Visayas to Anilao

Malapascua

Malapascua is one of the few places in the world where divers can regularly see pelagic thresher sharks, which rise from deep water to be cleaned on the coral-topped Kimud Shoal. Nearby Gato Island has sea kraits, resting whitetip reef sharks and a tunnel running right through the island.

Romblon Island

Romblon’s best-known resident is the Romblon sashimi shrimp, found only in these waters, and the tiny Lembeh sea dragon lives at Anchor Bay. Coral-covered boulders are scattered across the seagrass at Bonbon, Logbon’s reef forms a landscape of small mountains and valleys, and groupers and stingrays are regulars at the submerged island in the Cobrador Marine Sanctuary.

Tablas Island

Tablas drops away steeply underwater, with sheer walls hung with soft corals and giant sea fans. Its best-known site is the Blue Hole, which drops from a shallow reef shelf to a wide archway opening out onto the wall. Nearby, Gorda Wall is decorated with barrel sponges, soft corals and feather stars, and whitetip reef sharks, rays and turtles sometimes pass by.

Verde Island

Verde Island diving is all about the current. At the Drop Off, a pinnacle rises from very deep water to break the surface, its walls hung with giant sea fans and so thick with anthias that you can struggle to see the reef, while jacks, tuna and mackerel patrol the blue.

Maricaban & Tingloy

South of Anilao, the waters around Maricaban and Tingloy are more exposed to current than the sheltered mainland sites. That keeps the soft corals open on their walls and coral gardens, where anthias crowd the reef and turtles graze in the shallows.