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Explore Mindoro

Diving in Mindoro offers an extraordinary journey into the vibrant underwater world of the Philippines. Known for its diverse marine ecosystems, Mindoro attracts divers from around the globe to explore its captivating sites. The island is divided into two main diving areas: the bustling Puerto Galera to the north, and the pristine Apo Reef and Pandan Island to the southwest. Apo Reef, the largest coral reef in the Philippines and the second largest in the world, is a must-see for its breathtaking coral gardens and the rich tapestry of marine life thriving within its waters.

Puerto Galera is a popular dive resort destination, offering a variety of diving experiences for all levels. Its shallow reefs and easily accessible shore entries are perfect for beginners, while the deep waters and strong currents around Verde Island and parts of Pandan Island cater to more advanced divers. The region boasts over 400 types of coral and nearly 500 species of fish, including sharks, rays, and the occasional Manta ray. These waters promise encounters that leave lasting memories, making Mindoro a standout destination for divers seeking adventure, beauty, and the thrill of discovery.

For those seeking unique dive experiences, the seasonal variations bring intriguing opportunities. Liveaboards and safaris departing from Batangas and Puerto Galera provide access to remote dive spots, offering divers the chance to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring underwater landscapes. With accommodations ranging from luxurious to budget-friendly, every type of traveler can find their ideal base to explore the enchanting underwater wonders that Mindoro has to offer."

Top Regions to Explore

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Achieve Your SSI Open Water Diver Certification in Puerto Galera, Philippines

Achieve Your SSI Open Water Diver Certification in Puerto Galera, Philippines

Take your first breath underwater and unlock a lifetime of adventure with Arkipelago Divers!Learn to dive in the warm, crystal-clear waters of Puerto Galera with our experienced SSI Professionals. We specialize in small classes (often one-on-one), ensuring personalized instruction, a relaxed learning environment, and a strong focus on safety and confidence.Earn your internationally recognized SSI Open Water Diver certification and gain the skills to dive anywhere in the world to 18 meters (60 feet).At Arkipelago Divers, we believe learning should be enjoyable, never rushed. With small class sizes- often times one on one, patient instruction, and a strong focus on safety, you'll receive the attention and support needed to become a confident diver while creating unforgettable memories along the way.Your course includes:✔ SSI Digital Learning materials ✔ Personalized instruction from an experienced SSI Professional ✔ Full scuba equipment rental ✔ Pool/confined water training ✔ 4 Open Water training dives ✔ Arkipelago souvenir upon successful certification ✔ Plenty of laughs, encouragement, and unforgettable memories!Your underwater adventure starts here—we can't wait to welcome you to the Arkipelago family!How to Prepare Yourself for your First Underwater ExperienceProgram Prerequisites: Be at least 10 years old (Junior Open Water Diver certification for ages 10–14).Be comfortable in the water.Complete the required SSI Medical Questionnaire before training.Obtain medical clearance from a physician, only if indicated by your medical questionnaire. Ask us at Arkipelago if you have questions.Complete the SSI digital learning before or during your course.No previous scuba diving experience is required! Our experienced SSI Professionals will guide you every step of the way in a safe, fun, and supportive learning environment.

Arkipelago Divers, Arkipelago Divers & Beach Resort, Small La Laguna, Sabang,, 5203, Puerto Galera, Mindoro, PHL
August 12, 2026 +196 More
$411.10
₱25,000.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Mindoro

Reef diving in Mindoro is some of the best in the world as it includes the second largest reef in the world - Apo Reef. Impressive walls and drop offs surround Verde Island, sure to keep thrill seekers happy in sites such as “The Washing Machine”. There are caves, canyons and wrecks to explore too.

Liveaboards are a great way to see all the dive sites as many of them are remote, most leave out of Puerto Galera, Manila or Anilao. Dive courses are popular in resort towns like Puerto Galera (lots of dive centres) due to the gentle currents and shallow reefs.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Mindoro

Diving in Mindoro is possible all year round, the air (and water) temperature rarely drops below 26oC. November - May is the dry season and the best time for diving as the seas are calmest. The hottest months, between March and July, have the hottest temperatures and the best visibility. It is also the busiest time of year, especially at weekends and on public holidays.

The monsoon season from June to October has more unpredictable weather. Strong winds and heavy rains can prevent dive boats and liveaboards from operating. Typhoons are not a big problem as the island is relatively protected.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Mindoro

With its huge variety of coral species, it only makes sense that the marine life is as impressive. Huge amounts of reef fish can be found here, making it a haven for underwater photographers. Moray eels, trumpet fish, mantis shrimp, parrotfish, octopus, cuttlefish, moorish idol, batfish, emperor fish, scorpionfish, tuna and trevally are all visible at almost every site.

The macro life is very impressive. The sharp eyed may spot one of the 200 different varieties of nudibranch. Pygmy seahorses hide in the sea fans and tiny glass shrimp burrow in the anemones.

