Explore Manila
The city of Manila lies on the largest Filipino island of Luzon. As the Philippines capital, it is the largest and busiest city - often cited as the most densely populated in the world. The city itself doesn’t have any dedicated diving, but there are plenty of places on the island of Luzon which you can get to easily by car. There are also liveaboards which leave from the city itself in order to reach these dive hotspots.
The southern area of Batangas has the famous dive resort town of Anilao, which is popular with dive courses due to its lovely, beginner friendly reefs. Subic Bay on the western side of Luzon is the location of many popular wreck dives. With plenty of dive centres, it is easy to dive the many wrecks here - most are relics of its days as a naval base during WWII. A combination of, both Japanese and American, war ships and planes litter the sea bed and is a haven for any wreck-diving junkie.
Top Manila Dive Sites
1. San Agapito Point, Verde Island
Experience vibrant marine life with schools of fish, sea snakes, and diverse macro life amid massive sea fans and colorful soft corals. While accessible to all levels, the site features a drop into waters over 70 meters deep and occasional strong currents, making it potentially intimidating for less experienced divers. Both scuba and freediving are possible here, though freediving requires caution due to depth and currents. This site is part of the Verde Island Passage, a notable marine biodiversity center.
2. The Canyons, Puerto Galera
Encounter schools of trevally, snappers, and barracuda, with reef sharks often seen cruising the area. The canyons offer exciting spaces for critter spotting. This is an advanced dive due to strong currents, ideal for scuba divers. The Canyons is part of a protected marine sanctuary, ensuring its rich biodiversity.
3. Mainit Point, Anilao
Mainit Point showcases stunning reefs with abundant macro life, delighting macro photography enthusiasts. Grey reef sharks and marble rays are occasional visitors. Suitable for both scuba diving enthusiasts and advanced freedivers, Anilao is renowned for its vibrant marine life and clear waters.
4. USS New York, Subic Bay
This iconic wreck dive lies at a depth of 17-27 meters, offering exploration of a historic battleship with its intact guns. The dive is suited for advanced and technical divers, perfect for scuba but not recommended for freediving due to depth. The site is rich with marine life, making it a must-visit for wreck enthusiasts.
5. El Capitan, Subic Bay
Accessible to divers of all levels, El Capitan allows exploration of its engine room, cargo holds, and galley. A massive shoal of jackfish accompanies divers throughout. Ideal for both novice and experienced scuba divers, this dive site is an underwater adventure that combines history with marine beauty.
