Explore Batangas

Batangas province lies on the island of Luzon. It is one of the most established areas for diving in the Philippines, and it’s easy to see why. The diversity of its waters, as well as the stunning beachfront and exotic jungles, make for a perfect dive destination.

One of the most famed aspects of diving in Batangas is the muck diving. Getting down and dirty in the sand yields some excellent photographic opportunities with the many macro beasties that hide there. The reef diving here is some of the most varied in the world, with over 70% of all known coral species existing here.

There are several different areas in Batangas which are popular with divers. The most famous of these is Anilao which has many different dive resorts and centres to choose from. It is a popular place to do dive courses because of the beautiful reefs which lie so close to the shoreline and the good transport links.

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Diving in Batangas

There are lots of dive resorts and dive centres in the different diving hubs around Batangas. This is partly due to its proximity to Manilla, and partly because of its fantastic diving. Either way, it offers great choice for those wishing to dive here. From luxury dive resorts to beach front dive shops and hostels, there is something to please everyone. A few liveaboards operate in the area too, if you wish to dive all over Batangas in the easiest way.

Beginner dive courses are popular here because of the beautiful reefs and plentiful accommodation. More advanced courses will help you nail the perfect buoyancy for muck dives, get deeper on the walls or dive the plentiful wrecks found here. Technical diving is popular here too due to the deep sites.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Batangas

Diving in Batangas is possible year round, though it is subject to seasonal changes. The wet (monsoon) season is from July to November and features increased rainfall and winds. The months of September and October often feature the strongest winds, sometimes turning into typhoons which can reduce the visibility and make the seas very rough. The benefits of diving in the monsoon season is that it tends to be quieter.

The dry season, from December to June is the best time for diving. The coldest months are December and January when the water temperatures can fall to 25oC. The hottest months are May and June. The visibility is usually great during this season, sometimes exceeding 40m. The only downside to this season is that it tends to be busier. During weekends and big holidays like New Year and Easter, divers from Manilla will flock here for a getaway - so be sure to book in advance!

Top Wildlife Sightings in Batangas

The beautifully healthy reefs of Batangas host scores of life. Lionfish, anemonefish, parrotfish and scorpionfish are common everywhere. Turtles are frequent visitors to these oases too, often found munching on the hard corals. White and black tip reef sharks are not uncommon and the occasional gray reef sharks have been spotted here too.

Some sites boast sporadic manta ray and whale shark sightings, though it has to be said that you would be very lucky. More common, however, are shoals of fish in the blue - schools of jacks, snapper and fusiliers swarm at many dive sites. You can also see bigger fish like trevally, tuna and barracuda out hunting.

If macro life makes your heart beat faster, you won’t be disappointed. Cephalopod lovers will be delighted with the cuttlefish, iridescent bobtail squid and octopus species on display. If you prefer hunting for kaleidoscopic nudibranch among the rocks, this is the place for you. The lobsters, crabs, shrimp, eels, sea snakes, wrasse and more will keep you looking in those nooks and crannies right up till the last minute.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

916 Sightings
J
63
F
65
M
102
A
77
M
72
J
83
J
80
A
100
S
66
O
93
N
58
D
57
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

709 Sightings
J
49
F
61
M
74
A
73
M
69
J
71
J
57
A
56
S
50
O
53
N
53
D
43
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

410 Sightings
J
39
F
36
M
32
A
18
M
38
J
40
J
29
A
26
S
10
O
45
N
35
D
62

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

263 Sightings
J
15
F
19
M
8
A
41
M
25
J
50
J
27
A
22
S
4
O
18
N
17
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

210 Sightings
J
13
F
25
M
9
A
27
M
15
J
12
J
20
A
21
S
16
O
20
N
20
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

173 Sightings
J
13
F
23
M
17
A
9
M
20
J
19
J
30
A
9
S
7
O
10
N
7
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

2.1k Sightings
J
150
F
145
M
227
A
186
M
188
J
237
J
214
A
218
S
114
O
183
N
94
D
140

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

1.4k Sightings
J
87
F
87
M
161
A
125
M
131
J
187
J
152
A
158
S
75
O
108
N
64
D
96

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

1.3k Sightings
J
82
F
99
M
129
A
121
M
125
J
167
J
124
A
136
S
86
O
98
N
62
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

