Puerto Galera & Verde Island Passage – Philippines

Puerto Galera, on the northern coast of Oriental Mindoro, has dozens of dive sites within minutes of Sabang and the La Laguna beaches: small wrecks, muck and macro reefs, and the current-swept Escarceo Point sites (Hole in the Wall, the Canyons, Fish Bowl). The Verde Island Passage, a boat ride to the east between Mindoro and Batangas, adds a steep wall and pinnacles that are best left to advanced divers. Verde Island sits between the two provinces: the Passage itself is shared by Batangas and Mindoro waters.

Facts

• Best season: Diveable year-round; drier from late October into May. The wet season starts around June, with July-September the wettest and typhoons possible.
• Water temperature: About 25 °C in winter to about 30 °C in summer.
• Visibility: Typically 15-25 m, sometimes over 30 m.
• Currents: Varies by site: the Canyons, Hole in the Wall and Verde Island are strong; Manila Channel is mild.
• Getting there: Fly to Manila (MNL), taxi to Batangas Pier (about 2 hours), ferry to Puerto Galera (about 1 hour). Resorts usually arrange transfers.
• Permit & fees: No special dive permit found in the sources; ask your dive shop about local environmental or marine-park fees.
• Training level: Many easy sites for beginners; the Canyons, Fish Bowl and Verde Island need advanced experience, and several deep sites are technical.
• Hazards: Strong currents and downcurrents (Escarceo, Verde Island), typhoons in the wet season, heavy boat traffic in holidays.

Season

• Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
• Acceptable: Oct, Jun
• Poor: Jul, Aug, Sep
• Water temperature: 25–30 °C

Diveable all year; the wet season starts around June and July-September is wettest. Sources do not fully agree on the best months. Thresher sightings (Kilima Steps) cannot be tied to a reliable season.

Dive sites (13)

Sabang & La Laguna

• Alma Jane Wreck – 25–30 m, advanced
• Giant Clam – 6–18 m, beginner
• Kilima Steps – 5–25 m, intermediate
• Monkey Beach – 5–24 m, beginner
• Monkey Wreck – 18–45 m, advanced
• Sabang Point – 8–25 m, intermediate
• Sabang Wrecks – 6–22 m, beginner

Escarceo Point & Canyons

• Fish Bowl – 24–60 m, advanced
• Hole in the Wall – 10–20 m, intermediate
• The Canyons – 25–35 m, advanced
• West Escarceo – 5–25 m, intermediate

Verde Island Passage

• Verde Island Drop-off – 5–40 m, advanced
• Washing Machine (Verde Island) – 6–15 m, advanced

Operators (3)

• Capt'n Gregg's Dive Shop & Resort – dive_resort, Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera
• Asia Divers – dive_resort, Small La Laguna Beach (El Galleon Resort), Sabang, Puerto Galera
• Scandi Divers Resort – dive_resort, Big La Laguna Beach, Puerto Galera

Site positions are approximate estimates for orientation only; the published guides do not list coordinates. Never use them for navigation. Depths and levels differ between sources; confirm with your guide.