In the thick of the Coral Triangle, the 7,000-plus islands of the Philippines are considered Asia’s melting pot, with a smorgasbord of fascinating sites both topside and underwater

1. Rock Point West, Apo Island

A lack of predators and poaching restrictions have birthed a thriving community of green sea turtles at this dive site off the southwest corner of Apo Island. Exhibiting almost no fear around divers, the turtles are usually seen relaxing atop sponges or scratching their shells under large table corals. sirenfleet.com

2. Secret Bay, Anilao

Also known as Mainit Muck, this dive site off Anilao is a favorite with photographers, who train their macro lenses on all kinds of oddball sandy-bottom denizens like mantis shrimp and wonderpus octopuses. divecbr.com

3. Malapascua’s Thresher Sharks

Malapascua – a tiny island off the northern tip of Cebu – is a pelagic magnet. Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau, is the most reliable place in the world for seeing thresher sharks. With sicklelike tails that take up nearly half their bodies, the sharks patrol the cleaning stations while divers watch in awe. sea-explorers.com

4. Verde Island Drop-Off

The reefs fringing Verde Island are known for their mindblowing biodiversity. Currents run strong here, but that’s what sweeps in nutrients that attract millions of flame-colored anthias. Drop to the pinnacles at 100 feet to see scorpionfish and massive sea fans. marcovincent.com

5. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The karst landscapes of Palawan are home to one of the world’s most impressive cave systems and a 5-mile-long underground river. You can explore part of the river by boat to spot unique geological features and winged denizens that include bats and swiftlets. philippinetourismny.org

6. Manila’s Historic District

You’ll likely find yourself in the Philippines’ hectic capital for at least one layover day, during which you should make straight for Manila’s historic district, Intramuros. The “walled city” gives an interesting look back at 16th-century Spanish colonial times with its churches and atmospheric restaurants.

7. Firefly Tour on the Iwahig River

You’ll have flashbacks to chasing lightning bugs as a child during after-dark boat excursions up the Iwahig River to see millions of fireflies light up the shoreline. In December, when the mangroves are blooming, the fireflies are at their densest.

8. Kitesurfing at Bulabog Beach

From November to May, during the dry season, the winds are perfect for learning to kitesurf along Bulabog Beach.

9. Cars Dive Site

An eagle-eyed guide makes all the difference at this worldclass muck diving site off the coast of Dauin. Brown sloping sands surrounding two cars sunk in 80 feet of water are home to some of the most fantastical camouflage artists in the ocean, including sea moths, ornate ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish and hairy frogfish. atmosphereresorts.com

10. Experience Tribal Culture

Adventure tours of the interior spotlight the Philippines’ diverse tribal cultures. Treks in Palawan take you to meet the Batak tribe, and in the Banaue region of Luzon — known for its 2,000-year-old rice terraces — you’ll witness the ancient burial rites of the Ifugao tribe. exodustravels.com

Love exploring the best scuba diving in the world? Visit the Dive Travel section of our website. Prepare to be amazed.

DIVERS GUIDE TO THE PHILIPPINES

Average water temp: Low to mid-80s

What to wear: Skin or shorty

Average viz: 60 feet

When to go: Year-round

More info: sportdiver.com/philippines