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More than 7,000 islands are to be found here , in a total of three major bodies of water : Celebes Sea , the south china sea and the Pacific ocean . In the Philippine waters, you'll find more than 2,000 species of fish and in excess of 500 species of coral. The Islands seem arranged as if the grand designer wanted to cram in the maximum amount of shoreline , and the underwater world abounds with reef dives, wall dives, and creatures ranging from frogfish to bumphead parrotfish and humphead wrasse. And wrecks? Some of the most pitched battles of world war ll were fought here, and sections of the bottom are now mute homage to long ago moments of sacrifice and valor.
The Philippines is the gateway to the Coral Triangle, the world's center of biodiversity. From the U.S.A. this translate into less time and money spent on long international flights to get many of the world's best dive sites. The 7,107 Philippines islands are a diverse mixtures of Asian, European and American cultures, making its people some of the world's warmest , friendliest, and most helpful who speak English fluently.Dive Visayas
Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental is a 45 -minute flight from Manila. The DUCOMI Pier is a most-memorable dive site pilings covered in spectacular soft corals and inhabited by so many critters-a sensory overload! This site has a myriad of sandy sites muck on other places featuring rare and fabulous critter, such as the flambouyant cuttlefish, red ghost pipefish, needle shrimp, frogfish in every color, mandarin fish and seahorses.
Apo Island
The island offers the best diving around. On the southeast, the sanctuary is a gradual slope with a shallow wall. Thousands of tiny fish cluster around the bushes of black corals in crevices, and there are lapu-lapus, surgeons, some beautiful stony corals, and a collection of various species of clownfishes and anemones. Apo island is accessible by a 35-minute boat ride from Zamboanguita.
Sumilon Island
Sumilon Island dive site has a depth of 18 to 40 meter with a moderate current. Sumilon Island is located at the southeast tip of Cebu. Sumilon Island is the first marine santuary that has been established in the Philippines. Sumilon has anexcellent visibility and a variety of exotic marine life can be seen here like a good variety of pelagics, including rays, tuna and jacks with whitetip and hammerhead sharks being occasional visitors. Whale shark can sometimes be seen in this site.
Moalboal Island
Panagsama Beach, also known as Moalboal, which is the small town to which it belongs, has become the favorite haunt of serious scuba divers.
Just 2 and a half hours drive over paved roads from Cebu City takes you to Moalboal town proper, home to approximately 15,000 cebuanos, mostly farmers and fishermen. A brief, bumpy ride over a dusty dirt road brings you to Panagsama Beach (population: approximately 320 households or 2,500 people), which one easily notices as being a spot designed primarily for the diving tourists. The ambience is laid-back and friendly. Strikingly absent are the hawkers and hustlers ussually pushing their wares and services in most tourist towns.
Located in the southwest of Cebu city with a couple of hours drive. Fan corals and gorgonians are everywhere as are sponges, crinoids and shells. Divers will also encounter Reef fishes like sweetlips, tangs, gobies and lionfish. You will also encounter large pelagics including shark, barracuda, tuna, manta rays and groupers.
Balicasag Island
It is situated 20km from Alona beach, one of the very best dives in the Visayas, and also one of the most popular. These days, it is normal to see over a dozen other dive boats originating from all across the Visayas, as well as liveaboard vessels that have increasingly taken to operating in the 'Visayan Safari Triangle'. Virtually anywhere you drop in is sure to be rewarding.
Sipalay
Sipalay is bordered to the south by Dumaguete City, the provincial capital. It is the location of the Dumaguete Airport, the only airport in Negros Oriental. Sipalay is also the location of the Twin Lakes eco-tourism site, composed of Lake Balinsasayaw and Lake Danao. Sipalay City is located on the west side of Negros. Negros is a big Island in the West-Visayas.
Siquijor Island
Siquijor is the smallest island province in the Central Visayas Region. It is geographically located midway between the Visayas and Mindanao islands. It is bounded on the Northwest by the islands of Cebu, on the Northeast by Bohol, on the East by Camiguin Island, on the South by mainland Mindanao and on the West by Negros Island. On its northern shore lays the Bohol strait, on its southeast shore, the Mindanao Sea. The island is 565 aerial kilometers (km).Siquijor's distinctive natural marine attractions range from dive sites, rich marine life and extensive mangroves to white sandy beaches and bays. Natural inland attractions include waterfalls, flowing springs, tree parks and caves - most of which are unexplored
Bais City
The city of Bais in Negros Oriental is known for its pristine shoreline and a splendid stretch of fine sand known as the Manjuyod White Sandbar. Only appearing during low tide, the waters around the Manjuyod White Sandbar is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Its mangrove forest is also perfect for trekking.
To catch the dolphins in action, one has to embark in a 45-minute boat ride to Tañon Strait, a narrow sea route that separates the islands of Negros and Cebu. This is the dolphins’ playground. The channel has been acknowledged as a marine sanctuary for its high concentration of dolphins and whales.Patience is a must when watching for dolphins on a hot sunny day. All these will be rewarded though of the exhilaration of seeing finally seeing the dolphins leaping out of the water.They surfaced most of the time by twos and by groups. Great numbers of them can be seen from March to October. Out of 23 species of marine mammals in the Philippine waters, nine have been sighted in the area of Bais Bay, Tañon Strait among them is the killer whale or orcinus orca.
