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Explore Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera, located on northern Mindoro in the Philippines, offers a world-class diving experience that captivates both novice and seasoned divers. This Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO in 1973, boasts some of the planet's healthiest coral reefs, having thrived due to reduced fishing activities. With over 152 coral species and more than 180 varieties of nudibranchs, this dive destination promises encounters with a vibrant array of marine life, including three different kinds of endangered turtles. The area's diverse underwater environments include dramatic walls, colorful reefs, and intriguing shipwrecks, remnants from when the Spanish used Puerto Galera as a refuge during typhoon seasons.

Dive enthusiasts will find a wealth of options with over 40 dive sites around Puerto Galera, including the famous Sabang Beach area. The dive centers here cater to all levels of expertise, offering courses from major dive federations such as PADI, SSI, and NAUI. Whether you're interested in muck, drift, or technical diving, the variety is endless. The nearby Verde Island is a must-visit for its exhilarating currents and biodiversity. For those looking to extend their marine adventure, liveaboards in the region provide an unparalleled opportunity to explore the secluded coves and pristine waters of this diving paradise. With its close proximity to bustling Manila, Puerto Galera is not only convenient but also enriched with a vibrant tourist scene, making it an irresistible destination for divers worldwide.

Upcoming Events

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 Puerto Galera

The most famous diving in Puerto Galera is the reef diving. The gardens here are home to over 300 species of corals, as well as almost 60% of earth’s shore fish species. Night diving on these reefs, particularly around Sabang, is excellent. Muck diving lovers will love exploring the ocean floor as the night time beasties start to come out. The macro life is incredible. One highlight is found at Monkey Beach dive site with multiple pygmy seahorse found on one sea fan.

There are plenty of drift dives here, many of which are fast and strong. Some dive sites have up and down currents to contend with too - not for the faint hearted or the inexperienced! There are a few caves and swim throughs, such as the one at Hole in the Wall at 12m. There are also wrecks like the Sabang Wrecks and the Alma Jane to explore.

The wall dives found here are some of the best. Sites such as The Drop Off on Verde Island and Senandigan Wall offer dramatic descents into deep water which may be intimidating for a newbie diver. These walls are very popular with technical divers too due to the depth.

Liveaboard diving is popular in this area as there are so many dive sites. Particularly around Verde Island, you would find yourself doing multiple day trips from Puerto Galera if you wish to do more than a couple of dives. Therefore, liveaboards can be an efficient way of diving everywhere you wish to.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Puerto Galera

Diving in Puerto Galera is possible year round due to its warm, tropical climate. It is also surrounded by mountains and islands which protect it from the worst of the monsoon season - though there is still a wet and dry season.

The dry season runs from December - May, with minimal rainfall and calm winds during this time. December - February are the coldest months of the year, with water temperatures sometimes dropping as low as 23oC below the thermocline. Conversely, April - June tend to be the warmest months of the year. This is considered to be the high season, with the most tourists. Around big holidays like New Year and Easter, bear in mind that resorts may fill up far in advance.

The rainy season runs from June - November. Though rainfall tends to be higher and the winds stronger, this is often a perfect time to dive. The water is warm, the visibility can be fantastic and you can be lucky with the weather. Another benefit is that rates of some hotels decrease. The downside is that occasionally boats will be cancelled due to bad weather.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Puerto Galera

The corals in Puerto Galera are some of the healthiest in the world. There was a severe coral bleaching event in 1998 but they have bounced back with even greater diversity. Luckily the 2010 El Niño event left the coral gardens here largely unscathed. Its status as a marine protected area, with heavy restrictions on fishing, help to protect the corals further.

Healthy reefs mean healthy reef life. Schools of fish swarm at most dive sites - fusiliers, mackerel, moorish idols, batfish, snappers, jacks, trevally, basslets and barracuda are all common sights. Colourful reef fish like triggerfish, parrotfish, lionfish, wrasse, anemonefish, butterflyfish and angelfish are numerous.

Cephalopod lovers will be delighted at the variety; cuttlefish, squid and octopus - including the super rare blue-ringed, mototi, mimic and wonderpus varieties. Hiding in the nooks and crannies, you will find moray eels and reef sharks. Other hidden beasties include ribbon eels, frogfish, mantis shrimp, scorpionfish, leaf fish, pipefish,  rhinopias, lobsters, crabs, shrimps and nudibranch in their hundreds. You might spot a black and white banded sea snake undulating through the water. If you are a photographer, the diving in Puerto Galera will quickly fill your camera reel.

Fans of larger life forms while diving will not be disappointed either. Turtles like hawksbills, green and olive ridleys are seen all over. Humphead wrasses are visible, particularly around the full moon. Verde Island has deep water and strong currents. The fast flowing water attracts big trevally and tuna, as well as occasional visits from eagle rays, marble rays, manta rays, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks and even the occasional whale shark has been spotted here.

