Diving Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera sits on the northern tip of Mindoro island in Oriental Mindoro province. UNESCO lists it as a Man and the Biosphere reserve, and describes the reserve as covering the northern tip of the island with the Verde Island Passage to the north. Coral reef conservation is recognised as one of the reserve's main tasks.

Verde Island Passage

The channel between Mindoro and Luzon is widely discussed in scientific literature as an area of exceptionally high marine shore-fish diversity within the Coral Triangle. It is a reason many divers combine Puerto Galera with trips to Verde Island.

Bases and bays

Sabang and White Beach are the best-known tourist areas, with the Philippine Department of Tourism's travel site describing White Beach as a main hub and listing nearby dive sites. Quieter bays lie further along the coast.

Puerto Galera is one of the closest sizeable dive areas to Manila, with a range of sites for different experience levels.

• Close to Manila: Typically a few hours by road and boat, which makes weekend trips possible.
• Variety: Reefs, walls, drift dives and wrecks are within reach of a single base.
• Protected setting: The surrounding area is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
• Verde Island Passage: Divers can combine local sites with trips to the passage.
• Conditions: Water is typically warm, in the high 20s Celsius for most of the year. Visibility commonly ranges from about 10 to 30 metres and varies with season.

The Philippine Department of Tourism's site mentions 40 or more dive sites around White Beach and Sabang, including canyons, wrecks and Verde Island.

• Sabang wrecks: Several small wrecks in moderate depth, used for training and wreck introductions.
• Canyons: Drift-prone sites where current can be strong.
• Verde Island: Reef and wall sites in the Verde Island Passage, reached by a longer boat ride.
• Coral gardens and shallow reefs: Calmer sites used for beginners and relaxed dives.

The reefs combine hard and soft corals with sandy slopes and walls, supporting both reef fish and small critters.

• Reef fish including anthias, butterflyfish, fusiliers and groupers.
• Macro life such as nudibranchs, seahorses, frogfish, mimic octopus and pipefish are regularly reported on sandy and rubble sites.
• Turtles are reported on some reefs.
• Wreck life on sunken vessels near Sabang includes schooling fish and invertebrates.

Sightings vary with season and time of day.

From Manila

• Manila (MNL): The main gateway. Most visitors travel by road to Batangas Pier, typically two to three hours depending on traffic, then take a boat to Puerto Galera, roughly an hour.
• Transfers: Many accommodations offer packaged transfers, including boat crossings.

Getting around

Tricycles and shared vehicles connect the town, Sabang and White Beach. Bays further out are reached by boat.

Official information

See the Philippine Department of Tourism's White Beach guide.

• Check typhoon season: Roughly July to October brings more storms and rough seas.
• Plan for currents: Follow guide briefings on drift sites and canyons.
• Protect the reef: The area is a biosphere reserve; do not touch coral or collect marine life.
• Bring a surface marker buoy: Useful for drift dives.
• Confirm local fees: Environmental fees may apply; ask locally.