Philippine Dive Destinations

M

anila is located on the huge
island of Luzon and as a
result, this may be the first island in
the Philippines that divers
encounter. While some of the areas
around the city are not suitable for
diving, sites to the north, south and
in Subic Bay are quite interesting.
Manila holds dive and travel centers
where one can book trips, get new
gear and get repairs. If travelling
from afar, Manila is a good place to
rest and get rid of jetlag before
continuing on to your resort.
Once out of the big city, there are
popular dive areas like Subic Bay
and Anilao. The relative newcomer
is Bicolwhich features Donsol and
Ticao Islandand its mantas and
whale sharks. Other dive areas
outside of Manila include La Union
and Bolinao.

O

longopo, on Subic Bay, is a
2.5 to 3.5 hour drive
northwest of metro Manila. One
can more easily take a 20-minute
flight from Manila. Or take a local
bus if time isn’t a big deal. It is a
free port (duty-free) zone with a
number of hotels on offer and a
good night life. Nearby you’ll find
several fair beaches with basic

infrastructure, as well as

accommodations ranging from

modest to luxurious. There is a sea

park with dolphins, sharks and

turtles and a number of dive shops,

many offering technical training and

wreck diving certificates.

Most of Subic Bay’s best diving is

in the harbor, on the historic

wrecks. For visibility, the best time

to go is February through May but

the bay has little in the way of

currents and can be dived year

‘round. Visibility ranges from 100 ft.

(30m) to very low so ask about the

best season.

Snorkelers will like The Canyon

off Grande Island and there are

some other coral spots in the bay

for both snorkeling and diving.

With all the wreck and tek, Subic

also has a fully-functional

recompression chamber staffed by

experienced professionals.

Luzon Dive Sites

Subic Bay

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Subic Bay

Airport