing soft and stony corals with gorgonians along the wall of the reef. Just be aware of the rough and strong water current of the dive site. Common reef fishes can be found at Bel-at Beach dive site. Large sea creatures like Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks can sometimes be seen.

Yapak One and Two - The dive site in Boracay that can give any diver an exciting dive. The reef wall are covered with gorgonians, sponges, soft corals, and Linchia starfish. Grey and Whitetip Reef Sharks, Manta and Eagle Rays, and Hammerhead Sharks are common sight in the dive site. Tuna, barracuda, snappers, and other reef fishes are abundant.

Punta Bonga - The reef wall of the dive site connects to the Bel-at and Yapak dive sites in Boracay where soft corals grow. The dive site is full of unique marine life like sea cucumbers, butterflyfish, sea stars, angelfish, and more.

Baling Hai Beach - The dive site in Boracay that is abundant of coral gardens that has leathery, soft, and Acropora table corals. Various species of reef fish are abundant in the dive site.

Friday’s Rock - The dive site in Boracay where a diver can experience the beauty of sea wildlife because of the presence of the many variety of reef fishes with Lagoon Rays and moray eels.

Lobster Rock - The dive site that is best for a night dive where exotic marine life can be seen such as spiny lobsters, sergeant majors, and shrimps.

Greenyard and Angol - The dive site that is best for beginner divers and also for snorkeling. The gentle slope of the dive site has the presence of stony corals, clownfishes in the anemones, and other variety of reef fishes.

Crocodile Island - A famous and favorite dive site at the south end of Boracay. The dive site looks like a crocodile from afar and has the presence of canyons, caverns, shallow corals gardens, and vertical wall. The marine life of the dive site is very diversified that a diver will definitely enjoy and love diving in.

Boracay is not just perfect for all-night partying or relaxing under sun in the beach but also for diving because the dive sites are truly splendid and rich with amazing and wonderful marine environment.

Tags: Davao, Baguio, philippine-beaches, Philippine Islands, Travel Philippines, Tagalog, scuba diving

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The Philippines is rich with great and exciting dive sites. Various species of sea plants, sea creatures, and corals are abundant within the various dive sites found anywhere in the Philippines. Subic Bay is one of the famous dive sites in the Philippines.

Aside from the various species present at sea like corals, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, turtles, fishes, and other more, Subic Bay has other dive sites to offer. Many wreck dive sites surround Subic Bay. The wreck dive sites in Subic Bay are mostly remains of the World War II event. There are about 30 wreck dive sites in Subic Bay and also 30 reef dive sites.

Subic Bay is located in Olongapo City. From Manila, Philippines, the place is about two hours away. Subic Bay is considered as the nearest place for reef and wreck diving from Manila. Along the coastline of Subic Bay, many dive centers and resorts are present that are only minutes away from the different reef and wreck dive sites of the place.

The wreck dive sites that are in Subic Bay consist mostly of vessels from the World War II era such as huge battleships, sea patrol boats, supply ships, antique steam ships, landing amphibians, crashed planes, submarines, and a lot more. Many incidents of ship sinking are happening in Subic Bay during the post-war time adding more ten ships to the wreckage collection.

It is also believed that Spanish ships are also found among the wreckage in Subic Bay. The San Quintin vessel, which is a warship during the Spanish-American War, can be found in the wreck dive sites in Subic Bay. A Spanish galleon of the 16th century and also a Chinese Junk ship are among the wreckage that can be found in the wreck dive sites in Subic Bay.

The remains of the USS New York can be found at the depth of about 27 meters in one of the wreck dive sites in Subic Bay. The USS New York was built in Philadelphia in 1891 that is about 116 meters long. During the Spanish-American War, this battleship was very useful and was sunk intentionally in Subic Bay in December 1941 so that the Japanese will not capture the ship.

