Explore Bicol
Diving in the Bicol Region of the Philippines offers an extraordinary underwater adventure, marked by its rich biodiversity and unique dive environments. The region, located southeast of Luzon, includes popular diving spots such as Donsol, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, and Calaguas. Donsol is renowned for its seasonal whale shark encounters from November to May, providing divers with the thrilling opportunity to swim alongside these gentle giants. Just an hour away, Ticao Island's Manta Bowl is a hotspot for manta rays, attracted by the area's natural cleaning stations. San Miguel Island, near Ticao, boasts vibrant reefs teeming with marine life, making it a paradise for underwater photographers. For those seeking a more secluded experience, Catanduanes and Calaguas offer pristine dive sites off the beaten track. Calaguas, in particular, is known for its untouched beauty, where divers can explore its waters with little interruption, as accommodations are limited to tents and there are no dive resorts. Whether you're diving from shore, boat, or liveaboard, Bicol's diverse marine environments and seasonal attractions make it a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts.
Places to Explore
Sorsogon
Sorsogon, located in the Philippines, offers an unforgettable diving experience characterized by its vibrant marine life and diverse underwater landscapes. This region is a haven for divers seeking to explore enchanting coral reefs, dramatic walls, and even mysterious wrecks. Sorsogon is particularly renowned for its seasonal visitors — the majestic whale sharks. These gentle giants can be spotted between November and June, offering an awe-inspiring spectacle for divers.
Masbate
Masbate Island is located just south of Luzon in the Philippines. In the region of the same name also lies Ticao and Burias Islands. This region does not attract many tourists and is a very quiet place with paradise beaches. The diving is characterised by beautiful reefs, strong drifts and large pelagic encounters with whale sharks, manta rays and other big fish.
Ticao Island
Ticao Island is famous for its pristine corals and a healthy array of macro life.
Top Dive Sites Map
Diving in Bicol
Reef diving is king in Bicol, with stunning reefs everywhere, especially in San Miguel. Shoal and cleaning station diving are characterised by their pelagic encounters.
Liveaboard diving is possible here, and gaining in popularity as the region becomes better known. Many dive centres offer dive courses. It is not the most popular place in the world for dive courses, not because the diving isn’t fantastic, but because there’s not a huge amount to do here except dive, so most people come already qualified.
The best Months to dive in Bicol
You can dive in Bicol all year round. The best time to dive is the dry season between November and May - the oceans are at their calmest and the visibility is clearest. These are the best months to spot a whale shark. The water temperatures vary between 26oC in December/January and 30oC between April and September.
From June to October, the diving is still good but the rainfall increases. There is also the possibility of tropical typhoons which may disrupt dive boats operating.
Statistics
Historical data and trends
