Scuba diving is the main attraction on Pandan Island in the Philippines. The dive sites around the island range from shallow coral gardens to deeper walls and drop-offs, especially on the northern side of the island, making them suitable for beginners as well as experienced divers.
The fully equipped SSI dive center at Pandan Island Dive Resort offers dive programs for all levels, from Try Scuba Diving for first-time divers to professional-level training. Daily fun dives are conducted directly around the island, allowing easy access to healthy reefs, abundant marine life, and relaxed dive conditions.
Beyond local diving, Pandan Island Dive Resort is well known for organizing dive safaris to Apo Reef, one of the largest and most spectacular coral reef systems in the Philippines. These trips are operated with large outrigger boats and include day trips as well as overnight and multi-day safaris. Apo Reef offers vast walls, pristine coral formations, and excellent chances to encounter sharks and other pelagic species.
The dive center at Pandan Island Dive Resort has a long-standing history of diving operations on Pandan Island and is run by an experienced international team. The SSI-certified dive center is fully equipped and offers training and diving activities for all levels, from first-time Try Scuba experiences to advanced and professional courses. Instruction and briefings are conducted in English, and the multilingual staff ensures clear communication and a relaxed learning environment.
The dive shop is well organized and maintained, offering modern rental equipment, a large supply of tanks, and Nitrox diving and courses, allowing certified divers to extend bottom times and enjoy added safety during repetitive dives.
In addition to daily dives around Pandan Island, Pandan Island Dive Resort is widely recognized for organizing dive safaris to Apo Reef, the largest coral atoll in the Philippines. With many years of operational experience in this remote marine park, the resort offers professionally planned day trips and multi-day safaris. Apo Reef is renowned for its dramatic walls, expansive coral formations, and frequent encounters with sharks and other pelagic species, making it one of the highlights of diving in the Philippines.
Divesites around Pandan Island
All dive sites around Pandan Island are located very close to shore and are easily accessible either directly from the beach or by the resort’s dive boat, offering a wide variety of dives for all experience levels. Shallow, calm sites with depths starting at just a few meters are ideal for beginners, training dives, and relaxed warm-up dives, while extensive coral gardens feature healthy hard and soft corals, sandy patches, and abundant marine life including turtles, stingrays, moray eels, cuttlefish, and large schools of reef fish. More advanced sites include slopes, plateaus, corners, and walls with impressive gorgonians, Neptune cups, and sponges, where predators such as trevallies, mackerels, barracudas, tuna, eagle rays, and occasional pelagic species are frequently encountered. For experienced divers, deeper Nitrox dives reach walls and underwater hills down to 40 meters, offering dramatic scenery, strong fish action, and unique features such as historic anchors and large sea fans, making the diving around Pandan Island varied, exciting, and rewarding.
One of the most exciting activities offered by Pandan Island Dive Resort is joining a dive safari to some of the Philippines’ most outstanding dive destinations. Dive safaris are conducted using large local outrigger boats (bangkas), specially arranged for diving and designed to provide stable, comfortable, and safe transport to remote dive sites. Spacious shaded areas allow divers to relax during surface intervals between dives.
The boats are equipped with essential navigation, safety, and communication systems, as well as oxygen and onboard facilities suitable for extended dive trips, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable safari experience.
The primary safari destination is Apo Reef, the largest coral atoll in the Philippines. Depending on the itinerary, trips range from full-day excursions to overnight and multi-day safaris. Apo Reef is famous for its vast coral gardens, dramatic walls, excellent visibility, and regular encounters with sharks and other pelagic species.
Dive safaris are planned according to weather conditions, guest demand, and park regulations, ensuring both safety and high-quality dive experiences.
For more background information on Apo Reef please visit www.apo-reef.com