In one of the wreck dive sites in Subic Bay at the depth of 34 meters, there lies an LST ship that is about 80 meters long. This ship is a large ship tank that is amphibious and used by the US Coast Guard to deploy troops. There is also a naval ship named El Capitan that was launched in the 1917.

The wreck dive sites in Subic Bay are more than sights to behold underwater. These dive sites are also instruments in unfolding some parts of the Philippine History.

Tags: vacation, Pinay, Dive Sites, philippines travel tips, Tagalog, Mindanao, philippine-beaches

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Malapascua Island is a famous diving site where the thresher sharks can be seen. These thresher sharks are elusive. They are part of the Mackerel Shark family. The Monad Shoal is a seamount in the waters of Malapascua Island where the thresher sharks arrive every dawn to be cleansed by wrasse.

Malapascua Island is located near the Island of Cebu in the Philippines. To go to Malapascua Island, fly to Mactan International Airport in Cebu and you will be picked up by a diver center representative. You will travel by minibus and boat going to Malapascua Island.

The best time to go shark diving in Malapascua Island is during the winter months. The dive resorts in Malapascua Island have hosted divers from all over the world including underwater photographers and film crews.

The thresher sharks are the main diving attraction in Malapascua Island. They will truly give you an adrenaline rush. But while diving, you can never ignore the biodiversity and richness of the soft corals in Malapascua Island.

The first dive resort in Malapascua Island was started by Dik de Boer and his wife in 1997. With the local fishermen’s help, two Japanese WW2 shipwrecks were found in addition to the already beautiful dive site of Malapascua Island. The Exotic Dive Resort that Dik established has a selection of thresher sharks, reef dives, and wreck dives.

Dik, with the help of the locals in Malapascua Island, created an artificial reef called House Reef. The House Reef is placed at the depth of 12 meters in the sandy seafloor of Malapascua Island. A wide variety of marine life made their home in the House Reef, which gives a beautiful view to the divers.

A number of small islands surrounding Malapascua Island also offer great views for divers. The Gato Island is a rocky island that is about 50 minutes away by boat from Malapascua Island. The Gato Island is rich with many nudibranchs in various forms and shapes. The soft coral canyons of the Gato Island are the home of these unusual and rare nudibranchs.

The Gato Island near Malapascua Island also has a Sea Snake and Marine Life Sanctuary. Diving within the three to five-meter depth, you can encounter the various juvenile sea snakes hanging out. The Gato Island also has a cave where reef sharks usually make shelter. This cave leads to the center of Gato Island.

Another island near Malapascua Island is the Tapilon Island. The Tapilon Island is a prime site for wreck diving. A Japanese shipwreck is found at about 29 meters off Tapilon Island. A lot of black coral trees, plenty of small barracuda, the elusive ghost pipefish, and a lot more.

Malapascua Island is indeed a great diving site. This is the dive spot where you can do shark diving, wreck diving, and reef diving almost simultaneously.

Tags: White Beach, Philippine Islands, Mindanao, Bicol, Filipino, Scuba, Beach

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Bohol in the Philippines is one of the best places to be if you’re looking for diving adventure. And you will not just find yourself enjoying in one diving spot but from various diving sites. But how will you enjoy if you don’t know where to go? So take on this ride and find out more how to have a great time of diving adventure in Bohol.

Panglao Island, one of the most famous islands has some of the many diving sites that are located at the southwestern part of Bohol with coraline and limestone look. Here in Panglao is where you can find Kalipayan that is just off the white sand Alona Beach which is also known as the “Happy Wall” . If you’re diving starters, it is best to try it out first here because the difficulty rate is just easy. But still the rating is equally good. Its average depth is 10m and maximum up to 20m.

Hole in the Wall, this is what Arco point is often known due to its vertical funnel with entrance of 9m and exit of 18m. Here you can very much enjoy sea sight seeing because you can see a lot of sea creatures. It is located near the private Bohol Beach Club and if you’re in Alona Beach, you can reach it through banca in 12 minutes. Carrying an average depth of 10m and maximum of 25m, the condition here is normally calm and easy.

