These spots—whether you free dive or scuba dive—will give you thrilling and tranquil experiences you’ll find nowhere else.
One of the joys of scuba diving is that you have a whole new world in Philippine waters to discover and delight in. The country is home to a slew of breathtaking diving sites that both locals and foreigners flock to for the perfect plunge.
Located in Indo-Pacific’s Coral Triangle, the Philippines has a lot to offer to the extra adventurous and certified to dive — from lush coral gardens and huge schools of fish to rare underwater creatures and even spooky shipwrecks. Each of these spots offers its own unique experience you wouldn’t get anywhere else in the world.
That’s why it comes as no wonder that the Philippines has been hailed as the best diving destination over the years—the most recent ones coming from the World Travel Awards in 2023 and the Diving Resort Travel in August this year.
Many certified divers and underwater photographers agree, just like Jedo Garanian who told The POST, “I go to other countries like Indonesia to dive, but what I consider the best sites are still in the Philippines. Batangas, Bohol, Cebu, and many, many more,” he added.
If you’re planning to expand your adventures deeper into the blue, read on as The POST lists down some of the most scenic and exciting dive destinations around the Philippines.
Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, Siquijor


Siquijor is touted as one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines not only for its pristine beaches, magical waterfalls, and rich cultural heritage but also for its thrilling yet tranquil diving spots.
An hour-and-a-half boat ride from Dumaguete, Siquijor is frequented by freedivers for the 40 dive sites listed around the island. Among the top destinations are the Tubod Sanctuary, Maite, Sawang, and Sunken Island. But what divers would never want to miss on their bucket list is the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary.
Tulapos is Siquijor’s oldest and largest marine sanctuary that boasts clear sea waters and healthy marine life. It is a highly protected site, with its abundance of mangroves and coral reefs that are home to schools of barracuda, giant clams, reef sharks, and various fishes.


It has been making rounds on social media for its famous barracuda run that divers get to witness between a depth of seven to 18 meters, depending on the weather condition. Garanian, for one, said that he was “super amazed” when he got near it.
Besides the barracuda run, Garanian and many other divers are amazed by how Tulapos has been the “perfect habitat” for marine life. “What I really like here is that marine life and the school of barracuda flourish in vibrant coral reefs and nutrient-rich waters,” Garanian told The POST. “Not only that, the water has clear visibility, which makes it safe for divers to enjoy the entire experience.’
Divers can also expect to see a lot of sea turtles and some black-tip reef sharks during their underwater adventure. To get the best experience, visit the marine sanctuary between January and May, when there is little to no rainfall in the country.
Anilao, Batangas


There’s no need for Metro Manila residents to fly to Visayas or Mindanao when they can get their thrilling scuba diving experience in Anilao, Batangas.
Just a three-hour drive from Metro Manila, Anilao has been the go-to destination for freedivers, snorkelers, and underwater photographers who want their fill of vitamin sea without traveling far.
The town is dubbed the birthplace of Philippine scuba diving as this is where the first diving center in the country was established back in 1966. Today, Anilao is famous for its scenic diving spots, including Secret Bay, The Pier, Twin Rocks, Beatrice, and Layag Layag Reef.
These dive sites are filled with vibrant coral reefs, friendly turtles, and huge schools of jacks, jellyfish, and occasional reef sharks that are too good to miss. That is why some couples found Anilao to be the perfect location for their creative underwater prenup shoots.
Take it from Janner Busa and his wife Alessa, who traveled to Mayumi Resort in Anilao to have their pre-wedding photos taken by underwater photographer Christian Cee in its nearby diving spots.






“For us, Anilao, Batangas has the best underwater site in the Philippines. There are corals, sea turtles, and other sea creatures,” Busa told The POST. “On top of that, the dive is just shallow, making it ideal for doing underwater photography.”
With Batangas Bay and its incredible diversity as their backdrop, the couple’s photos turned out to be magical and extraordinary. It was a remarkable feat for the couple whose pre-nup shoot was more than a year in the making.
“It took us over a year to prepare for the shoot,” Busa continued. “We started by asking Christian for his rates and enrolling in a dive school called ‘Camp Free Dive’ in Mabini, Batangas. That’s where we had our ‘intro’ or diving session wherein first-timers like us are still assisted by a coach. We continued practicing every two months after until we had our pre-nup shoot in September 2023.”
More than being a picturesque spot for wide-angle underwater photography, Anilao is better known as one of the best macro photography destinations in the world. It serves as the colorful paradise of rare critters, including nudibranchs, froggish, seahorses, cuttlefish, pipefish, and many more.
To promote its beauty to the rest of the world, the Department of Tourism has been mounting the biggest underwater photography competition in the world, the Anilao Underwater Shootout, since 2013. The latest competition, held last May 22 to 26, saw 153 photographers descend Anilao to create pictures that are otherworldly (more on that here).
Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, Palawan


