Dive Puerto Galera: Tourism, Sabang Resorts, Travel Packages

PEOPLE FIRST started coming to Puerto Galera to dive over fifteen years ago. At first, they had to carry their own equipment, including the compressor and tanks. Now this island paradise is a diver’s destination, a competitive area with twenty seven dive shops within a short distance to each other.

Puerto Galera is a year-round diving destination, unlike other areas in the Philippines. The reason for this is because of its geographical location. It is protected from typhoons and ocean swells by nearby islets and mountains. There is, however, the high season (mid-December to end of May) and the low season, with its rain and occasional windy period. If you’re thinking of coming to Puerto Galera during this time, don’t be put off, as some of the best visibility is found during the low season.

Puerto Galera became famous with the discovery of an old Chinese trading boat carrying blue and white porcelain cups, plates and Dragon jars. These were found off a popular dive site called the Manila Channel, around the same time a Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senora de la Vida which sank in 1862, was discovered on nearby Verde Island. The galleon became a favorite dive site until the greed of man came to rape and eventually destroy most of what was there. Today there are still the odd pieces of blue and white that mark the spot of the ill-fated galleon.

The dive sites, all known for their wonderful colors and plentiful fish like are only 10 to 15 minute away from the dive centers. Being close to the dive sites means you can do a dive in the morning and have the rest of the day to yourself, or take it easy between dives without having to walk around on a crowded dive boat. The dive sites themselves vary some of the popular ones are barely 10 minutes away from Sabang Beach. Among the list is the Canyons, so called for its deep trenches where reef shark, and school of Tuna, Barracuda, Garuopa and other large deep water fish are commonly seen. The dive begins at the well-known Hole in the Wall at 12 meters and descends to the Canyons at 27 meters. The place offers a spectacular underwater panorama with its variety of hard and soft corals, a kaleidoscope of fish life, large fan corals sea pens, sea wipes.

Another popular dive site near the Canyons is the Shark Caves, where you can frequently see white tip reef sharks dozing in and around overhangs.

Puerto Galera is famous for its magnificent drift diving, The Kilimar Drift takes you from Sinandigan Point along a beautiful wall at about 230 meters to the Shark Caves at 24 meters and then all the way to the Canyons. Current of up to 6 knots have been recorded in this area. Definitely a dive for the experienced and should only be done with a local guide. The Verde Island Drop Off starts at a wall above water and goes on to seemingly unlimited depths. The Coral Gardens near the Manila Channel, the Pink Wall Sabang Point and West Escarceo are habitats to hundreds of species of corals almost equal to what can be found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. All the above sites are around 9 to 18 meters, great for beginners.

The dive sites near White Beach are also challenging and well worth taking a few days to explore.

Talipanan Point is best undertaken by advanced divers, the reef is situated several hundred meters offshore, and it is deep. The top is around 17 meters, sloping away to 30 meters and then dropping off steeply 10 to 116 meters. White tip sharks are commonly seen, as are Napoleon wrasse. Currents are sometimes strong here, and the visibility can be a little patchy, but the corals are plentiful, varied, healthy and big. Shoals of reef fish are always visible, and you will need more than one dive to explore the site. Tamaraw has mainly dandy bottom with four big rocks on it at around 18 meters. Stingrays are frequently seen, and there are hard and soft corals all around. Bayanan is a coral garden similar to those around the Manila Channel close to Muelle Bay. Maximum depth here is 17 meters, making it an ideal spot for training or a second dive.

The island has a good reputation for dive education. If you are about to learn to dive of just wish to try of maybe improve your diving skill by doing advance training in any to the fields such as drift diving night, deep, search and recovery, equipment specially, underwater navigation, or go to become a professional divemaster, you will find that most of the dive centers in Puerto Galera will be able to fulfill your educational needs. All instructors are trained professionals who take competent charge of their students, and the lessons are distinguished by a relax atmosphere. The dive centers teach under internationally recognized organizations such as P.A.D.I. and B.S.A.C.

There are wonderful areas in the world to dive, Puerto Galera is just one of them. Beautiful people, lovely beaches, crystal clear waters and entertainment for everyone. Dive with a smile. (Thanks to Allan Nash of Asia Divers for the Info)