The Philippines has over 7,000 islands, 27,000 km of coastline, and sits in the Coral Triangle — the most biodiverse marine region on earth. Translation: There is an absurd amount of good diving here. From thresher sharks at dawn to WWII wrecks at depth to whale sharks the size of school buses, this country has it all.
But there is so much to see, and we know how hard it is to choose. Let us help you. We have been diving in the Philippines for over 20 years. We know which destinations deliver, which ones are overhyped, and how to combine them into trips that will suit your needs. Our bespoke travel agency, Philippines Dive and Travel, was formed by TSD’s owner, Andrea Agarwal, in 2005 for just that reason. We have helped hundreds of people plan and book their entire Philippines dive vacation.
Here is a brief guide, but see the Philippines Dive and Travel website for much more extensive information on each location, pricing and more.
Choose Your Adventure
| You want… | Go here |
|---|---|
| Thresher sharks (daily sightings) | Malapascua |
| World-class macro and muck diving | Dumaguete, Malapascua, Puerto Galera |
| Sardine run and turtles | Moalboal |
| WWII shipwrecks | Coron, Malapascua |
| Whale sharks | Donsol (wild, seasonal) or Southern Leyte |
| Pristine reefs and stunning scenery | El Nido, Tubbataha (liveaboard) |
| Best for beginners | Bohol, Moalboal, Puerto Galera, Malapascua |
| Easy weekend from Manila | Puerto Galera (3 hours by road + boat) |
| A bit of everything on one trip | Malapascua + Dumaguete or Malapascua + Bohol |
When to Go
The Philippines is diveable year-round, but conditions vary by region. The best diving conditions are January to June for most destinations. Typhoon risk is highest October to December and mainly affects the eastern seaboard; the Visayas and western Palawan are more sheltered. Tubbataha is only accessible March to June. Whale sharks in Donsol and Southern Leyte are November-May, best to March-April.
The Destinations
Malapascua, Cebu
Best for: A little bit of everything so a great starting point, Thresher sharks, macro, wrecks, mandarin fish
The only place in the world with daily thresher shark sightings. Malapascua also offers 20+ dive sites, including Gato Island (whitetip sharks, sea snakes, a swim-through tunnel), world-class muck diving, WWII wrecks, and the famous mandarinfish mating dive at dusk. Great for everyone from beginner to tec. This is our home base and the heart of everything we do. Andrea, the owner of Thresher Shark Divers and Philippines Dive and Travel, decided to make this her home precisely because it offered so much variety. After diving all over the Philippines, she honestly thought it was the best spot.
Moalboal, Cebu
Best for: Sardine run, turtles, coral walls, beginners
An enormous resident school of sardines swirls just off Panagsama Beach, accessible from shore. Green turtles are so common they are practically furniture. Pescador Island has beautiful walls and a sea snake population. Easy to reach from Cebu City (2-3 hours by road) and combines naturally with Malapascua.
Bohol (Panglao, Anda, Cabilao)
Best for: Diverse reefs, beginners, topside attractions
Bohol offers excellent diving across multiple areas. Panglao and Balicasag have healthy walls and big schools of jacks. Anda is a hidden gem for macro enthusiasts. Cabilao Island is a quieter, more remote option with big pelagic action. Plus the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and river cruises make Bohol a great choice for non-diving travel companions.
Dumaguete, Dauin, & Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Best for: Muck diving, turtles, marine sanctuaries
Dumaguete is the muck-diving capital of the Visayas, with sites like Dauin producing blue-ringed octopus, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and more critters than you can shake a pointer stick at. Nearby Apo Island is a marine sanctuary with spectacular turtle encounters and strong coral growth.
Coron, Palawan
Best for: WWII wrecks, lake diving, scenery
A fleet of Japanese warships sunk by American bombers in 1944 now sits in 10–40m of water, making Coron one of the best wreck-diving destinations in Asia. Between wreck dives, Barracuda and Kayangan Lakes offer surreal freshwater experiences. The limestone karst scenery above water is equally stunning.
El Nido, Palawan
Best for: Stunning scenery, reefs, island hopping
More famous for its lagoons and beaches than its diving, but the underwater world here is increasingly impressive as marine protection efforts take hold. Healthy reefs, good visibility, and the chance to combine diving with what may be the most photogenic island scenery in the Philippines.
Puerto Galera, Mindoro
Best for: Macro, easy access from Manila, drift dives
Just 3 hours from Manila by road and boat, Puerto Galera is a favourite weekend escape for capital-based divers. The Verde Island Passage running alongside it has been called the centre of the centre of marine biodiversity. Strong currents create world-class drift dives, and the macro here is outstanding.
Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay)
Best for: Whale sharks (seasonal), off-the-beaten-path diving
Sogod Bay is one of the few places in the Philippines where whale sharks appear naturally (snorkel only, no feeding). The season runs roughly November to May. More remote and less developed than other destinations, which is part of the appeal. There is also some superb wall and muck diving.
Donsol & Ticao Island, Sorsogon
Best for: Wild whale shark encounters (snorkelling in Donsol, diving in Ticao) and mantas (diving in Ticao)
Donsol is where the modern whale shark tourism industry began. Encounters here are wild and unbaited, with whale sharks feeding on plankton in the bay. Season runs November to May, peaking March to April. This is snorkelling only in Ticao and is best combined with diving at Ticao Island, a three-hour boat ride from Donsol. Oceanic mantas can be see in Ticao year round. Find out more from our Shark Diving in the Philippines website.
Liveaboard vs Land-Based
Most Philippines diving is land-based, which works well because the best sites are often close to shore. However, two of the country’s most spectacular destinations are only reachable by liveaboard:
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a remote atoll in the Sulu Sea, accessible only March to June. Expect pristine walls, sharks, mantas, and hammerheads. This is bucket-list diving.
Apo Reef off Mindoro is the second-largest contiguous reef in the world. Liveaboards also run to the Visayas, combining multiple destinations in one trip.
From June to March, the liveaboards run trips to other parts of the Philippines. Visayas, Coron, and the Sogod area liveaboard trips are very popular.
The liveaboards are very popular, especially Tubbataha and spaces can be difficult to find, especially for the same year. But we can help and we can arrange liveaboards for you. Book the liveaboard alone, or combine it with land-based diving. A week in Malapascua followed by a week on a liveaboard is one of our most popular combinations. Expect to pay upwards of $400 a night for a liveboard.
Let Us Plan Your Trip
We work with trusted dive resorts across the Philippines through our sister company, Philippines Dive & Travel. Tell us what you want to see, how long you have, and your experience level, and we will put together a trip that works for you. We handle transport (excluding flights), accommodation, and diving — you just show up.