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

2.8k Sightings
J
284
F
177
M
282
A
319
M
338
J
205
J
162
A
184
S
152
O
261
N
287
D
175
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.3k Sightings
J
188
F
73
M
151
A
127
M
157
J
76
J
63
A
92
S
52
O
102
N
109
D
96

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

312 Sightings
J
5
F
18
M
22
A
23
M
78
J
31
J
38
A
34
S
20
O
21
N
7
D
15
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

296 Sightings
J
39
F
18
M
48
A
19
M
41
J
27
J
1
A
7
S
10
O
32
N
25
D
29

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

155 Sightings
J
30
F
10
M
3
A
6
M
16
J
5
J
9
A
18
S
20
O
12
N
1
D
25

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

4k Sightings
J
416
F
241
M
384
A
431
M
456
J
254
J
229
A
312
S
284
O
352
N
381
D
233

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

3.2k Sightings
J
291
F
223
M
344
A
337
M
359
J
243
J
192
A
219
S
211
O
270
N
267
D
204

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

3k Sightings
J
306
F
190
M
328
A
353
M
346
J
216
J
134
A
220
S
198
O
275
N
287
D
145

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

3k Sightings
J
293
F
173
M
314
A
302
M
335
J
197
J
158
A
233
S
210
O
303
N
258
D
190

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

2.8k Sightings
J
289
F
138
M
267
A
286
M
344
J
165
J
169
A
222
S
217
O
287
N
258
D
194

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

2.4k Sightings
J
235
F
124
M
279
A
272
M
282
J
170
J
135
A
196
S
183
O
219
N
129
D
138

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

2.2k Sightings
J
208
F
104
M
240
A
275
M
274
J
165
J
96
A
176
S
141
O
202
N
159
D
123

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

1.7k Sightings
J
180
F
119
M
196
A
191
M
164
J
119
J
87
A
129
S
103
O
139
N
119
D
106

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

1.5k Sightings
J
195
F
70
M
168
A
140
M
164
J
54
J
72
A
190
S
146
O
147
N
117
D
83

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

1.4k Sightings
J
141
F
48
M
169
A
146
M
168
J
71
J
64
A
133
S
96
O
139
N
125
D
134

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

1.3k Sightings
J
166
F
62
M
134
A
116
M
152
J
69
J
46
A
107
S
101
O
120
N
106
D
93

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

1.1k Sightings
J
101
F
27
M
129
A
136
M
119
J
50
J
48
A
112
S
104
O
113
N
75
D
72

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

1.1k Sightings
J
155
F
56
M
110
A
109
M
106
J
63
J
57
A
90
S
81
O
117
N
49
D
79

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

1k Sightings
J
110
F
24
M
142
A
135
M
141
J
37
J
36
A
86
S
62
O
101
N
57
D
78

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

990 Sightings
J
114
F
31
M
85
A
79
M
134
J
35
J
57
A
93
S
105
O
100
N
97
D
60

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.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

862 Sightings
J
110
F
23
M
102
A
65
M
77
J
35
J
42
A
109
S
98
O
113
N
44
D
44

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

858 Sightings
J
103
F
55
M
106
A
127
M
108
J
53
J
28
A
53
S
24
O
62
N
76
D
63

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

758 Sightings
J
128
F
35
M
60
A
67
M
66
J
13
J
33
A
62
S
63
O
96
N
47
D
88

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

748 Sightings
J
61
F
44
M
88
A
41
M
123
J
45
J
41
A
98
S
61
O
82
N
25
D
39

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

517 Sightings
J
74
F
19
M
73
A
91
M
70
J
27
J
26
A
36
S
18
O
41
N
8
D
34

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

514 Sightings
J
58
F
32
M
61
A
67
M
57
J
38
J
15
A
29
S
20
O
50
N
40
D
47

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

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

355 Sightings
J
21
F
8
M
36
A
53
M
29
J
5
J
9
A
67
S
54
O
32
N
18
D
23

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

284 Sightings
J
16
F
16
M
23
A
27
M
23
J
9
J
12
A
23
S
37
O
62
N
25
D
11

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

210 Sightings
J
40
F
12
M
13
A
32
M
25
J
6
J
14
A
11
S
23
O
15
N
4
D
15
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.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

154 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
15
A
20
M
19
J
7
J
6
A
33
S
15
O
24
N
10
D
3
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

153 Sightings
J
13
F
30
M
26
A
6
M
14
J
1
J
15
A
7
S
0
O
2
N
10
D
29

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

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

117 Sightings
J
8
F
7
M
8
A
11
M
18
J
8
J
14
A
8
S
6
O
7
N
11
D
11

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

100 Sightings
J
5
F
7
M
4
A
19
M
18
J
0
J
3
A
9
S
11
O
18
N
1
D
5