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Diving in the Philippines: don’t forget Puerto Galera – the diversity of fish and other marine life is breathtaking

  • Puerto Galera was among the first spots in the Philippines developed for dive tourism, and places like Coron and Dumaguete have since become more trendy choices
  • Yet, from seahorses to turtles, the diverse marine life in this Unesco biosphere left our correspondent, a seasoned scuba diver, awestruck

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A shoal of lyretail anthias in waters near Puerto Galera in the Philippines. This diving location might not be as trendy as others in the country such as Coron and Camiguin, but for our correspondent, an experienced scuba diver, it trumps them all. Photo: Sarah Gillespie
Sarah Gillespie

Camiguin, Dumaguete and Coron may now be the trendy choices for divers heading to the Philippines, but an old favourite, Mindoro island’s Puerto Galera, with its clear water and wide biodiversity, still has great appeal.

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Mindoro was first mentioned in Chinese annals as Mai in 982AD. Traders from China, India, Sumatra and Java exchanged goods at the port in Muelle Bay, which was naturally sheltered and an ideal spot in which to repair ships.

When Spanish colonists discovered the island in 1570, they named the port Puerto Galera, or “port of galleons”.

Natural abundance – from Puerto Galera’s mangrove forests to its reefs – led to the area’s inscription as the Philippines’ first Unesco biosphere reserve, in 1977.

Moorish idol fish in the waters near Puerto Galera. Photo: Sarah Gillespie
Moorish idol fish in the waters near Puerto Galera. Photo: Sarah Gillespie
It then became one of the Philippines’ first destinations to be developed specifically for dive tourism. Visitor numbers exploded, largely because of its proximity to Manila.
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A two-hour minibus ride from the Philippine capital is Batangas, from where I take a 30-minute water taxi to Puerto Galera.

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