1.2k Sightings
J
82
F
81
M
142
A
101
M
128
J
132
J
121
A
125
S
59
O
107
N
63
D
80

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

1.2k Sightings
J
100
F
79
M
154
A
147
M
109
J
92
J
67
A
94
S
30
O
124
N
79
D
79

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

1.1k Sightings
J
76
F
74
M
111
A
88
M
98
J
165
J
111
A
146
S
47
O
62
N
47
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

1.1k Sightings
J
76
F
90
M
94
A
94
M
79
J
145
J
102
A
113
S
57
O
78
N
48
D
79

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

910 Sightings
J
47
F
79
M
57
A
77
M
64
J
130
J
115
A
133
S
57
O
75
N
29
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

838 Sightings
J
56
F
80
M
77
A
94
M
73
J
121
J
73
A
80
S
56
O
59
N
26
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

808 Sightings
J
40
F
49
M
79
A
57
M
45
J
127
J
114
A
129
S
26
O
76
N
29
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

543 Sightings
J
29
F
47
M
22
A
58
M
30
J
66
J
36
A
87
S
51
O
57
N
22
D
38

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

410 Sightings
J
18
F
34
M
17
A
39
M
29
J
74
J
31
A
53
S
28
O
38
N
17
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

387 Sightings
J
49
F
24
M
22
A
36
M
23
J
17
J
16
A
52
S
13
O
61
N
30
D
44

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

330 Sightings
J
27
F
8
M
22
A
46
M
37
J
36
J
23
A
40
S
11
O
29
N
18
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

321 Sightings
J
13
F
36
M
42
A
33
M
52
J
40
J
26
A
10
S
13
O
18
N
17
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

298 Sightings
J
12
F
12
M
17
A
25
M
31
J
44
J
36
A
47
S
22
O
20
N
5
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

289 Sightings
J
16
F
19
M
22
A
27
M
4
J
39
J
33
A
64
S
12
O
10
N
14
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

286 Sightings
J
17
F
33
M
22
A
31
M
16
J
34
J
19
A
41
S
24
O
20
N
18
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

256 Sightings
J
5
F
13
M
10
A
18
M
24
J
41
J
40
A
47
S
10
O
10
N
15
D
23

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

232 Sightings
J
11
F
16
M
22
A
18
M
24
J
16
J
25
A
26
S
10
O
22
N
19
D
23

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

225 Sightings
J
10
F
15
M
29
A
39
M
13
J
26
J
11
A
30
S
7
O
20
N
13
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

220 Sightings
J
6
F
32
M
15
A
12
M
27
J
23
J
7
A
35
S
11
O
24
N
10
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

220 Sightings
J
17
F
8
M
11
A
30
M
15
J
14
J
23
A
29
S
9
O
33
N
14
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

204 Sightings
J
19
F
20
M
14
A
20
M
8
J
28
J
42
A
21
S
11
O
9
N
5
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

178 Sightings
J
10
F
17
M
12
A
14
M
15
J
19
J
20
A
14
S
18
O
20
N
6
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

168 Sightings
J
17
F
7
M
11
A
5
M
17
J
11
J
27
A
15
S
25
O
11
N
7
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

117 Sightings
J
14
F
4
M
7
A
13
M
8
J
9
J
20
A
12
S
0
O
12
N
12
D
6
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

108 Sightings
J
5
F
6
M
6
A
10
M
7
J
18
J
10
A
16
S
6
O
14
N
3
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

105 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
10
A
13
M
5
J
8
J
1
A
15
S
7
O
20
N
12
D
5
Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

105 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
10
A
12
M
13
J
11
J
10
A
23
S
7
O
5
N
8
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

87 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
0
A
1
M
9
J
18
J
27
A
11
S
3
O
7
N
3
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2000

Gobies

Gobies

76 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
14
J
19
J
31
A
9
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 400

Blennies

Blennies

65 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
11
J
18
J
26
A
9
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Snake Eel

Snake Eel

61 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
2
A
20
M
2
J
4
J
2
A
0
S
3
O
3
N
6
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 33

Hawkfishes

Hawkfishes

61 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
7
J
18
J
30
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

60 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
4
A
17
M
5
J
1
J
0
A
8
S
3
O
5
N
2
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse

53 Sightings
J
2
F
3
M
8
A
9
M
7
J
5
J
3
A
9
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
1

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