Pungtud Wall, a popular coral garden which is also great for snorkeling. The difficulty rate is normal and is advisable to go here when the conditions are calm but it is excellent to try it out here. You can reach it through banca in 35 minutes from Alona Beach to the south west side of Panglao Island. Here, you can also enjoy seeing sea creatures like sea urchins, sea starts, putter fish and lots more.

Now, if you’d like to venture to another wondrous island, then you’d better visit Balicasag Island. Rico’s Wall, another beautiful coral garden that is located just near Balicasag Island and Alona Beach. If you’re in Alona Beach, you can take a banca for 45 minutes to get there. Difficulty is normal but is rated really high according to reviewers. There are lots you can see in the coral garden, from all types of smaller reef fish, anemones, sea stars and many more.

Black Forest or Northeast Slope is also one of the best diving stops just like Rico’s Wall. Difficulty is advanced and divers should stay careful at all times. It is located Northeast of Balicasag Island and about 6 kilometers southwest of Alona Beach. Again, if you’re in Alona Beach, take a banca for 45 minutes and you’re there.

Once you’re in Bohol, take time to know and learn the best diving sites and at the same time know the precautions too. By this means, you will always find yourself enjoying your diving adventure like never before. It is good to enjoy and be safe all at the same time. The diving sites included here are not just the ones you can find in Bohol. It still would be a lot better to see it for yourself and discover it on your very own. Because that is what adventure really is and Bohol is the absolute place for it.

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Planning to get out of the town and relax in a place with a beautiful scenic natural ambiance? Why don’t you try going to Nasugbu, Batangas? Nasugbu is one of the closest diving destinations from Manila. You can drive to Nasugbu for about a couple of hours (that is if you don’t encounter any traffic).

Nasugbu faces the magnificent South China Sea. It has a great dive site with plenty of sea creatures. Who would ever realize that there are dive sites close to the Philippine’s capital.

One of the dive spots in Nasugbu is Blue Holes, which is made up of three sinkholes. While in Blue Hole, expect to find different kinds of fish like angelfish, damselfish, sweetlips, parrot fish and large groupers.

Other than the diverse species of fish in Blue Holes, you can also find different kinds of coral such as barrel sponges, gorgonians, and anemones. If you are lucky you can even catch the sight of Hawkbill turtles and some species of pelagic fish.

Another dive spot in Nasugbu is Pink Wall, diving to a rocky bottom going in to a small cave. It will lead you to a wall covered with vast amount of soft pink corals. You will be left breathless by astonishing pink corals surrounded by abundant species of fish. The approximate depth of this dive spot is from 20 to 90 feet.

Fuego point is one popular dive spot in Nasugbu. The interesting characteristic of Fuego point is that it’s shaped like a horseshoe. Fuego point is divided to two parts namely the north side and the south side.

The south side has an interesting deep. Diving to a 110 feet with the corals along with the large angelfish, large grouper and remoras.

The north side is mostly gaining popularity not only to foreign divers but also to local divers as well. Its has a beautiful scenery of walls and canyons.

If you’re looking for stingrays you should go to the Coral Garden. Normally you can see these stingrays covered in sand. Coral Garden is also one popular site in Nasugbu. The name is taken from a tight hug of a variety of corals scattered all over the sandy bottom.

These are only a few of the many dive spots in Nasugbu, Batangas. It’s easy to find an inn or a resort to spend the night in Nasugbu making it ideal for weekend trips and holidays. If you are looking for a weekend get away or a good place to spend a holiday break, then come to Nasugbu, Batangas for a great time under the waves.

Tags: Tourist Destinations, Filipina, Manila, expat, Tagalog, Pinay, Filipino

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This is the right time for all the parents around the world thinking about the safety of their little ones and sending them into summer camp activities. If you are looking for something different because summer is the hottest season, why not try a scuba summer camp? Children may find it very keen and interesting observing and being part of the underwater world. Not only that it allows them to learn something that once they learned it, they will never forget it plus it may chill them up. It is the greatest gift they will ever get and the greatest skill they ever learned.

