Puerto Galera – Verde Island (Mindoro) – Philippines Dive Region

About Puerto Galera – Verde Island (Mindoro)

Puerto Galera and Verde Island form one of the Philippines' most diverse and accessible diving regions, located on the northern tip of Mindoro Island just three hours from Manila by road and ferry. The region is centered on the Verde Island Passage, recognized as the center of marine shorefish biodiversity on Earth with over 400 coral species and 1,800 fish species recorded. Sabang Wrecks provide excellent shallow wreck diving while the legendary Canyons drift dive delivers world-class adrenaline with strong currents carrying divers past swirling schools of trevally, barracuda, and eagle rays. Verde Island Drop-off is considered one of the Philippines' premier walls with massive pelagics including tuna, giant groupers, and seasonal hammerheads. The Manila Channel offers spectacular drift diving through the strait between Mindoro and Batangas while Shark Cave delivers reliable nurse shark and whitetip reef shark encounters. With excellent infrastructure, numerous PADI dive centers, and the famous Alma Jane wreck, Puerto Galera serves both beginners and advanced divers exceptionally well.

Highlights

• ✓The Canyons is a world-class drift dive with strong currents, swirling trevally, barracuda, eagle rays, and whitetip sharks
• ✓Verde Island Drop-off delivers massive pelagic encounters with tuna, giant groupers, dolphins, and seasonal hammerheads
• ✓Sabang Wrecks offer three scuttled vessels at 5 to 20 metres with abundant frogfish, nudibranchs, and macro life
• ✓Alma Jane Wreck is a large cargo vessel sunk in 2003 with dense marine growth and penetrable cargo holds at 20 to 30 metres
• ✓Shark Cave provides reliable nurse shark and whitetip reef shark encounters in a spectacular underwater cavern setting

Getting There

Accessible via 3-hour combined road and ferry transfer from Manila. Bus or van to Batangas City port, then 1-hour ferry to Puerto Galera. Dive boats and bangka outriggers provide site access.