Asian Diver and Scuba Diver Issue 02-2020 (155) | Page 9

Anilao, Batangas
PHILIPPINES
Tubbataha Reefs
Dauin,
Dumaguate
Wire-coral goby or whip coral goby fish on sea pen coral at Anilao Batangas ©Shutterstock
while Twin Rocks features
beautiful soft corals, various small
fish and schooling jacks.
The average visibility is
around 10 to 15 metres and
snorkelling and kayaking are
some of the other available
activities. Because the sites
are not particularly deep,
Anilao is a beginner-friendly
dive destination with few
strong currents.
Getting there
Anilao is one of the more accesible
dive spots within the country. A
ride from Manila Airport to Anilao
is only about two to three hours.
Many resorts offer free transfers
back and forth as well. Diving
in Anilao is mainly land-based,
so there are plenty of resorts
available in the vicinity. A few
liveaboards include Anilao on their
itinerary, but most trips don’t offer
any scuba diving near Anilao.
DAUIN, DUMAGUATE
This location lies on Negros
Island, and is known as one of
the best luxury dive destinations
in the Philippines. Dive sites are
found mainly along the coastline
of Dauin, 20 minutes from
Dumaguete. Expect exceptional
muck diving, a variety of coral
reefs and several luxury dive
resorts facing the beach – all
Pygmy gobies hiding in a glass bottle, Dauin ©Shutterstock
available at a relatively affordable
price compared to other dive
locations around the world. Dive
resorts in Dumaguete offer a day
trip to Oslob, where you have the
rare opportunity of to snorkel
and swim alongside the ocean’s
biggest fish – the whale shark.
Visibility generally ranges from
10 to 12 metres.
A 30-minute boat ride from
the dive resorts will find you at
Apo Island, known for its healthy
coral gardens, schools of fish,
sea turtles, and sea snakes.
At Coconut Point, Apo invites
adventurous divers to try an
exhilarating drift diving experience
over a sloping wall where you can
spot marbled groupers, bumphead
parrotfish and green sea turtles.
At Apo Island, visibility ranges
from 16 to 30 metres. All of the
aforementioned dive sites in and
around Dauin are relatively easy.
Getting there
A swift 45-minute flight from
Manila gets you to Dumaguete.
Luxury resorts offer returns and
transfers free of charge.
Popular resorts includes
Atlantis Dive Resort and
Atmosphere Resort and Spa,
which offer excellent bars and
restaurants, pool and spa services,
and facilities for underwater
photographers. AD