Siete Pecados
When translated, it is known as the Isles of the Seven Sins. Why seven sins? Local folklore tells the story of seven sisters who, one day, against their mother’s wishes, swam in the ocean and then drowned, never to be found again. Years later, seven islands rose from the waters, which locals believed to be the manifestation of the seven daughters’ lost souls.
Today, the waters where the seven rocky islets stand have become a home for some of the most stunning coral reefs.
Location
Coron, Palawan
Max Depth
22 meters / 72 feet
What's so great about Siete Pecados
- Crystal clear water
- Hundreds of barracudas
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour by plane
- 45 to 50 mins car ride from airport to port
- 1-2 hour/s boat ride to the site
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 45 to 50 mins car ride from airport to port
- 1-2 hour/s boat ride to the site
Barracuda Lake
Despite its name, there aren’t many barracudas in this lake. Although it is said that a giant barracuda lurks beneath its depths, the most fantastic feature of this lake is the unique sensory experience swimmers will encounter here. The lake is where cold freshwater and warm seawater meet, causing a thermocline. A phenomenon where the water’s temperature suddenly changes with depth. Because of this, swimming in its waters is genuinely one unique experience.
Location
Coron, Palawan
Max Depth
40 meters / 131 feet
What's so great about Barracuda Lake
- Huge barracuda skeleton
- Clear deep waters
- Underwater cliffs
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour by plane
- 45 mins to 1 hour car ride from airport to port
- 30 minutes by boat ride to the site
- 30 minutes walk
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 45 mins to 1 hour car ride from airport to port
- 30 minutes boat ride to the site
- 30 minutes walk
Okikawa Maru
If you enjoy wreck diving, you’ll love this. During World War II, many ships and marine vessels sought refuge in the small islands around Busuanga, Coron. This strategic move resulted in many warships sinking to the bottom of its waters. One of these vessels is the Okikawa Maru – a 168m long Japanese tanker that was sunk in 1944 by the US military. Today, it remains remarkably preserved by the salty waters, lying 85 feet below the surface. The wreckage has become a thriving habitat for hundreds of fish and corals. It has transformed into a great diving spot and preserved a small piece of history.
not an actual image
Location
Busuanga Island, Coron, Palawan
Max Depth
25 meters / 85 feet
What's so great about Okikawa Maru
- Sunken Japanese WWII Ship wreck
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour by plane
- 1 hour & 30 mins car ride from airport to Putod Pier
- 3-4 hour/s boat ride to the site
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 1 hour & 30 mins car ride from airport to Putod Pier
- 3-4 hour/s boat ride to the site
Tubbataha Reef
If you’ve never heard of this place, you’ve lived under a rock. This diving destination is hailed as one of the world’s best. Tubbataha Reef is home to thousands of marine species, including hundreds of endangered ones, such as the green sea and hawksbill turtles. Although only accessible by liveaboard boats, the typical 7-day tour will be well worth it for those seeking an exceptionally unique diving adventure.
Location
Cagayancillo, Palawan
Max Depth
60 meters / 196 feet
What's so great about Tubbataha Reef
- Extinct underwater volcanoes
- More than 1,200 marine species
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 10-12 hour/s boat ride to Tubbataha Reef
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour & 15 minutes by plane
- 10-12 hour/s boat ride to Tubbataha Reef
Twin Rocks
Twin Rocks in El Nido stands out as a truly unique dive site. Its distinctive rock formation, resembling two separate rocks rising from the sea, is just a preview of the even more stunning landscape underwater. Also known as the ‘Stingray Airport,’ this site is famous for frequent stingray sightings. The underwater caverns and swim-throughs also add a mysterious element to one’s diving adventure.
Photo by Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash
Location
El Nido, Palawan
Max Depth
30 meters / 98 feet
What's so great about Twin Rocks
- Stingray Airport
- Rock formations
- Abundance of table corals, sea whips and colorful sponges
- Variety of ghost pipefish
- Underwater landscape
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 20 mins car ride from Airport to Port
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour & 15 minutes by plane
- 20 mins car ride from Airport to Port
Monad Shoal
Our next on the list is not one for the faint of heart. This underwater island is the perfect diving destination and probably the only one for an up-close encounter with the ever rare thresher shark. And that’s not all – depending on the season, the reef also attracts manta rays, devil rays, eagle rays and hammerhead sharks.