Located in the Central Visayas of the Philippines; east of Cebu and southwest of Leyte is the island Bohol. It is surrounded by the Camotes Sea on the north; by the Cebu Strait on the west; and by the Bohol Sea by the south. Bohol is sometimes called the “Jewel of the Philippines,” probably because it is filled with great history and landmarks.

Covering an area of 4,117 square kilometers, and essentially an agricultural province, corps and fishes are likely the major industry. It is one of Asia’s greatest scuba diving destinations, Bohol has an undersea paradise waiting to be observed and populated by remarkable coral reefs with wonderful marine life. They even offer island-hopping where you can go from one place of the island to the other and whale-watching voyages can be organized.

Scuba diving not only gives the diver the sense of excitement but also the sense of belonging with the marine life as well; and giving them a wider thought and knowledge about the inhabitants of the deep seas.

Bohol is not only the home of beautiful beaches. It is also the home of the famous Chocolate Hills and the World’s Smallest Monkey Tarsier. Aside from its pristine white-sand beaches and the Chocolate Hills, Bohol also includes old churches, magnificent falls and caves and the famous historical landmarks. Different tourist destination sites are being developed by the Department of Tourism to boost their industry even higher. Don’t forget the generosity and hospitality of the Filipino people that gives the other nation the sense of belonging, it’s just amazing.

Bohol is not only the tourist attraction in the Philippines which offers scuba diving. Boracay, is another tourist spot of the Visayas not only by the foreign people but as well as celebrities. With its pearly white sands, people can’t resist admiring the island even more.

Tags: Snorkeling, asia travel, Dive Sites, Pinay, philippines travel tips, vacation, Wordpress

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La Union is a province in the Philippines that belongs to Region 1. Situated in the west side of the Luzon Island, La Union has a number of reefs that are excellent sites for diving.

The Research Reef is a 10 minute travel by boat from Ocean Deep, a diving center in La Union. The dive site is from 25 feet deep which has a gradual drop down to 100 feet in the sandy seafloor. There are several caverns with tunnels large enough for a diver to swim through. Small cleaner shrimps and lobsters are abundant in the dive site.

The Tamayo Reef is located at the northern side of the Research Reef in La Union. The dive site has large coral heads. Tall valleys are also abundant. A certain area in the dive site is called Grouper Gulch because of the several sightings of large groupers in the area.

The Hashi Maru is a wreck dive site when a Japanese freighter sunk in 1941 in La Union. The dive site is in a sandy and muddy area so there may be times that visibility is not good. A diver will always have a fun dive in the Hashi Maru because of the many interesting things that still remains in the wreck.

The Radar Domes of Wallace, The Wallace Lighthouse, and The Voice of America are dive sites that are all situated in the Poro Point Peninsula. The reef of the dive sites starts at the shore and extends to about 300 meters away. There are many crevices and small holes within the coral formations and lots of fish species made homes in these dive sites. If there is rough weather, this would be the best dive site to go to in La Union because this is the last area to have bad visibility and the first also to get clear.

The Fagg Reef South starts at 20 feet and has a drop off of about 600 feet. The dive site has a gradual slope but its wall is not well defined. There are some timber on the south end of the dive site that are possibly remains of an old ship.

The Fagg Reef North is a dive site that contains a well defined wall from the north to the south end. There are also some coral heads with a number of fish species present in the dive site.

The Fagg Tanks is a wreck dive with M10A1E tanks that was dumped in La Union after World War II. Originally, there were 675 tanks on this site, but today, only 300 are left.

These dive sites in La Union are really worth a visit for beginners and experienced divers. Exploring the waters in La Union is an exciting indulgence.

Tags: Mindanao, Makati, Tourist, Asia, Baguio, Diving, Bicol

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