The Republic of the Philippines lies of the South-East coast of Asian mainland. It is an archipelago of 7,107 Islands and islets, set in deep blue waters which contain some of the richest marine life in the world. The islands can be divided into four major island groupings: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao & Palawan.

With so many islands, the Philippines have a wealth of opportunities for diving and snorkelling. Each island offers something very unique.

Favoured locations for reef & wall diving are Puerto Galera, Alona Beach (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan) and the Island of Apo. If is wreck diving you are keen on, then why not discover the WWII wrecks of Coron.

The Philippines most outstanding feature is its people, with a mixture of Malaysians, Chinese, Spanish and American. This country is blessed with a unique culture. They are a fascinating blend of east meets west, with ancient & modern ways.

The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. The country has a population of approximately 76.5 million. Filipinos are probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today. Filipino is the official national language, with English considered as the country′s unofficial one. Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.

Travelling Around the Philippines 
Moving around the country by land is easy with national highways connecting the major islands and an extensive public transportation system, which includes the exotic Philippine jeepney. Trains, taxis, buses, jeepneys, and trikes are the main modes of public transportation. 
The undisputed “King of the Philippine Roads” is the jeepney (half jeep, half bus). Since it first emerged after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, it has become a fixture in roads all over the country.

Puerto Galera 
One of the oldest Spanish settlements within the Philippines. It is situated on the northern peninsula of Mindoro island, approximately 160km from Manila. As early as the 10th Century, Malaysians, Chinese and Indonesian merchants were already doing business with local traders. 

Puerto Galera is where they replenished their provisions. Puerto Galera was known as the Port of Galleons. The harbour was an excellent location for the Spanish Galleons to refuge from heavy storms and typhoons.
These days, you’ll find paradise. Puerto Galera is blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike, all this in a relaxed, laid-back beach atmosphere without the hustle and congestion of other tourist destinations. 

Bohol 
One of the most diverse and attractive destinations in the Philippines. Located East of Cebu and southwest of Leyte in the Philippines′ Central Visayas region, Bohol is bounded on the north by the Camotes Sea, on the west by the Cebu Strait, and on the South by the Bohol Sea. 

Covering an area of 4,117 square kilometers, it is essentially an agricultural province, with rice, coconut and corn as main produce. Fishing is a major industry. It′s home to countless white sandy beaches, numerous historic churches and watchtowers, enchanting waterfalls and caves, and it’s amazing and stunning Chocolate Hills, unique in the world. 

Surrounding the mainland are 73 other smaller offshore islands and islets whose palm-fringed coastlines are rimmed by white sand and sheltering coves. Serpentine coastal highways wind along unsullied beaches and rustic rivers where tourists can stop at any point and jump in for a dip.

You will most likely approach Bohol from Cebu. From Cebu, Bohol is easily visible from any vantage point that provides views across the 20-mile wide Bohol Strait. You can fly the short distance on Asian Spirit Airlines. If you choose to go by sea, there are many ferries that travel the Cebu-Bohol route throughout the day. Besides saving a few pesos, there′s nothing like an inter-island ferry for catching the beautiful vistas that the archipelago has to offer. 

Alona Beach is located in the south of Panglao Island. Panglao itself is south west of Bohol. Alona Beach is a famous holiday destination in the Philippines, particularly for divers who are lured here by the spectacular dive sites. 

Dumaguete 
Awesome walls and drop-offs, stunning coral gardens, electrifying drift dives and many rare and truly unique creatures are waiting for you! All the dive sites are replete with huge numbers of splendid fish (triggerfish, parrotfish, pennant fish, moray eels, surgeonfish, snappers, groupers, Moorish idols, lizardfish, gobies, batfish, lionfish, trumpet fish, puffer fish, filefish, emperors, wrasses, fusiliers and trevallies to name only a few). 

Invertebrates from the tiniest transparent shrimp and neon-coloured nudibranchs to huge basket sponges adorned with hundreds of multi-coloured crinoids; anemones, sea cucumbers, starfish and worms reside with vast numbers of hard and soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Turtles, octopus, cuttlefish, manta rays, eagle rays and sharks make guest appearances. 

