Scuba diving Philippines does not get any diverse, anywhere in the world! No matter what level of diver you are, diving Philippines has something to offer you. In fact, I can just about guarantee that the scuba diving you do in the Philippines will blow your mind and make you think twice about diving when you get home. You will literally be spoilt when diving in the Philippines.
Water Temperature.
The water temperature diving in the Philippines, is similar to diving in your warm bath at home! It is absolutely divine. A balmy 22 C to 25 C during the cooler months of December to March and 25 C to 28 C during the warmer months of April to November. Water temperatures like these, gives you the opportunity of diving in the comfort of lycra skin suits or 3mm wetsuits. When you are use to diving in 5mm and 7mm steamers or even dry suits, this type of diving is pure heaven.
Why Dive the Philippines?
The Philippine Islands, which there are over 7,100, have the widest variety of marine life in the world. The diving here is still being discovered, it does however have a number of popular spots which are very familiar with the diving tourist and these sites are world class. Outside these popular diving locations lie thousands of unexplored scuba diving opportunities. Since the Philippines has so many islands, with some of them not easily accessible, the allure for the scuba diver in the Philippines to be the first to explore an underwater reef or to discover a wreck is a real possibility.
Statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism indicate that scuba divers visiting the Philippine Islands, return for an average of 10 trips each. If this is not a high recommendation on the quality and health of the scuba diving industry in the Philippines, then I’m not sure what is!
Scuba Diving Philippines - What Sort of Diving?
Philippines scuba diving has everything to satisfy the most fussy diver. All you have to do, is put your wetsuit on and put your tank together, even then there is someone there to assist you. From here it gets easier. Someone will carry your gear on and off the dive boat for you, help you put your scuba tank and gear onto your back and help you out of the water when you have finished. Sound easy? You bet it is. Now, what type of diving should you expect? Well pretty much everything you can think of is covered.
Pristine reef diving.
Exhilarating drift diving.
Big pelagic fish action.
World War II wrecks to be discovered.
Fantastic wall diving.
Muck diving for those who like macro photography.
Deep diving.
Coral Gardens.
Night Diving.
Swim throughs and caves.
Technical diving.
Soft coral spectaculars.
The majority of dives are conducted by boat, usually a very short trip from your resort. If you are not diving from a boat you can generally find fantastic reefs right in front of your resort, nice and easy shore diving. For the ultimate experience, live aboard dive vessels can also take you to areas seldom if ever visited by scuba divers, this is the ultimate experience.
Diving Philippines – What will I see Underwater?
The list is too big to try and let you know what you will see underwater, but I will tell you about the marine life you will definitely see underwater. The marine life is exceptionally abundant, from rare nudibrachs to a high density of the 27 species of clownfish or Amphiprion Sp., not to mention the gregarious colours of the soft corals and the vibrancy of the hard corals. If big fish are an attraction, then schooling barracudas, sweetlips, Thresher and Hammerhead Sharks will not disappoint you. The biggest fish in the world also frequents Philippine waters, the mighty Whale Shark. Even mammals are widely seen, both dolphins and dugongs.
Diving Philippines gives you so many options that every dive will be different and mind blowing, even if it is at the same dive site!
Note: The Philippines has had it’s fair share of dynamite fishing and cyanide poisoning. This is slowly being pushed out, as more Filipinos recognize a better future in tourism dollars. Cyanide poisoning is used for capturing fish for marine aquarium enthusiasts. This practice is being addressed by the Marine Aquarium Council in conjunction with Philippine Authorities, who are training local fisherman in the use of ecological net catching of small fish. They are also teaching good husbandry techniques for the sustainability of this industry.
Diving Philippines is everything and more you want it to be. Your expectations will be met and driven further than you thought possible, the possibilities are endless.
Brett Jankowiak is the owner of http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com, Philippines Travel Guide, his passion for the Philippines is reflected in his writings and articles on his information based website.
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