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Lago de Oro- Calatagan
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Anilao-Mabini, south of Batangas City, is visited year round by local & expatriate divers residing in Manila, as well as from all parts of the workd.   It boasts of more than 30 dive spots with attractive rich coral reefs, abounding with diverse sea life and clear visibility through most of the year.  And just fronting the resort are two favorite dive spots.  No need to rent a boat,   just jump off the pier, dive 60 feet down,  and you are there!!!

Culebra Island (Bonito) and Mabalahibong Manok Island (Marine Sanctuaries). Strong currents make it necessary to hunt for quiet patches of water, which can usually be found on the lee side of one of these islands at most times of the day. Both islands are surrounded by shallow ledges at about 15-25 feet, with a rich supply of both soft and hard corals and plenty of reef fish. Between these two islands there is an underwater hotspring, which is a natural wonder. There is also a fish feeding area and a good spot for viewing sharks around this point. Good for big-game fishing and macro photography.

Major dive sites are Balayan Bay and Nasugbu.   Aside from being a popular destination for beach lovers, Batangas also possesses some of the best dive sites in the Philippines. Its proximity to Manila, about two and half-hours by car, has made the province the diving center of Luzon. Its coastline is dotted with numerous dive camps and resorts.

Ligpo Island. Corals of different types and huge gorgonians bound in the area. The location is on the West Side of the island.
 
Cathedral Marine Park Sanctuary. Approximately 60-90 feet south of Bagalangit Point lies a giant rock formation that looks like a roofless underwater amphitheater. Originally barren, the Cathedral has been seeded with corals from other sites. Throngs of fish eagerly gather around divers, waiting to be fed. Moorish idols and parrotfish abound. No need to go deeper than 90 feet since the coral growth tapers off before this depth.

Caban Cove. This dive site is fairly sheltered. There are exotic coral formations, plenty of small tropical fish and an interesting small drop-off that goes down in a graduated "steps". This is a good choice for shallow dives.
 
Layag-Layag Reef. Extensive coral formation on a shallow, steep slope. On the south side of this open-water area, a ledge drops to about 90 feet from the surface. Big jacks swim to within a few feet of the surface, although the larger fish tend to be somewhat timid.

Sombrero Island . On the surface, this island resembles a hat underwater, so its profile makes the name Sombrero quite appropriate. The rim of the "hat" stretches a long way underwater from north to south. Gorgonians, black coral shells, turtles, rays, grunts, jacks, snappers, and a great variety of soft corals are abundant. Currents are normally strong during the full moon. Diving is fairly shallow on the rim down to about 50 feet in certain area.

Sepok. The rim of the drop-off west of Sepok Point and running southwest is a very good dive site with a wide variety of marine lives. The drop-off is at about 50 feet.

Mapating Rock (Shark Cave). This open reef is for experienced divers only and its exploration may require help from local guides. The rock itself is surrounded by a fairly shallow area at about 35 feet, ending in a series of drop-offs running down to about 60 feet or more.

Batalan. This area breaks the surface and then drops down to about 80 feet. This is a marvelous area for both wide-angle and macro-photography because of the abundant and varied coral formations and fish life.

Merriel´s Rock. There are numerous types of coral formations enough to fascinate even a marine biologist.

Papaya Point. There is a drop-off by a wide variety of coral and inhabited by plenty of small reef fish.

Verde Island. Strong currents sweep through this area, which extends from just south of the island to the opposite side. Drop-offs are interspersed with steep slopes with a ledge at 50 feet off Pinnacle Rock. Plenty of corals, both soft and hard and numerous reefs fish. Pelagic fish also visit this area. The more popular dive sites are on the western and eastern side between San Agapito and San Augustan. The drop-off features excellent visibility, beautiful fish, large gorgonians, and plenty of soft coral. The two most popular dive sites here are the Drop-off (o-300 ft) and the Spanish galleon that ran around in 1620.

Maricaban / Tingloy. There is a cave at 125 ft., accessed by a tunnel, which makes for a challenging adventure. There are excellent coral formations, abundant pelagic fish and other outstanding photographic opportunities.

