Underwater visibility of up to 60 meters, shipwrecks, drop-offs, over 2,000 species of fish, and more than 800 species of soft and hard corals are making the Philippines a year around divers haven.
The Philippines, a country of 300,000 square kilometers and located between latitudes 21 degrees and 5 degrees north of the equator and longitudes 16 degrees and 127 degrees east of the Greenwich Meridian Line, roughly between Taiwan and Malaysian Borneo. With 334.539 kilometers of natural harbors, gulfs, and white palm-fringed white sand beaches it has the longest discontinuous coastline in the world.
Due to the tropical location, the Philippines has 3 seasons. A cooler, dry season from November to February, the hot and dry season from March to June marks the summer and the rainy season with high humidity and rainfall follows from June until October. The temperatures depending on the season are between 31 to 33°C and humidity between 65 to 90 percent.
The warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines Sea, the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, and the Celebes Sea surround the Philippines with 7,107 islands. The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. All regions offer premier destinations for scuba divers and marine sports enthusiasts.
In the past, we included here much general information about the Philippines. You will not find detailed information on a specific region on our website anymore. Since the revamp of www.about-scuba-diving.com, we considered not reinventing the wheel again and think that the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and Wikipedia.org are probably the best sources.
Diving with the big guys: exiting one on one meetings with mantas and sharks at the Apo Reef, whale sharks in Sorsogon, dugongs (sea cows) in Palawan or Puerto Galera with his vast fields of coral and rare species of fish. One of the major destinations when it comes to wreck diving in Coron, worldwide known for its sunken Japanese fleet from World War II as well as commercial shipwrecks.
Divers hunting for small fishes and creatures will find excellent spots for macro photography. One can dive at one spot for an hour just to observe the movement and habits of all the different tiny life.
All dive sites offer unending fascination: cliffs covered with sponges, colorful corals, gorgonians, turtles, sharks, rays, and even the very rarely seen exotic fishes like a Spanish dancer, harlequin ghost-pipefish, camouflaged frogfish, fire gobies, and various species of Seahorses …
Accommodation facilities, like beach resorts, offer scuba diving education for beginners and professionals. In general dive spots are not far from the resorts and there is something right available for all, novice and experienced divers. Regardless of whether you looking for drift, night, deep diving, or just an exciting snorkeling trip, you will find all you need.
Most dive operators managed by foreigners are PADI-certified dive centers and offer courses from beginner through Divemaster in various languages. Several freelance Instructors offer their services too. You can expect personalized services and friendly and experienced staff. Often small groups and the attention to the individual diver make the diving experience the best it can be.
For sure holidays are not all about scuba diving. Other travel activities, such as picnics, trekking & hiking to the hinterlands, island hopping, sunset cruises, and day trips to main Cities and their surrounding countryside are offered by the beach resort and dive center operators.
For scuba-diving enthusiasts, bringing their own equipment, some Airlines have an additional package over the normal luggage allowance.
The international media shattered the image of the Philippines in the past. Of course, the Philippines has political and economical problems, natural disasters like typhoons or earthquakes, and kidnapping. Let’s face it, things like this are happening all around the world.
Many foreigners living in the Philippines for many years and have never been harassed; the car still stands in the parking lot including all 4 wheels and radio. Certainly, one also should use his common sense and be vigilant about his moves and areas going to.
Filipinos are friendly, courteous, and very hospital. The Filipino word Halo-Halo means mixture. It describes a popular dessert and it could also describe the Filipino. They write and speak English like Americans, look like Asians, worship like Spaniards, and have an attitude that is international. All are part of the Filipino mind, which will make your stay an enjoyment.
Sea You,
Gerd Deichmeier
~~~~~~~~~~~
<°)))><