Malapascua 
Malapascua is a small island at the Northern tip of Cebu Island. It is 2.5km long and 1km wide. 
White sandy beaches, the probability to see thresher sharks, manta ray and great wreck dives are quickly making this a divers hotspot in the Philippines. 

One side of the island is dominated by an exceptionally long, white beach stretching out around the south-east coast of the island facing Cebu, Leyte and Biliran. The other side of the island has a more panoramic rocky coastline and is an attractive alternative for the ever popular white beach. 

Malapascua also called Logon is located about 8 km North-East of Cebu mainland and 25 km west of Leyte. 

From Cebu City, north to Maya, is about 3-4 hours by road. It is then another 30 minutes by outrigger boat to Malapasqua.

Moalboal 
Moalboal is a small city on Cebu Island. It is 89km south west of Cebu City. From Cebu City, you can reach Moalboal in 3 hours by road transfer. 
While situated away from the hustle and bustle of larger towns, Moalboal has a lot to offer to both divers and non-divers.

Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest and lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. 
Palawan is sometimes considered to be the Philippines′ "last frontier". 

El Nido Resorts began 20 years ago as a 15-cottage dive camp built in an isolated island in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. El Nido Resorts has grown since then, offering now a choice between two properties and a wide range of facilities and services. 

The El Nido Resorts in Miniloc Island and Lagen Island are located within the El Nido Protected Area, in two of the five islands where tourism development is allowed. The resorts provide easy access to the different points of interest in El Nido. 

While each resort has its own special charm, both offer the same distinct quality of service that is attuned and responsive to the unique needs of each guest and focuses on making sure that your holiday is worry-free and filled with enriching experiences. 

The most striking feature of El Nido is its scenic landscape - massive limestone islands of varying shapes and sizes scattered about the sparkling sea. 

The limestone cliffs of El Nido were naturally carved out of extensive and thick layers of coralline deposits. They formed 250 million years ago in the shallow sea covering the area that North Vietnam and South China now occupy. These layers slowly rose from the sea as a result of the collision of India and Mainland China about 60 million years ago. 

The fastest and most direct way to get to El Nido is from Manila. Island Transvoyager Inc. operates daily flights to El Nido for El Nido Resorts using a 19-seater Dornier 228 aircraft. The flight takes a maximum of one hour and thirty minutes and lands directly at El Nido Airport. Flight reservations may be made through El Nido Resorts. 

At El Nido Airport, guests are met by resort staff and transferred to a motorized outrigger boat for a scenic ride to the resorts. Travelling time from the El Nido Airport to El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island varies from 30 to 40 minutes and 40 to 50 minutes to El Nido Resorts Lagen Island.

Coron Island
Coron Island is well known for several Japanese wrecks that sank there during World War II. The wrecks and pleasant rock formations provide for excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, with underwater visibility extending up to 20 meters. The water is usually calm, with almost no current. The area′s maximum depth is around 15 metres. 

Sangat Island is the only island resort offering diving facilities in Coron Bay, Busuanga, Philippines. The island is close to 12 Japanese shipwrecks, some located very close to the beach. 

From Manila, the easiest way to get to Sangat Island is by taking a short internal flight from the domestic terminal of Manila International Airport to the island of Busuanga. 

A representative from Sangat Island Resort will meet you at Busuanga Airport and then drive you through the forests of Busuanga Island to Coron Bay where a private boat will pick you up and take you on the final leg of your journey to Sangat Island. 

On arrival you will be able to relax and enjoy a fresh coconut from one of the many coconut palms while our staff carry your luggage to your beachside cottage! 

Philippines Liveaboard Diving 
With so many islands and varied dive spots in the Philippines, live aboard diving is the ultimate way to experience what amazing natural and historical dive sites the region has to offer. 

We have two large, modern, comfortable vessels available for scheduled trips to Tubbataha, Apo Island, Coron and Puerto Galera within the Philippines.