Destination Overview:
The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 square miles. The main island groups are Luzon, Mindoro, the Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao. The country’s capital is Manila, in Luzon.

Diving Details:
The Philippines is part of the “Coral Triangle”, the most biologically diverse underwater ecosystem on earth. Exceptional diving can be found in and around Puerto Galera (on the island of Mindoro), Dumaguete (on Negros Oriental in the Visayas), Boracay (the Visayas) and Anilao (Southern Luzon).

Insider Information:
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila is the premier gateway. The international airport and domestic airport are located in separate terminals. Cebu Mactan International Airport is another means of entering the country. It is located in the Visayas, closer to Boracay and Dumaguete.

The two official languages are Filipino and English. Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education.

The Philippines’ monetary unit is the Peso. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotel, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Master Card, and American Express are widely accepted.

The time zone of the Philippines is GMT +8 hours. The time difference is as follows: Los Angeles and San Francisco (+16 hours), New York (+13 hours), Chicago (+12 hours).

Dive Operators

Dive Sites

Hotels

image Lalaguna Villas Dive Resort & Spa
image Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
image Atlantis Dive Resort Dumaguete
image Atmosphere Resort & Spa
image Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa
image Calypso Resort
image Pinjalo Resort
image Solitude Acacia Resort
image Anilao Beach Club
image Crystal Blue Resort
image Eagle Point Resort

Restaurants

Non-Diving Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

The Philippines is an archipelago located in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. It is east of Vietnam, south of Taiwan and north of Borneo. It consists of 3 main islands groups, Luzon at the north, Visayas at the center, and Mindanao at the South.

It is located on the northeastern tip of the island of Mindoro Oriental, which is south of Manila. It is a 3 to 3 and a half hour drive from Manila International Airport to the Batangas Pier where you take a 45 minute boat ride to Puerto Galera.

It is located on the southeastern tip of the island of Negros Oriental in the Visayas. It is an hour and 15 minute domestic plane ride from Manila.

It is located on the northern tip of Panay Island, south of Mindoro Island in the Visayas. It is a one hour domestic plane ride from Manila.

It will all depend on the airline you are using. From Los Angeles, it can take about 16 hours and 20 minutes to get to Manila. There are also direct flights to Manila that can cut your travel to about 12-13 hours.

The unit of currency is the Philippine peso. Major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, and American Express are generally accepted in major establishments. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotel, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. The exchange can float between $1.00 = Php 42.00 – 45.00.

The national language is Tagalog and is spoken all over the Philippines. English is the second language and is also spoken nationwide.

Yes. Passport should be valid for at least 6 months. U.S. passport holders may enter the Philippines and stay for 21 days without a visa. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the nearest Philippines Consulate for information on entry formalities. If you wish to extend your stay while in Puerto Galera, this can easily be done for US$60.00 for an extra 38 day period.

For legal reasons, we cannot make official recommendations regarding shots or immunizations. Please consult with your physician or visit www.cdc.gov for more information.

220V. It is advised that you carry your own converter/adaptor.

Visitors are allowed to bring 2 checked bags at a maximum of 70 pounds each and 1 carry on of 20 pounds. The following are allowed duty-free: reasonable quantity of clothes, jewelry, and toiletries, 2 cartons of cigarettes (400 sticks of cigarettes in total) or 2 tins of tobacco, 2 bottles of wine or spirits of not more than 1 liter each.

Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Philippines Airlines and others offer full jet service the entire way. The international flights are on 747’s. Domestic flights within the Philippines are on 737’s.

The 747’s have a 3-6-3 configuration. The 737’s have a 3-3 configuration.

Puerto Galera El Galleon Dive Resort arranges a private pickup or can assist you on your public transfers.
Atlantis Puerto Galera meets you and directs you to the van that will provide your transfer to Puerto Galera.
Atlantis Dumaguete requires you to transfer from the international airport in Manila to the domestic airport to connect to your flight to Dumaguete. If you are flying Philippines Airlines all the way to Dumaguete, it has it’s own terminal and airport personnel will direct you to your domestic connecting flight. However, if you are coming in on other airlines, an Atlantis staff member will meet you and direct you to your transfer to the domestic airport for your connecting flight.
Pinjalo Villas and Calypso Divers can arrange boat transfers from the domestic airport.

Diving is all year round. Water temperature is between 22-24 C (72-75 F) during the months of December-February and 25-29 C (77-84 F) between March and November.
Puerto Galera – wrecks, drops, slopes, walls, caves, critters, nudibranchs, corals.
Dumaguete – coral gardens, drop offs, walls, coral mounds, pelagic, muck diving. Diving in Apo Island requires care during the full moon as the current can be strong and unpredictable.
Boracay – sign up for a Dive Safari for encounters with mantas and eagle rays, grey reefs and white tip sharks, and wall diving of soft and hard corals. The rest of the dives in Boracay offer pelagics, soft, stony, and table corals, gorgonians, walls, and slope dives for beginners and novices.

The water will be in the mid 70’s or low 80’s. We recommend a full 3 mm. However, divers that are used to cold weather and waters dive in a 3 mm shorty, or in their bathing suits with a rash guard.

Boat rides are on the Filipino outrigger boats called the “Bangka”. These are motorized boats with 2 lateral supports called outriggers extending from each side. They can hold between 8 and 12 people.
Puerto Galera – It takes about 15 minutes of boat travel to get to the dive sites. A day trip to Verde Island takes about 45 minutes.
Dumaguete – Most of the dive sites are a 10 minute boat ride away. A trip to Apo Island will take 45 minutes. A trip to Balicasag will take 2 hours.
Boracay – Dive sites can be between 10 minutes to an hour away.

Puerto Galera – Local dives start at 9am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm. Optional night dive is available for extra charge. For Verde Island, it’s 3 dives for the day.
Dumaguete – Local dives start at 9am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm. Optional night dive is available for extra charge. For Apo Island, it’s 3 dives for the day. Trips to Balicasag can be arranged at the resort.
Boracay – First dive starts between 8 and 9:30am. You then dive all day until 3-4pm. Most dive sites are 10-15 minutes away. Night dives are also offered and can be arranged at the resort.

Dive rental equipment, Dumaguete Marine Park Fees ($15 per dive day)
Airport terminal fees: For international travel, it is Php 550.00 (US$13.00). For domestic travel, Php 200.00 (US$5.00). Payable only in Philippine pesos.

E-tickets and vouchers are sent approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.