Tubbataha Reef is the mecca for divers, both in the Philippines and around the globe. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, Tubbataha covers 96,828 hectares, including the North and South Atolls and the Jessie Beazley Reef.
It is located in the middle of the Sulu Sea and hosts one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth. Here, divers can expect to see 600 species of fish, 360 species of corals, 12 species of dolphins and whales, 11 species of sharks, and other marine life like green sea turtles, seahorses, frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs.
Among the best sceneries is the Shark Airport where sharks rest side by side with their tails up along the reef, resembling airplanes that are parked together. Another must-see spot is the Seafan Alley which comprises a huge collection of sea fans where more than 600 different species of fish would swim around and play.
Then there’s the Malayan Wall, which serves as the finale for divers who’ve seen the Mayan shipwreck at the beginning of their dive and spent a long time swimming through the blue and enjoying the sight of big marine species. At the Malayan Wall, you’ll get to see moray eels, sea fans, as well as hammerhead sharks and more schools of fish.
The best time to take a plunge is between February and June. And because Tubbataha is quite remote, only nine liveaboards are permitted to go to the marine park. Reservations sell out quickly, so it’s best to book yours at least two months in advance.
Apo Reef, Mindoro Occidental


Another flagship dive spot is Apo Reef, the largest coral reef garden in the Philippines and the second largest connecting coral reef in the world following Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It spans 34 square kilometers, making it one of the best diving sites in the country.
Its clear waters have been home to 285 species of underwater creatures, from sea turtles, tropical aquarium fish, snappers, moray and triggerfish to hump head wrasse and reef sharks. Not only that, Apo Reef is certainly a sight to behold with its water that is so clear, it would be easy for you to see its white sand and coral reefs even when you’re high above.
Among the best spots to explore is the Shark Ridge, where you can see white-tip and black-tip sharks, manta rays, hawksbill turtles, and bump head parrot fish. Meanwhile, the Binangaan Drop Off is where you’ll get to swim with huge schools of fish, including snappers, tuna, as well as huge eagle rays.


Another site frequented by divers is the wreck of a Taiwanese ship that sank in the early 1900. The ship, buried eight to 12 meters deep, is now covered with corals. Divers can take an adventure at the marine park at any time they want, as diving season in Apo Reef is all year round.
Other than its expansive reef, Apo Island is favored by divers and beach lovers alike for its long white sandbar surrounded by mangroves and a lighthouse that gives off a picture-postcard view of the entire island.
Napaling Dive Point, Bohol


Bohol is famous for its rich and vibrant scenery, both on land and underwater. The tenth largest island in the Philippines, Bohol offers some of the most impressive diving spots in the archipelago, including Balicasag island, South Palms Plane Wreck, and Lila, Bohol where you’ll get to experience swimming and feeding whale sharks.
Its most famous dive spot is the Napaling Dive Point located on Panglao island. Freediver and travel blogger Khae Santiago shared the reason why in a quick chat with The POST: “I’d personally rank Balicasag Island among the best freediving spots due to its rich underwater ecosystem. The water is also very clear and marine life is abundant. However, my personal favorite as a freediver is Napaling Dive Point because it’s home to the iconic Napaling Crack and sardines run.”


Napaling Crack is easily accessible with its 25-meter reef walls starting at around three meters in depth and plunging 25 meters deeper. The stunning reef walls have clearly become the ideal backdrop for photographs, with divers lining up around the formation to get their pictures taken. Santiago wrote on her blog that if you want to capture good photos and videos, it would be best to “dive down to at least seven meters, then bring out your best ‘awra’ pose as you ascend.”
Adding to the spectacular experience of diving in Napaling is the sardine run where millions of sardines gather in a spiral, creating an enchanting spectacle for divers at the reef. “The way they move in perfect unison is something you have to see to believe,’ Santiago said. “The sardines move together in huge, shifting clouds. It’s like being in the middle of a living, breathing mural.”
Besides several species of fish, Napaling thrives with colorful corals and other marine life, including sea turtles.