Philippine Feast
LONG WEEKEND GETAWAY
A short hop from Manila, Puerto Galera is a
dive hotspot among the best in the Philippines
PUERTO GALERA
By CONNIE CHAN
Images by ALAN LO
PHILIPPINES
1. The busy beachfront
of Sabang
2. Dive with giant turtles
at the Sabang wreck
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Located in the very heart of the Coral Triangle,
Puerto Galera is well known for its countless
dive sites and incredibly clear waters; the area
was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve
by UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most
diverse coral reef diving in Asia.
Puerto Galera in Spanish means “port of
the galleons”. Puerto Galera (or “PG island”)
typically refers to the diving village of Sabang
and White Beach.
From Manila airport it takes just two hours
by land to Batangas Pier and from there it’s a
one-hour boat ride to the island. This gorgeous
collection of bays and islands offers a variety
of dive sites for both training and exploration;
from shipwrecks to drift diving, and even deep
dives over 100 metres.
SDOP
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3. Two multicoloured
mantis shrimp in a
sponge coral
Itinerary
FRIDAY
From Manila, take a private
charter van to Batangas (can
be arranged by the dive resort),
and travel by private boat to
Puerto Galera island. Have a
nice tea before preparations
for your sunset dive at Sabang
wreck with giant turtles and
schools of batfish.
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