Philippine Siren

The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean which are home to spectacular scenery, pristine beaches, incredible sights and lively cities. Dramatic drop offs, vibrant reefs, 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.

Regional overview

Southern Visayas from Mactan - Cebu, Bohol, Pescador, Apo and Negros islands

The Visayas region is home to some of the best diving in the Philippines, with its wide diversity of marine life, steep coral covered walls, gentle sloping reefs and muck diving hotspots. These itineraries can encompass Cebu, Cabilao, Panglao, Balicasag and Pescador, along with dives at Apo Island marine sanctuary and Dauin.

The area offers fantastic macro life schooling fish, as well as the possibility of some larger pelagics too - if you are lucky you may see thresher sharks come in to feed on schools of sardines. Whale sharks may also be seen here during August and September.

Southern Leyte - Diving with whale sharks

Sogod Bay is world-famous for sightings of whale sharks. These enormous filter feeders arrive here each year to feed on the swarms of plankton that bloom in the warm shallow waters. The area is perfect for both scuba diving and snorkelling. As well as whale sharks, the reefs around the bays of Southern Leyte & Limasawa Island are a haven for numerous fish species, whilst beneath the piers of Padre Burgos & Limasawa are a whole host of weird and wonderful macro creatures.

Batangas & Coron for wrecks - Anilao, Apo Reef and Coron wrecks

Apo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered by many to be among the best diving in the Philippines. The whole North East side of the reef consists of drop offs and overhangs where whitetip and grey reef sharks, turtles, barracuda and shoals of snapper are common.

The Japanese World War II wrecks around Busuanga Island, particularly in Coron Bay, are particularly fascinating, with twelve wrecks so far been located in recreational diving depths. The Batangas region is known for the many numerous smaller creatures that can be found along the sloping reefs and soft coral covered walls. It is here you will find many new and often unidentified species of nudibranchs, along with ghost pipefish, pipehorses, seahorses, octopus and frog fish.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park from Mactan or Puerto Princessa

Proclaimed as a National Marine Park in 1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of marine life species diversity and richness. 182km south east of Puerto Princessa on Palawan Island, the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea offers some truly amazing diving and is only accessible by liveaboard. Tubbataha reefs offers dramatic vertical walls and pinnacles rising out of great depths. The shallow reef tops are teeming with colourful reef fish; in many places stingrays, spiny lobsters, immature manta rays, turtles, leopard sharks and guitar sharks can be found. The walls are covered in huge barrel sponges, gorgonian sea fans, soft corals, hydroids and black corals. In deeper water, shoals of angelfish, butterfly fish, pennant fish, rainbow runners, Moorish idols, fusiliers, jacks, snappers and sweetlips follow you around. Large trevally, tuna and barracuda as well as grey reef sharks and whitetip sharks patrol. If you remember to look away from the fascinating reef wall from time to time, Giant manta rays and eagle rays may be spotted overhead along with turtles and groupers.

Malapascua to Cebu and Cebu to Malapascua

Malapascua is a tiny, picturesque island just off the northern tip of Cebu Island. Its dive sites offer some of the best chances of diving with the elusive thresher sharks that attract so many divers to the Philippines in the first place. This itinerary also takes in some great wrecks including the 100m passenger ferry Dona Marilyn, and the Tapilo, a Japanese cargo vessel sunk during WWII that is now a macro haven. This itinerary combines Malapascua with the best of the Southern Visayas itinerary above. Dive with threshers and whale sharks at Pescador Island, visit the famed artificial reef of Volkswagen cars at Dauin and enjoy the finest of Philippines diving at Apo Island Marine Reserve.

Flight information

Regaldive can offer packages to the Philippines on a number of different airlines. Please note some itineraries will require overnight stays due to internal flight timings.

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, Cathay Pacific and Emirates all fly into Cebu, with Singapore Airlines and Cathay generally offering the better connections.

Duration: Approximately 18 hours

Departure tax: Applicable for international and domestic flights, plus ferry ports

Getting there

The South Visayas, Southern Leyte and the Malapascua - Cebu - Malapascua trips all start and end on Mactan Island which is reached via Cebu international airport, where you will be transferred to the boat.

The Batangas and Coron Wreck one-way itineraries alternate the start and finish between Borocay and Palawan, and are reached via Manila, with an additional internal flight and land transfer

The Tubbutaha National Marine Park starts and finished in Puerta Pricessa, reached with an internal flight and transfer via Manila.

The Philippines and Palau Combo itinerary starts from Cebu and you will arrive at Cebu (Mactan) International Aiport before being transferred to the boat. The itinerary ends in Koror, Palau and your flight home will begin at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport.

All of the required transfers and internal flight can be arranged as part of your full travel package. All of the above, but especially those itineraries that originate in Cebu, make for a fantastic twin centre with one of Regaldive's land based resorts.

Transfers

Whichever island you are staying on, you are met at the airport/ferry port and transferred to your resort. Whether by flight, jeepney or banca boat, there are fantastic sights to enjoy on your journey there and back. Although some transfer can take up to a whole day, most clients pass feedback that this was a very interesting part of their overall trip.

The below information is to give you a give you a general idea of transfer times between regions; actual transfer times may differ slightly according to individual arrangements and ferry timetables, tides etc.:

• Cebu - Dumaguete: 3 to 4 hours by vehicle, ferry and hotel shuttle
• Cebu - Bohol/Panglao/Cabilao: 3 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle
• Cebu - Malapascua: 3 to 4 hours by vehicle and outrigger
• Dumaguete - Bohol/Panglao/Cabilao: 3 hours by hotel shuttle, ferry and vehicle
• Dumaguete (Pura Vida) to Panglao (Alona Vida): 3 to 4 hours by Outrigger conditions permitting
• Dumaguete - Malapascua: 6 to 7 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
• Panglao - Cabilao: 1+ hour vehicle and boat
• Panglao - Malapascua: 6 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
• Cabilao - Malapascua: 6 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
• Manila - Cebu: 1 hour by internal flight
• Manila - Dimakya or Coron, Palawan: 3-4 hours by internal flight, vehicle and boat
• Manila - Puerta Galera: 3 hours by vehicle and boat
• Manila - Caticlan or Kalibo: 3 hours by internal flight, vehicle and/or boat

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. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in most towns, but you may be required to pay a surcharge for their use. Outside of the main towns, not all places accept credit cards.

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.