Philippines

Dramatic drop-offs, vibrant reefs and a varied marine life guarantee fabulous scuba diving.

Located on the fringes of Asia's mainstream tourist routes, the Philippines – an archipelago nation consisting of more than 7,000 coral-lined islands – remains one of scuba diving’s best-kept secrets. This dive destination provides a little bit of everything, from pristine reef diving and exhilarating drift diving to World War II wrecks and coral gardens. The marine life is exceptionally abundant, with rare nudibrachs and a high density of the 27 species of clownfish. If you live for big fish, the Philippines will not disappoint. Schooling barracudas, sweetlips, and thresher and hammerhead sharks abound.

Since the Philippines has so many islands, liveaboard diving is the ultimate way to experience the region’s amazing natural and historical dive sites. Several itineraries are available throughout this dive destination, and each liveaboard dive boat visits one of the three major geographic regions: Luzon, the Visavas and Mindanao.

When to Go
You can scuba dive in the Philippines all year-round. However, the best time is generally from December to April.

Dive Conditions
Water temperatures are 80°F-84°F year-round. Visibility can vary tremendously, but the average is 50-60 feet.