Diving Philippines

In the Philippines I completed the PADI Rescue Course at Cocktail Divers in Puerto Galera in 1994 and the PADI Divemaster at Octopusdivers, also in Puerto Galera, in 1995. In 1998 I worked at Octopusdivers as a divemaster for a season.

Unfortunately, scuba diving in the Philippines (and not only there) has developed into mass sport/tourism over the last 30 years and it is sad to see hordes of divers being carted to the reefs who are poorly trained and thus end up with their skills uncontrolled flapping of fins, poor buoyancy and selfie mania, destroying corals and the underwater world.

Despite everything, the Philippines, with its mostly intact coral reefs, is one of the world's diving hotspots.

Quelle Bild:  © Mike Geissler / Sabang Beach / PG / PH

Diving in the Philippines has its origins in Anilao in southern Luzon. Expats and Filipinos mostly from nearby Manila explored the underwater world on weekends. Today you can find international diving centers and resorts spread across the entire archipelago. Puerto Galera on Mindoro was and is still a diving stronghold today. In the Visayas, diving activities are mainly concentrated in Bohol, Moalboal and the Dumaguete region. Coron in northern Palawan is just as popular with wreck divers as Subic Bay in western Luzon. Here you can dive various wrecks from the Second World War. Liveaboards are also becoming increasingly popular in the Philippines. The targets include the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea and the Apo Reef north of Mindoro. The Philippines is located in the Coral Triangle and has above-average biodiversity. For years there has been a successful fight against dynamite and cyanide fishing in many areas. Most dive sites are located close to the coast and can be reached by boat in just a few minutes from the respective base.

Diving training is usually carried out according to PADI guidelines. However, other certifications are also recognized by international diving organizations. Most diving centers use the INT compressed air cylinder connection standardized according to ISO 12209-3, so bringing an adapter for the DIN connection common in Europe is recommended.

Source Text: translated with Google translator, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippinen#Tauchen

Source Pic: E. Garcia, PH