Sharing a dive map of the Philippines

[ttc008]

Grabbed this map at a diving expo in Shanghai and thought it very informational, especially its listing of currently available hyperbaric chambers across the country. (I replaced the Chinese texts with English translations and added watermarks.)

I know Puerto Galera/Anilao and Cebu/Bohol/Dumaguete are the two most well-known regions for diving. But this map also shows a wealth of dive sites along the west coast of Luzon and the north & west coast of Mindanao. Look forward to reading more trip reports about those areas on this forum.

Edit: Seems like there is a limit to image resolution on scubaboard, here is the link to the full size map:
Dive map of the Philippines

 

[Centrals]

Southern Leyte has very good diving but how many divers go there? If it is not the whaleshark during the winter months, even less visitors would have travel there.
Sipalay is another good example.
Camotes Island is also good.
Davao and General Santos also offering good diving but the name of Mindanao probably discourage a lot potential visitors.
I am going to Romblon for the first time soon and the ferry is about 9hrs.

 

[annasea]

Southern Leyte has very good diving but how many divers go there? If it is not the whaleshark during the winter months, even less visitors would have travel there.
Sipalay is another good example.
Camotes Island is also good.
Davao and General Santos also offering good diving but the name of Mindanao probably discourage a lot potential visitors.
I am going to Romblon for the first time soon and the ferry is about 9hrs.

Sogod Bay in Southers Leyte was one of my favourite spots. Did not bother with whalesharks; regular marine life was more than enough.

I spent about 5 days in General Santos. Not the best experience diving, but the seahorses and the convenience of rinsing dive gear off immediately in freshwater after shore dives was something not to be forgotten.

I really liked Romblon! The dive op I dived with while there was destroyed during a storm, IIRC, but I think there are at least 2 others there. Who are you diving with? The ferry ride was indeed brutal, but doable. The town of Romblon was rather charming... quite a few 'gringos' were there at the time--long-term, but occasional, residents. If you run into a short, elderly European man named Manfred, consider yourself blessed.

 

[Centrals]

I have been to Gen San on three occasions. The first time was with Chris at Tuna City and it was shore dive only but I got to meet Paul who was running a family business of Lemlunay Resort + diving outside the city. Dived with him on my two subsequent visit. The dive just beneath the resort was very very good and so were the off shore submerged islands.
I should be diving with Three P at Romblon. 9hrs ferry is bearable unlike the trip to Cocos which took 36hrs one way.

 

[annasea]

I have been to Gen San on three occasions. The first time was with Chris at Tuna City and it was shore dive only but I got to meet Paul who was running a family business of Lemlunay Resort + diving outside the city. Dived with him on my two subsequent visit. The dive just beneath the resort was very very good and so were the off shore submerged islands.
I should be diving with Three P at Romblon. 9hrs ferry is bearable unlike the trip to Cocos which took 36hrs one way.

That's who I did my dives with, too, when in Gen San! He's no longer in business: Chris.

Should I be fortunate enough in the future to return to the PI, I'll look into Lemlunay. I'm guessing since you went twice, it was worth it both times and you would consider returning for a third?

 

[happy-diver]

Grabbed this map at a diving expo in Shanghai and thought it very informational

Very informational indeed I feel even closer now thank you.

 

[Centrals]

That's who I did my dives with, too, when in Gen San! He's no longer in business: Chris.

Should I be fortunate enough in the future to return to the PI, I'll look into Lemlunay. I'm guessing since you went twice, it was worth it both times and you would consider returning for a third?

My last visit to Gen San was long long time ago. No idea what is the latest development there.
Good luck.

 

[Jai Bar]

I hope it is ok to take advantage of the beautiful map posted by OP and add GPS kml/kmz file of Philippines dive sites that I gathered.

I dove only a small part of them and cannot guarantee of their accuracy and so on (use them "as is"), but it may help divers to plan vacation, add them to their logged dives, diary and so on.

If it is not acceptable, I can remove the files of course.

P.S. The *.kmz.txt needs to be renamed back to *.kmz (just remove the .txt)

 

[Searcaigh]

Davao and General Santos also offering good diving but the name of Mindanao probably discourage a lot potential visitors.
I am going to Romblon for the first time soon and the ferry is about 9hrs.

I have just returned recently from 3P resort at Romblon with two of my buddies, one a US National and the otters an Australian National.

With regards to Mindanao, you would need to double check your travel insurance, certain companies don't cover that area, and my Australian buddy who works for the Australian government is definitely not allowed to travel there.

Still to finish my trip report on 3P and Romblon diving, but in short, great food at 3P (surprisingly for the Philippines), amazing vis, lots of critters and nudis.

The quality of the guides that we had however was low, more in my Trip Report once I finish it.

 

[Centrals]

I never pay any attention on travel advice issued by hksar or others.
Several yrs ago, hksar gov issued black travel warning to Philippines because of the hostages fiasco. But I travelled there regardless and the flight was quite empty with much discount.