Diving Guide to the Philippines 2015

(Barry) #1

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


1

2

3
4

Subic Bay
Airport
Free download pdf