Liveaboards in the Philippines

Big La Laguna is a beach community situated on the western edge of the Sabang Peninsula, a popular dive region on Mindoro Island, Philippines. While the area is widely known as Puerto Galera, Big La Laguna provides a quieter, more spacious alternative to the bustling Sabang Beach, yet remains within a 15-minute walk of its amenities. It serves as a comfortable base for exploring the rich underwater landscape of the Coral Triangle, a global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Dive sites around Big La Laguna feature a variety of topographies, including shallow coral gardens, exciting current dives, sheer walls, and muck dive areas. The Verde Island Passage, a deep channel separating Mindoro from Luzon, flushes these waters with strong currents, contributing to excellent visibility and a dynamic marine environment. Depths range from shallow coral formations suitable for beginners to deeper sites for advanced and technical divers. This region boasts an extraordinary array of marine life, benefiting from its location within the Coral Triangle, which hosts 76% of known coral species and over 3,000 reef fish species. Divers can frequently encounter an abundance of colorful tropical fish, healthy hard and soft corals, feather stars, and various macro critters. Sea turtles are also common sightings. The best diving conditions, with calm seas and optimal visibility, typically occur from April to September, though diving is possible year-round. Diving from Big La Laguna is generally done via local 'banca' outrigger boats, with many of the 30 spectacular dive sites accessible within 20 minutes. Dive centers in the area cater to all skill levels, from open water to technical divers, emphasizing safety and local expertise due to potentially strong currents. The focus is on experiencing the rich marine environment that has been protected as a marine sanctuary for decades.

The Olympia Maru is a prominent Japanese cargo ship wreck from World War II, located within Coron Bay, Philippines. Sunk during a U.S. air raid in 1944, it now rests as an artificial reef, offering a compelling structure-first wreck profile for divers. This site is distinguished by its accessible depth and the opportunities it presents for both penetration and exploring external features. The wreck lies at depths up to 24 meters, with parts of the structure accessible from around 17 meters. It is known for its relatively intact hull, which has become a substrate for coral growth and a habitat for various marine species. Conditions typically feature light currents and moderate visibility, making it suitable for divers with good buoyancy control and an interest in wreck exploration. While specific seasonal marine life is not detailed, the wreck commonly hosts lionfish, barracuda, moray eels, crabs, and octopuses. Green turtles and eagle rays are also reported. The site's diverse ecosystem contributes to its appeal beyond just the historical artifact. Diving the Olympia Maru rewards confident divers who are proficient in navigation and buoyancy in overhead environments. It is typically accessed by boat from Coron, and dive planning should emphasize conservative gas management and buddy team protocols due to the nature of wreck diving. The site can be quite busy, indicating its popularity among the Coron wrecks.

Manta Bowl is a renowned submerged seamount located in the Ticao Pass, off the northern coast of Ticao Island in Masbate, Philippines. This unique underwater formation rises dramatically from depths exceeding 200 meters, with its plateau crest typically found between 14 and 24 meters, and slopes extending beyond 50 meters. Its strategic position within a nutrient-rich strait creates a vibrant ecosystem that acts as a magnet for a diverse array of marine life, particularly large pelagics. The site is celebrated for its thriving cleaning stations, where numerous Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) and larger Giant Oceanic Manta Rays (Mobula birostris) are regularly serviced by cleaner wrasse species. Beyond the iconic mantas, divers frequently encounter other significant pelagic species, including Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus), especially from November to June, and various sharks such as Thresher, Hammerhead, Whitetip Reef, and Blacktip Reef sharks. Diving conditions at Manta Bowl are characterized by strong tidal currents, often exceeding 3 knots, and frequent upwelling and downwelling, necessitating advanced drift diving techniques. Visibility can be excellent, sometimes surpassing 30 meters, while water temperatures consistently range from 26°C to 30°C. Due to these challenging conditions and the typical depth profiles, an Advanced Open Water certification is required, ensuring divers are prepared for the dynamic environment.

Balinghai Wall is a notable dive site located on the northwest side of Boracay, known for its accessible wall and coral slope formations. Situated near Punta Bunga and Yapak, this site is easily reached by boat from Boracay's main dive areas. Its topography features a wall that starts in the shallow single digits and slopes down to approximately 24 meters, characterized by healthy corals and reef balls. The dive site is particularly celebrated for its diverse marine life thriving within these coral gardens and along the wall. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of reef fish and other creatures that find refuge in the abundant coral. The calm conditions and typically good visibility make Balinghai Wall an excellent spot for leisurely multi-level exploration and underwater photography. While considered beginner-friendly by some, its wall diving aspect with depths reaching 24 meters means it is also well-suited for Advanced Open Water certified divers. The mild currents enhance the experience, allowing divers to fully appreciate the unique underwater scenery and its inhabitants without excessive effort. This site provides a balanced diving experience, combining stunning visuals with manageable conditions for a wide range of skill levels.