Buceo Anilao Resort

The Philippines is an island nation located in South East Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. These islands are home to spectacular scenery, pristine beaches, incredible sights and lively cities. Dramatic drop offs, wrecks, caves and a richly varied marine life also guarantee fabulous diving. Combined with the renowned Philippine hospitality and warmth, an unforgettable dive holiday awaits.

You will find a true blend of cultures; the people are generally of Malay descent, but Philippine history has introduced Chinese, Spanish and American elements as well. The Philippines is a predominantly Christian country where eight out of ten Filipinos are practising Catholics. Filipino hospitality is legendary and the Philippines is the fiesta nation of Asia. Fiestas celebrate harvests, births and victories, as well as religious events. The Filipinos like to party and celebrations are found in every ethnic group and may be large regional events or small local happenings.

Resorts have been hand picked, not only for their comfort and surrounding scenery but most importantly, for their proximity to incredible dives sites. Whilst out of the water guests can relax on some of the best beaches in the world, enjoy the local markets, festivals and sights or even spend a night in the exciting and bustling Manila or more laid back Cebu.

As the Philippines is a strong Catholic nation, festive holidays such as Easter are very busy. Either book well in advance, or avoid the main religious holiday periods where possible.

Climate

Anilao is a year round diving destination. November to June is the driest time of year whilst December and January are the coolest months. There is an increased chance of rain from June to August but this is also the quietest time with less divers in the water.

The climate of The Philippines can broadly be described as hot and tropical. Most people visit The Philippines during the dry season. However, many regular visitors attest that the best time to visit is during the wet season and that the proliferation and variety of marine life is the best in June, July and August.

Dry season: December to May

Wet season: June to November

During the dry season, easterly winds prevail and air temperature is in high 20s to mid-30°C. February to May are generally the hottest. Wet season winds are from the west, with air temperature in mid to high 20s°C. You can often strike lucky and have weeks of brilliant blue skies and unlimited sunshine. On the other hand, the rains, when they come, are impressive and prolonged. There are few rivers, so run off and its effect on water visibility is not generally a problem.

Please note that the Philippines is a large country and has many climatic variations from east to west and south to north.

Best underwater visibility: April to July

Water temperature average: 24–30°C

Time

8 hours ahead of GMT.

Language

Filipino is Officially the national language of The Philippines. This language is based on Tagalog which is the most widely used of the 70 plus dialects used within the country. English is also prevalent throughout the country, especially in tourist destinations. English is also widely used as the medium for education, communication and business. Eight major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). The US dollar is the most widely recognised foreign currency. Euros & GBP are also readily exchanged.

The majority of larger towns have ATMs, however, facilities for money withdrawal or changing are far less widespread away from the main centres of population. There are bank machines at the airport.

Tipping

Tipping is expected for many services. The standard is 10% of the total bill or optional where there is a 10% service charge.

Flight information

Regaldive can offer packages to the Philippines on a number of different airlines.

London - Manila: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and KLM all fly via their national hubs.

London - Cebu: Singapore Airlines via Singapore; Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

Carry-On Luggage Restriction

Philippines Office for Transportation Security rules include 'Scuba Diving Equipment' (including regulators) on the list of blunt instruments that are not to be in carry-on/cabin baggage on flights originating within the Philippines. Please ensure that all scuba equipment is secured within checked-in baggage on all domestic flights and on all departing international flights.

Internal flights:
Manila - Cebu
Manila - Busuanga
Manila - Dumaguete

Getting to Anilao

Once you have arrived at Manila Airport, you will meet and be transferred by road to Buceo Anilao Dive Resort. Anilao is reached by a 2.5 / 3 hours road transfer from Manila.

If you reach Manila after 18.00 hrs, an overnight stay in Manila may be required, depending on local transfer schedules.

Overnights in Manila

These can be arranged as part of your package with local transfers. A Venue Suites is a modern 3-star property in the bustling district of Makati with good shopping and local eating choices. An upgrade to the Dusit Thani or Intercontinental can also be offered.

Perched on the edge of the Calumpang Peninsula near Batangas, the area around Anilao is the closest diving locale to Manila. Just 2.5 hours road journey from the Capital, Anilao sits in the heart of the Philippines best-loved diving in the ‘Coral Triangle’, which for many divers is the ‘muck diving’ capital of the Philippines. 

Smaller critters regularly seen include the mandarin-fish, leaf and frog fish, cuttle fish, different species of octopus, rare shrimps and crabs, seahorses, ghost pipefish and many different types of nudibranch. For those carrying wide angle lenses, the batfish, groupers, triggerfish, jacks, mackeral and occasional solitary large tuna are all frequent visitors to the reefs.

With a backdrop of lush green hills and mountains running down to shingle coves and the clear blue waters of the sea, many of the 40+ dive sites are blissfully sheltered with great visibility, and most importantly, are rich in marine and coral life. Snorkelling opportunities are also excellent, making Anilao a rewarding destination for both divers and non-divers.

Our featured resort, Buceo Anilao Dive Resort, provides very comfortable rooms backed by first class diving facilities on-site, ensuring that you have the most relaxing stay.

Dive Sites in Anilao

Secret Bay (aka ‘Mainit Muck’)

Secret Bay, also known as ‘Mainit Muck’, is one of the most famous, muck-diving dive sites in Anilao, where you will find Mantis shrimp, gobies, wonderpus octopus, nudibranchs (daytime), squid and cuttlefish (at night). You can also find Seahorses, ghost pipefish, ambon scorpionfish, tiny frogfish, colemani shrimp, and bobbit worms! Secret Bay is excellent to dive at any time of the day, but especially at night. The best diving is between 3 and 21 metres.

Twin Rocks

Twin Rocks is one of the most popular dive site in Anilao. Appreciated by underwater photographers because it offers wonderful access, in a small area, to an amazing macro environment that exists around two rocks, hence the name! At Twin Rocks, you can see ribbon eels to schools of carangidae, countless nudibranchs, clownfish, surgeon fish, lionfish, damsels, big schools of barracuda, mantis shrimps, Coleman shrimps, porcelain crabs and rabbitfish. Maximum depth is 16 metres, with visibility typically at 20+ metres.

Verde Island

Verde Island is a 1.5 hour boat trip away from Buceo Anilao Dive Resort. The dive sites here offer amazing visibility (normally 30m+) and an abundance of marine life. One of the best dive spots in the Philippines due to its pristine, clear waters and awesome underwater views. After dropping in on the top of pinnacles at around 5 metres, negative entry might be a required if the currents are playing up. As you follow the wall down, you will see thousands of Red Tooth Triggerfish, Antheas and Butterfly Fish. Whip corals and Gorgonian fans are scattered across the reef wall, with some elusive macro inhabitants, the Whip Coral Shrimp and Pigmy Seahorse. Verde Island is often referred to as ‘Fish Soup’ due to the huge numbers of fish that swim in its waters. With strong up and down currents, Verde Island is not suitable for novice divers.

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.