The deep waters and strong currents that surround many of the dive sites bring in large pelagics. Common sightings include reef sharks, eagle rays, devil rays and turtles. If you’re lucky, you might even spot whale sharks, manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

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

3.3k Sightings
J
319
F
214
M
320
A
366
M
391
J
236
J
180
A
217
S
179
O
290
N
327
D
233
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.7k Sightings
J
262
F
113
M
192
A
170
M
191
J
93
J
79
A
105
S
54
O
111
N
129
D
167
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

474 Sightings
J
49
F
36
M
59
A
42
M
54
J
31
J
14
A
12
S
13
O
35
N
52
D
77

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

344 Sightings
J
6
F
19
M
27
A
28
M
85
J
31
J
41
A
40
S
20
O
25
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.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

264 Sightings
J
35
F
18
M
27
A
23
M
36
J
3
J
9
A
22
S
0
O
19
N
31
D
41

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

262 Sightings
J
57
F
20
M
9
A
17
M
34
J
5
J
15
A
20
S
21
O
12
N
10
D
42

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

4.5k Sightings
J
482
F
283
M
439
A
478
M
502
J
277
J
254
A
342
S
302
O
369
N
427
D
307

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

3.4k Sightings
J
315
F
242
M
362
A
369
M
386
J
251
J
205
A
233
S
219
O
274
N
286
D
237

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

3.3k Sightings
J
332
F
210
M
369
A
387
M
380
J
237
J
147
A
238
S
215
O
294
N
328
D
177

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

3.3k Sightings
J
336
F
196
M
351
A
327
M
367
J
212
J
171
A
260
S
223
O
312
N
298
D
223

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

3.1k Sightings
J
336
F
158
M
304
A
311
M
363
J
174
J
180
A
249
S
229
O
298
N
293
D
232

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

2.7k Sightings
J
283
F
162
M
313
A
303
M
317
J
183
J
149
A
206
S
197
O
229
N
153
D
184

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

2.4k Sightings
J
243
F
122
M
264
A
307
M
310
J
183
J
106
A
186
S
152
O
215
N
186
D
156

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

1.9k Sightings
J
249
F
101
M
191
A
169
M
188
J
68
J
83
A
217
S
157
O
162
N
143
D
122

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

1.8k Sightings
J
193
F
130
M
213
A
205
M
184
J
133
J
94
A
141
S
112
O
151
N
134
D
117

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

1.6k Sightings
J
165
F
56
M
183
A
156
M
180
J
80
J
73
A
143
S
103
O
145
N
140
D
152

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

1.5k Sightings
J
205
F
78
M
151
A
134
M
171
J
76
J
57
A
122
S
108
O
131
N
125
D
125

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

1.3k Sightings
J
195
F
77
M
128
A
127
M
129
J
73
J
68
A
101
S
95
O
129
N
82
D
92

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

1.2k Sightings
J
111
F
32
M
134
A
144
M
131
J
50
J
56
A
118
S
110
O
113
N
83
D
85

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

1.1k Sightings
J
136
F
39
M
101
A
94
M
153
J
42
J
69
A
97
S
113
O
111
N
108
D
84

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

1.1k Sightings
J
122
F
40
M
154
A
144
M
154
J
48
J
42
A
96
S
68
O
108
N
70
D
95

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

964 Sightings
J
129
F
32
M
108
A
75
M
91
J
44
J
47
A
111
S
106
O
118
N
54
D
49

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

938 Sightings
J
133
F
65
M
87
A
62
M
116
J
62
J
74
A
68
S
68
O
79
N
79
D
45

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

904 Sightings
J
103
F
55
M
121
A
127
M
118
J
53
J
28
A
59
S
24
O
62
N
84
D
70

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

900 Sightings
J
151
F
43
M
73
A
73
M
83
J
13
J
35
A
76
S
67
O
104
N
67
D
115

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

896 Sightings
J
86
F
60
M
105
A
47
M
140
J
49
J
50
A
107
S
69
O
83
N
41
D
59

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

599 Sightings
J
74
F
29
M
80
A
104
M
82
J
39
J
26
A
37
S
23
O
47
N
18
D
40

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

537 Sightings
J
61
F
32
M
64
A
67
M
57
J
38
J
16
A
34
S
20
O
52
N
40
D
56

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

423 Sightings
J
34
F
34
M
39
A
42
M
45
J
21
J
19
A
29
S
40
O
69
N
26
D
25

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

376 Sightings
J
27
F
8
M
36
A
53
M
35
J
5
J
10
A
67
S
59
O
32
N
21
D
23

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

363 Sightings
J
89
F
22
M
31
A
29
M
34
J
33
J
21
A
23
S
21
O
22
N
14
D
24
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

317 Sightings
J
45
F
49
M
43
A
45
M
26
J
3
J
2
A
4
S
1
O
4
N
25
D
70

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

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

238 Sightings
J
44
F
19
M
13
A
32
M
27
J
6
J
14
A
11
S
23
O
15
N
7
D
27
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

195 Sightings
J
19
F
40
M
34
A
13
M
19
J
1
J
15
A
9
S
0
O
3
N
10
D
32

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

183 Sightings
J
25
F
10
M
23
A
21
M
19
J
9
J
8
A
6
S
0
O
8
N
23
D
31

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

180 Sightings
J
9
F
16
M
17
A
28
M
28
J
2
J
6
A
18
S
11
O
19
N
14
D
12

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

175 Sightings
J
14
F
11
M
9
A
27
M
20
J
8
J
17
A
13
S
7
O
8
N
15
D
26

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

173 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
16
A
20
M
19
J
7
J
7
A
34
S
16
O
24
N
18
D
7
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

160 Sightings
J
11
F
9
M
15
A
16
M
17
J
9
J
12
A
17
S
15
O
13
N
18
D
8

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

158 Sightings
J
37
F
15
M
8
A
4
M
33
J
13
J
8
A
24
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
11

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

139 Sightings
J
35
F
4
M
7
A
18
M
14
J
6
J
6
A
14
S
2
O
10
N
16
D
7
Spiny Seahorse

Spiny Seahorse

122 Sightings
J
15
F
9
M
6
A
11
M
14
J
7
J
12
A
17
S
13
O
10
N
2
D
6
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

120 Sightings
J
29
F
3
M
6
A
10
M
8
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
8
O
10
N
13
D
24

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