Thomas Alexander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Location
Malapascua Island, Cebu
Max Depth
200 meters / 650 feet
What's so great about Monad Shoal
- The very rare thresher shark
- Sunken coral plateau
- Giant manta rays
- Large crevices
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 1-2 hour/s from Mactan Airport to Cebu City North Bus Terminal (beside SM City Cebu)
- 5 hour/s by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 30 minutes by boat to Monad
How to get there from Cebu
- 5 hour/s by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 30 minutes by boat to Monad
Gato Island
While no actual cats (or may be there are?) reside in Isla del Gato, its name is derived from its distinct shape, resembling a cat curled up in sleep. However, don’t let the serene appearance of this island fool you, as beneath the water’s surface, it hides an underwater cave where venomous sea snakes frequent. Adding to the thrill, the fact that certain shark species utilize the cave as a daytime resting spot makes the diving experience all the more exhilarating.
Photo by Jong Marshes on Unsplash
Location
Malapascua Island, Cebu
Max Depth
83 meters / 272 feet
What's so great about Gato Island
- White tip sharks
- Peculiar underwater terrain
- Unique marine species
- Rocks covered with giant soft corals
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 1-2 hour/s from Mactan Airport to Cebu City North Bus Terminal (beside SM City Cebu)
- 5 hours by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 1 hour boat ride to Gato Island
How to get there from Cebu
- 5 hours by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 1 hour boat ride to Gato Island
Tapilon Wreck
If swimming with sharks feels a bit too intense, the Tapilon Wreck in Malapascua offers a captivating alternative. This underwater site is a World War 2 Japanese cargo carrier, victim to a torpedo strike, now transformed into an artificial reef.
Divers exploring the Tapilon Wreck can encounter a diverse marine world, including zebra crabs, squat lobsters, and occasionally elusive creatures like ghost pipefish and frogfish. With a maximum depth of 29 meters, this site is well-suited for advanced divers seeking an underwater adventure with historical significance and vibrant marine life.
Photo by Heidi Bruce on Unsplash
Location
Malapascua Island, Cebu
Max Depth
32 meters / 104 feet
What's so great about Tapilon Wreck
- WWII Japanese cargo vessel wreck
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour & 30 minutes by plane
- 1-2 hour/s from Mactan Airport to Cebu City North Bus Terminal (beside SM City Cebu)
- 5 hours by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 40 minutes boat ride to Tapilon Wreck
How to get there from Cebu
- 5 hours by bus from Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Port
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
- 40 minutes boat ride to Tapilon Wreck
Mantigue Island
It is a small island with an almost perfectly shaped charm, as if a drop of paradise fell from the heavens. Don’t just take my word for it – Google it and you’ll understand.
Surrounded by pristine white sand, the island offers a picturesque escape. And as stunning as it is above water, so is it below. Diving or snorkeling here opens up a vibrant underwater world where you might witness sea turtles gently go about their daily lives. The island is a protected sanctuary for these fascinating creatures.
Photo by David Troeger on Unsplash
Location
Camiguin Island
Max Depth
20 meters / 65 feet
What's so great about Mantigue Island
- Sunken Cemetery
- Lot of turtles
- One of the best underwater scenery
How to get there from Manila
- 2 hours and 15 minutes by plane
- 30 minutes drive from Camiguin Airport to San Roque, Mahinog port
- 15 minutes boat ride to Mantigue Island
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by plane
- 30 minutes drive from Camiguin Airport to San Roque, Mahinog port
- 15 minutes boat ride to Mantigue Island
Largahan
Largahan stands out as a remarkably diverse diving site, ideal for macro diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers. It showcases a dark sandy area contrasted by vibrant coral gardens and volcanic rocks.
Location
Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental
Max Depth
22 meters / 72 feet
What's so great about Largahan
- Very diverse site
- Dark sandy area of coral gardens and volcanic rocks
How to get there from Manila
- 1 hour and 30 minutes by plane
- 50 minutes by jeepney ride from Dumaguete Airport to Malatapay Station and costs ₱60
- 30-40 minute/s by car from Dumaguete wharf to Malatapay Wharf
- 40 mins from Malatapay Wharf to Apo Island via ferry
How to get there from Cebu
- 1 hour by plane
- 7 hours bus ride from Cebu city to Dumaguete
- 50 minutes by jeepney ride from Dumaguete Airport to Malatapay Station and costs ₱60
- 30-40 minute/s car ride from Dumaguete Airport to Malatapay Wharf
- 40 mins from Malatapay Wharf to Apo Island via ferry
