With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is known for its soft ivory sands and lush tropical landscapes. But beneath the water's surface, its dazzling dive sites steal the show. From thriving coral reefs and diverse marine life to world-class muck diving and historic shipwrecks, there's something for every diver. Keen to learn more? Read on for our carefully curated list of the best islands in the Philippines for diving…

Turtle in water

Apo Island

If it's colourful corals and creatures you're after, head to Apo Island. Just a 40-minute boat ride from Dumaguete's diving resorts, you'll discover bustling coral ecosystems, considered some of the healthiest in the Philippines. Spot schools of barracuda and tuna dash through the water and witness sea turtles and reef sharks cruise through the currents. Don't miss a trip to Coconut Point for an exhilarating drift dive over the sloping coral reef, where bumphead parrotfish and marbled groupers often make an appearance.

Bohol Island boat

Bohol

Forget underwater overcrowding; Anda promises off-the-beaten-path diving on Bohol Island's eastern shoreline. Its sandy muck dive sites and untouched coral gardens provide a peaceful alternative to Bohol's busier spots, showcasing pygmy seahorses, dragon sea moths, nudibranchs and napoleon snake eels. More than just a diving destination, Anda also boasts salt-white sands and cascading waterfalls waiting to be explored.

Divers on the side of a boat

Malapascua

Malapascua is one of the best islands in the Philippines for diving with thresher sharks. Despite their menacing name, these sharks are safe to swim with - just watch out for their whip-like tails. Want the best chance of spotting them? Skip the early morning coffee and wake up with a visit to Monad Shoal (also known as Shark Point) and Kimud Shoal for sunrise sightings of thresher sharks. These offshore reefs act as cleaning stations, attracting the sharks for daily grooming from the resident fish. With these dive sites reaching depths of up to 40 metres, we recommend having Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications.

Shipwreck diving, the Philippines

Coron

Coron is one of the best islands in the Philippines for wreck diving. Sitting pretty in the Calamian Archipelago, north of Palawan Island, Coron Bay was once a harbour for Japanese warships during World War II. Today, you can dive among the sunken shipwrecks from 1944, which have been transformed into vibrant reef systems and are home to scorpionfish, nudibranchs and octopuses. For beginner-friendly diving, explore the Okikawa Maru shipwreck - at 160 metres, it's the largest in Coron.

Boat on beach in the Philippines

Anilao

Anilao, on the south-west shore of Luzon Island, is the best place for up-close underwater encounters. Just three hours south of Manila, this protected marine sanctuary is a muck-diving hotspot. Teeming with tiny critters, life is in the detail at Secret Bay (also known as Manit Muck), where you can spot pipefish, frogfish and bobbit worms. Tired of squinting? Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles and manta rays (between December and May) as they glide by.

Sea slugs underwater

Tubbataha Reef

Our roundup wouldn't be complete without mentioning the Tubbataha Reef. Smack bang in the middle of the Sulu Sea, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers top tier diving. With over 600 species of fish, more than 300 varieties of coral, 13 types of dolphins and whales and 11 species of sharks, to say it's biodiverse is an understatement. Due to its remote location, the Tubbataha Reef can only be reached by liveaboard and is open exclusively between March and June - so it's best to book a couple of years in advance.