Question Where to Dive in the Philippines That's NOT Focused on Muck Diving

[living4experiences]

I'm diving at El Galleon in Puerto Galera in March 2025 and would like to continue from there and dive somewhere else in the Philippines that is not a muck-centric location. I don't mind doing a muck dive on occasion, but I don't want to go somewhere that that's the focus of the diving. Any recommendations for locations and resorts? A/C is a requirement.

Thanks!

 

[bluesails]

I second Bohol (Balicasag/Pamilacan/Cabilao) as well as Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte! Of the two, Sogod Bay is going to be the quieter, more remote-feeling untouched location. Bohol will have more food options and land-based stuff for any weather concerns. Both are great.

 

[cetacean]

Anilao a muck focussed dive area...really? Only a few sites are mud sites. Most being coral full of life
I would say that in Subic, with a few exceptions, the wrecks are all in the mud

I don't think you understand what muck diving really is... it's not (only) diving on mucky substrate, it's also searching for small(er) critters, which is absolutely what Anilao is. Anilao is interesting in part because you're searching for critters on white sand, coral, etc .Other than Sombrero, all the sites are much more about the small critrers, not big schools of fish and large reef scenes.

 

[cetacean]

@living4experiences

This isn't even a question: if you are looking for clear water, large animal life (including big schools of fish, mantas, sharks, and the occasional whale sharks) it's Tubbataha (which can only be done by liveaboard). March is a good time - there are boats available for 2025.

Everythng else being suggested is a step down from this...

 

[Tom_Ivan]

Or check out the WW2 wrecks...

 

[clownfishsydney]

Personally I think whoever invented the term "muck diving" as it is used now was stupid. To me, that means the visibility is crap and the only things to be seen are "muck", that is, rubbish. Even stupider, are dive operations that call their diving "muck".

It downgrades what is a brilliant dive experience to a term that does not truly represent what the diving represents. I prefer the term "macro diving".

That being said, Komodo liveaboard trips certain have more than macro diving.

 

[rmorgan]

Personally I think whoever invented the term "muck diving" as it is used now was stupid. To me, that means the visibility is crap and the only things to be seen are "muck", that is, rubbish. Even stupider, are dive operations that call their diving "muck".

“Award-winning dive pioneer — and inventor of the term “muck diving” — Bob Halstead passed away in December 2018. Halstead, 74, was a prolific author and underwater photographer and much-loved character. He led many divers on trips to his beloved Papua New Guinea over the years.’

Per the Wiki, “He has made significant contributions to the sport of scuba diving in a multitude of capacities: photographer, author of eight diving books, early innovator in the development of dive tourism, pioneer in the dive liveaboardindustry, diving instructor and educator, marine-life explorer and influential diving industry commentator. An ardent diver since 1968, Halstead has over 10,000 logged dives.”

 

[living4experiences]

Thanks for all the input. My personal definition of muck diving is a dive with your head in the sand looking for critters. I have aging eyes and I use a magnifying glass to see the super small stuff. For me, that's not enjoyable for the whole dive. I did my first "muck" dive in Raja Ampat last year. It was at night. The entire dive was looking in the sand, and there was no option to swim over to the reef because there was no reef. I wouldn't have been able to find much if it hadn't been for the guide pointing things out. When you have a torch, a camera, and a magnifying glass, it's a balancing act. I mostly admired and not photographed the things that required the magnifying glass. Or sometimes I'd take the photo without the magnifying glass and hope for the best because my eyes couldn't see the critter but the camera could.

For me, macro diving is finding the smaller critters throughout the reef, in the coral, on the rocks, in the sand. In my mind, macro diving is a part of diving. I enjoy looking at all things, big and small. Wrecks are not my favorite, but the occasional reef and wreck dive is fine.

I've poked around here and find very few trip reports about Tubbataha. However, Undercurrent has several postings from the 2023 and 2024 season, and it's not all glowing reviews, both for the liveaboard experience and the diving.

Reviews of Malapascua reflect the area is overrun with too many boats and divers. And it's a PITA to get there. I don't structure a dive trip around a single species (thresher sharks) because that sets you up for disappointment, and I like the variety of reef diving.

As I get older, I'm looking for epic diving to make the travel, time, and expense worth it. I rarely go to the same location twice because there's so much to explore and so little time left (for the dying reefs and my tolerance for getting across the globe).

 

[rmorgan]

Have you looked at Romblon?

 

[dirtfarmer]

Have you looked at Romblon?

Romblon is very macro focused. There are some nice reefs but the diving style is very macro focused.

 

[cetacean]

Thanks for all the input. My personal definition of muck diving is a dive with your head in the sand looking for critters. I have aging eyes and I use a magnifying glass to see the super small stuff. For me, that's not enjoyable for the whole dive. I did my first "muck" dive in Raja Ampat last year. It was at night. The entire dive was looking in the sand, and there was no option to swim over to the reef because there was no reef. I wouldn't have been able to find much if it hadn't been for the guide pointing things out. When you have a torch, a camera, and a magnifying glass, it's a balancing act. I mostly admired and not photographed the things that required the magnifying glass. Or sometimes I'd take the photo without the magnifying glass and hope for the best because my eyes couldn't see the critter but the camera could.

For me, macro diving is finding the smaller critters throughout the reef, in the coral, on the rocks, in the sand. In my mind, macro diving is a part of diving. I enjoy looking at all things, big and small. Wrecks are not my favorite, but the occasional reef and wreck dive is fine.

I've poked around here and find very few trip reports about Tubbataha. However, Undercurrent has several postings from the 2023 and 2024 season, and it's not all glowing reviews, both for the liveaboard experience and the diving.

Reviews of Malapascua reflect the area is overrun with too many boats and divers. And it's a PITA to get there. I don't structure a dive trip around a single species (thresher sharks) because that sets you up for disappointment, and I like the variety of reef diving.

As I get older, I'm looking for epic diving to make the travel, time, and expense worth it. I rarely go to the same location twice because there's so much to explore and so little time left (for the dying reefs and my tolerance for getting across the globe).

Tubbataha is a top 10 dive location. Weather can make it a tough trip (on occasion, nearer the shoulder season),... There are now several boats that dive the area - if you are seeing poor reviews, you should consider much of this could be the boat (and poorly trained and less experienced dive staff).

If you aren't interested, that's fine. I would prefer to leave it as a less dived, less visitied location. It's unique across SE Asia.