Puerto Galera & Dumaguete – Where to go for Divers?

Enjoy the tropical Filipino sun on these two popular tourist destinations! There are many beaches in Puerto Galera and Dumaguete to relax at. Visitors are also greeted with an abundance of dive destinations as well as natural wonders such as the towering waterfalls.
Top 5 Dive sites in Puerto Galera and Dumaguete
1. Manila Channel (Puerto Galera)
The sandy bottom is home to an abundance of fire urchins and hard coral scattered throughout. The dive spot also features two walls that are covered with sponges and a variety of corals including the famous ‘potato coral’, purple gorgonian sea fans and green tree corals. Divers can also observe cuttlefish, ring-tail cardinalfish, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, mantis shrimp and often giant frogfish.

A ring-tail cardinalfish at the Manila Channel dive site in Puerto Galera
How to get there: Arrange for a dive trip with your dive centre.
2. Boatyard (Puerto Galera)
This fantastic muck diving site is popular among divers. Spot the abundance of tropical fishes like the frogfish, seahorse, velvet ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, nudibranch and many other macro critters that roam the seafloor.
How to get there: Arrange for a dive trip with your dive centre.

Velvet ghost pipefish, which can be spotted at the Boatyard dive site

Frogfish, which can be spotted at the Boatyard dive site
3. Coral Cove (Puerto Galera)

Pygmy Seahorses, which can be spotted at the Coral Cove dive site
Encounter some of the most peculiar and interesting marine species at this dive site. The Pygmy Seahorses and Ornate Ghost Pipefish are two to name but if you’re lucky, you may even spot passing thresher sharks.
How to get there: Arrange for a dive trip with your dive centre.
4. The Alma Jane Wreck (Puerto Galera)
Located off Sabang beach, this wreck is a 30-metre long cargo ship that was once used to ferry goods over the Philippines. Swimming through the interiors of this wreck, divers can spot schools of trevally, snapper, sweetlips and batfish, as well as jawfish, shrimp gobies, anemones, mantis shrimps and a tiny ornate ghost pipefish.

The Alma Jane Wreck dive site at Puerto Galera
How to get there: Arrange for a dive trip with your dive centre.
5. Apo Island (Dumaguete)

Apo Island at Dumaguete

Coral reefs at Apo Island
Apo Island is one of the best dive destinations in the Philippines. This tiny marine sanctuary is enveloped by white sand and covers about 72 hectares. The area is teeming with marine life including fish, untouched corals, crustaceans, nudibranchs, and if you’re lucky, you can even spot green turtles. The 10 different dive sites around the island have something different to offer.
How to get there: From Dumaguete, head toward Malatapay, before riding a 45-minute ferry to Apo Island.
To read more, do check out our Discover the Philippines e-Newsletter series! Both Puerto Galera and Dumaguete have plenty to offer for all divers, so do consider them as your next travel destinations to fully immerse yourselves in the tropics and experience all the diving adventures that the Philippines has to offer to you!