If you're a scuba diver looking for some amazing dive sites, the Philippines is the place to be! With crystal clear waters and an abundance of marine life, this country is a divers' paradise.
In this article, we'll provide you with all the information you need to plan your scuba diving trip to the Philippines. So read on and start planning your dream vacation today!
Books
Travel Guides
Lonely Planet Philipines is our go-to guide for general travel information. Personally, I like the hard copy version since it's easier to use, but the Kindle version can be useful as well.
I use the Kindle version for blogging reference (it's free) and the hard copy lives in my dive bag for all the non-diving stuff: non-dive activities, logistics for getting in and out of town, places to eat, and so forth.
Diving in Southeast Asia offers a lot of diving information and covers Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand as well as the Philippines. We could use a guide as comprehensive and detailed as Tuttle's Diving in Indonesia.
In the meantime, this is a good resource as you're likely to find that covers the main Philippines dive sites in Southern Luzon, the Visayas, Palawan (and Coron), and the Sulu Sea (Tubbataha).
Fish and Wildlife Identification
If you like noting the various fish, fauna, and critters you encounter on your dives, then look no further than New World Publications' series on the tropical pacific.
• Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific
• Reef Creature Identification - Tropical Pacific
• Nudibranch & Sea Slug Identification - Indo-Pacific
For a less comprehensive, but more pleasantly designed guide, check out Reef Fishes of the Indo-Pacific.
For coral information, get Coral Reefs Philippines to hone your local reef knowledge.
Philippines Domestic Airlines
It usually pays to check the Philippines domestic airlines for travel deals if you're traveling on a budget (like we usually are). There are bargains to be had by checking these websites for deals, although Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific are on travel aggregators like Kayak or Trip.com.
Philippine Airlines - The Philippines' flagship airline. Very reliable, with relatively inexpensive international flights. Domestic flights tend to be more costly than the budget airlines listed below.
Cebu Pacific Air - Cebu Pacific flies many regional routes and routinely provides low-cost flights. It does have a tendency to reschedule and cancel flights on short notice, however.
Airasia Philippines - SE Asia's goto regional airline. Plenty of routes and great connections to the rest of Asia through Kuala Lumpur.
Air Swift - A niche airline that can get you into a few places the others don't fly directly, like El Nido. They also provide direct routes between destinations like El Nido to Coron, if you don't want to take the ferry trip between the two locations.
Philippines Dive Shops
If you've forgotten a bit of gear or you are always on the prowl for a bit of new flash, these are for you:
Nautilus Dive Center - If you have a layover in Manila, this is a great place. Gear stacked to the ceiling, some of it circa the early 80s. Racks of suits, stacks of BCD, and a quality maintenance team to boot if you need some work done.
Aquaventure Whitetip - These guys are all over the Philippines: Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Moalboal, Anilao, Puerto Galera... They have a large footprint and wide selection of Aqualung, Apeks, and Suunto gear.
Aquamundo - Locally manufactured gear, which might be a welcome price break if you need to grab some freediving fins, a mask, or a regulator.
Squires Bingham Sports - Is owned by local dive photographer legend Gutsy Tuason and features premium gear. You may want to check his Instagram feed as well for dive pix from around the globe.
Select Online Resources
Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving - Basic chamber of commerce-type information on Philippines diving.
Facebook groups are a great resource for up-to-date information and specific questions.