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.

Courses and Events

Advanced Open Water Diver

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

16 February +8 More
EUR 287.25
PHP 20,000.00

Diver Stress & Rescue

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

17 February
EUR 378.32
USD 450.00

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to start a lifetime of adventure as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience you need to be truly comfortable underwater. Get certified as an SSI Open Water Diver.

03 March +9 More
EUR 378.32
USD 450.00

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.

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: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
526 Sightings
J
55
F
35
M
40
A
62
M
57
J
32
J
28
A
32
S
33
O
56
N
55
D
41
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
243 Sightings
J
37
F
12
M
25
A
18
M
23
J
6
J
12
A
16
S
11
O
30
N
20
D
33
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
97 Sightings
J
17
F
4
M
14
A
3
M
20
J
9
J
0
A
1
S
4
O
11
N
14
D
0

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
75 Sightings
J
22
F
0
M
13
A
4
M
0
J
2
J
5
A
5
S
14
O
7
N
0
D
3

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

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
39 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
3
M
4
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
0
O
13
N
7
D
6

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

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
759 Sightings
J
98
F
33
M
57
A
84
M
75
J
34
J
49
A
69
S
54
O
73
N
80
D
53

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
653 Sightings
J
78
F
28
M
57
A
63
M
74
J
29
J
30
A
59
S
43
O
73
N
69
D
50

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
647 Sightings
J
70
F
40
M
64
A
64
M
66
J
38
J
29
A
55
S
51
O
71
N
62
D
37

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
620 Sightings
J
82
F
28
M
54
A
55
M
66
J
31
J
28
A
54
S
41
O
70
N
59
D
52

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
522 Sightings
J
68
F
20
M
52
A
56
M
58
J
27
J
29
A
50
S
42
O
53
N
34
D
33
Show More

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

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
519 Sightings
J
66
F
36
M
33
A
47
M
56
J
20
J
32
A
41
S
36
O
48
N
62
D
42

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
513 Sightings
J
55
F
20
M
44
A
35
M
51
J
42
J
34
A
55
S
50
O
63
N
30
D
34

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

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
512 Sightings
J
48
F
34
M
56
A
63
M
42
J
34
J
37
A
47
S
41
O
42
N
32
D
36

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
441 Sightings
J
48
F
17
M
48
A
50
M
55
J
19
J
25
A
36
S
33
O
51
N
34
D
25

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
389 Sightings
J
37
F
12
M
39
A
17
M
46
J
27
J
20
A
48
S
45
O
59
N
23
D
16

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
381 Sightings
J
60
F
15
M
34
A
17
M
36
J
16
J
18
A
55
S
36
O
38
N
28
D
28

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
326 Sightings
J
39
F
0
M
32
A
31
M
38
J
26
J
16
A
34
S
22
O
33
N
22
D
33

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
305 Sightings
J
41
F
3
M
24
A
35
M
32
J
17
J
14
A
30
S
37
O
34
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: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
272 Sightings
J
46
F
7
M
22
A
16
M
25
J
10
J
13
A
25
S
27
O
29
N
25
D
27

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

Total number of species: 50

istock-atese

Frogfish
269 Sightings
J
43
F
14
M
20
A
13
M
28
J
9
J
23
A
31
S
31
O
28
N
16
D
13

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
261 Sightings
J
43
F
4
M
23
A
11
M
22
J
16
J
16
A
22
S
28
O
30
N
26
D
20

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
215 Sightings
J
25
F
4
M
26
A
18
M
29
J
15
J
12
A
20
S
16
O
24
N
0
D
26

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
198 Sightings
J
45
F
0
M
24
A
10
M
14
J
6
J
6
A
24
S
24
O
29
N
0
D
16

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
167 Sightings
J
10
F
8
M
13
A
12
M
14
J
6
J
10
A
12
S
25
O
41
N
11
D
5

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

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
151 Sightings
J
17
F
6
M
27
A
21
M
12
J
0
J
5
A
10
S
4
O
4
N
23
D
22

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

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
149 Sightings
J
26
F
6
M
17
A
23
M
14
J
2
J
12
A
12
S
9
O
5
N
7
D
16

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
138 Sightings
J
36
F
0
M
13
A
5
M
11
J
0
J
3
A
9
S
14
O
20
N
0
D
27

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

Total number of species: 7

iStock-atese

Pygmy Seahorse
97 Sightings
J
35
F
15
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
8
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
8
N
14
D
9

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

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
93 Sightings
J
12
F
6
M
12
A
15
M
6
J
4
J
8
A
7
S
0
O
4
N
10
D
9

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
88 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
5
A
5
M
17
J
0
J
0
A
18
S
17
O
12
N
0
D
7

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
59 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
0
A
21
M
4
J
0
J
2
A
4
S
5
O
16
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock_cherylvb

Garibaldi Damselfish
55 Sightings
J
16
F
3
M
0
A
14
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
8
S
7
O
0
N
0
D
7

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.

Dive Centers

Atlantis Resort Management Inc., Atlantis Azores Inc.

Sabang Beach, 5203 Puerto Galera, Mindoro - PHL

REDSUN, REDSUN DIVERESORT

Small Lalaguna, 5203 Puerto Galera, Mindoro - PHL

Arkipelago Divers, Arkipelago Divers & Beach Resort

Small La Laguna, Sabang,, 5203 Puerto Galera, Mindoro - PHL

MSD SCUBA DIVING, MSD 다이빙센터

SABANG, 5203 ORIENTAL MINDORO, PHL

Izakaya palm divers

Sabang, 5203 Puerto Galera, Mindoro - PHL

Smile Resort, 스마일 리조트

Puerto Galera, 5203 Oreintal Mindoro, Mindoro - PHL

CORAL REEF SAFARI

Coral Reef Safari, 5203 Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindor, Mindoro - PHL

Dive Sites

Virginia Scuba, 20109 Manassas

West Escarceo (★4.5)

This beautiful site is covered in brightly colored coral and is full of life. Weather and time of year can change this dive from a drift dive to a slow paced tour. Expect tons of fish and sea critters on this dive.
Hans E. (#3545391)

Alma Jane Wreck (★4.4)

A 30m long cargo ship that used to carry goods around the Philippines but, upon retirement, was stripped and scuttled for divers to enjoy as an artificial reef off Puerto Galera in 2003. Its wide beam and deep draft make it ideal for swim throughs.
SSI Service Center Philippines, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City

Canyons (★4.3)

A favorite dive site that is composed of three canyons running side by side. A must-dive in the area, it is for experienced divers looking for a taste of fast and furious.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Giant Clams/The hill (★4.4)

The name speaks for itself. This site is covered in Giant Clams. While there is some coral in the immediate area of the clams, it becomes more sandy bottom as you move away from them.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Manila Channel (★4.3)

Similar to the Batangas Channel but with a depth of around 26 meters. Remains of a shipwreck that caught fire and sunk hundreds of years ago can still be seen here. Also an ideal site for night diving
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Sabang Point (★4.4)

A beautiful dive site just outside of Sabang. Currents are present depending on the tides. Visibility is always good. You can also see sharks here.