Balahibong Manok Island. This dive site is 50-70 feet with a flat bottom and moderate to severe current. The major attraction is a hot spring in a hollow from 60-70 feet. Around this area are excellent coral formation.

The spots listed below are all in Nasugbu, Batangas
Check out Maya Maya Beach resort for their dive packages.

Twin Islands
Pink Wall: Vertical wall dive with soft pink corals ranging from 13m to 27m. The dive starts with boulders and small caves populated by houndsharks, small tropicals, sea anemony & clown fish. Further into the dive pelagics, gatring and waistcoat triggerfish will be sighted. Dive ends with emperor angelfish.
Coral Cove: This is a beginner's dive with coral heads rising from a sandy bottom. Average dive depth is 12m with a variety of small tropicals and cutterfish.

Twin East: Covered with whip corals the bottom soon drops down over a wall to 70’, with many small holes and crevasses this is an ideal divesite to take a flashlight on, sometimes sleeping nocturnal black and white catsharks are found under ledges. The wall drops down further before joining up with coral garden.

South East Reef: A newly discovered area covered in coral and fish, with a lot more exploration this could turn out to be an exceptional divesite. Depth 30 - 50’.

Awash Reef
A low reff between Twin islands and mainland. Coral is plentiful the fish life is restricted to small but plentiful tropicals. A good begginers dive.

Fuego Point
A drift dive over boulder strewn bottom venturing onto a wall with a quite spectacular well stocked aquarium window. Three different sharks species have been reported by a number of divers.

Lo-oc Bay - Medio Island - Hamilo Cove from Maya-Maya
Shark Cave
As the name suggests, a resident 6 white tip reef shark lives amongst all manor of life including mermaids purses, continuously hatching. The cave has two entrances, the vertical at 13m exiting at 26m. A most spectacular dive for experienced divers.

Kinabagbagan Bay
A small cave lined bay with the remains of an actor well imbedded into rock which is the last evidence of a Galleon wreck. Several artifacts have been recovered over the years, so whilst exploring the corals and fish life, one always hopes for a "Discovery".

Cowrie Bay
This dive starts at 5m and proceeds through a tunnel into a cavern well inside the island. Whilst spectacular, the dive is very safe as there is only one entrance with an obvious glow for exiting. Cowrie shells and unique fish species are located in the cave making this a most satisfying dive.

Hamilo Cove Wreck
A Japanese freighter was sunk here during the liberation of the Philippines by US forces in 1945, a silty low visibility dive 5 -30’ at a depth of between 25-40’. Many schools of large Batfish live here along with Stonefish and large Lion Fish.

The Pinnacles and Island
Further north these divesites are still being explored with encouraging results, good diving from 50’ down to 110’, many different fish seen here in the underwater valleys that cover the area.

Fortune Island
It is 6.5 miles off the coast and supports a small privately owned resort. The name was derived from the fortunes pirates had hidden in its many caves. In 1994 a fully laden Spanish Galleon was located North-East of Fortune at 70m. It surrendered many artifacts, including Ming vases to the museum. There are five dive locations ranging from cave dives to the remains of a butch freigther at 18m. These are some of the nicest dives in the area and well worth the 30 minutes journey.

The Blue Holes are often described as the most interesting piece of underwater architecture ever seen, three large holes in the coral leading into an open topped cavern, white-tip reef sharks are often seen by the first diver down only to hide as the others follow, crystal clear water with visibility reaching 300’ on a good day.

Simo Banks a 45 minutes boat trip to 13 miles off the coast where there is located deep reef with an abundance of large pelagic and reef fish combined with spectacular hard and soft corals. Depth ranges from 27m to 42m and the "drop-off" is perhaps equal to any dive in the Philippines. An experienced divers delight!!

Limbones Island at 7 miles to our North, it is the farthest coastal distance we travel, but well worth the journey as the fish have formed a compact "haven" within a variation of pristine soft and hard corals.

Check out our list of Dive Resorts