Diving in Anilao is an enchanting experience for divers seeking a unique underwater adventure. Nestled in the Batangas region on the island of Luzon, Anilao was once a hidden gem known mainly to local Filipinos. Its close proximity to Manila makes it a convenient weekend getaway, drawing divers to its warm, calm waters teeming with marine life. Although lacking in pristine white beaches, Anilao more than compensates with its vibrant coral reefs, diverse critters, and world-class macro photography opportunities. The waters of Anilao are a treasure trove of biodiversity, with around 40 dive sites including renowned spots like Sombrero Island, Maricaban Island, and Cathedral. These sites are easily accessible via short boat rides, offering divers the chance to explore stunning underwater landscapes. The region is famous for its rich reefs and unexpected critters like nudibranchs, shrimp, and the elusive blue-ringed octopus. Anilao is a paradise for underwater photographers and offers dive courses for all levels. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced diver, Anilao promises captivating night dives and thrilling drift dives.
Anilao diving is famous for its muck diving. Muck diving is a bit of a misnomer, usually the seabed is not “mucky” as such, but it can be sandy or silty and it can refer to almost any dive where you spend your time with your head buried in the seabed rather than looking up! One of the things that makes Anilao muck diving so impressive is the warm, volcanic sands which are very nutritious. Something that muck diving lovers will love about Anilao is the biodiversity. Nudibranch, shrimp and interesting fish and other beasties like bobtail squid and stargazers can be found burrowed in the seabed here.
Reef diving is also popular here as the corals are so healthy and so varied. They have such vibrant colours, even 30m below, that you will scarcely believe your eyes. Some of the sites provide moderate to strong currents if the conditions are right, so you can drift serenely over the reefs, enjoying the abundance at every turn.
The ocean conditions are usually calm here. This makes the area perfect for beginner dive courses from one of the many dive resorts. Liveaboards also commonly pass this way and moor for several days. These trips often take in other local sites like Coron, Apo Reef and Puerto Galera.
Diving in Anilao is available all year round. However, due to its location in the typhoon belt, it is subject to seasonal changes in the weather which can affect your holiday and the diving conditions.
The dry season is from November to June; rainfall is minimal and the winds are low. This means that diving conditions are generally good due to calm waters. May and June tend to be the warmest months with water temperatures regularly hitting 29oC.
December to February are the coldest months, with water temperatures sometimes reaching 25oC and necessitating a full length 3mm at a minimum for most divers. Though this is distinctly chilly, it does create the best conditions to see all the rare macro critters, not only do they thrive in the cold, but rarer creatures come up from deeper waters.
The rainy season runs from July - October. Though there can be long spells of fine weather, there can also be prolonged storms and typhoons which can disrupt diving. Directly following a storm, macro life may spend a few days hiding from the turbulent conditions in the shallow water. It tends to be quieter too - the dryer months have many tourists, especially at weekends and on holidays like New Year and Easter.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
