Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera in the province of Oriental Mindoro is the top diving destination of the Philippines. This municipality with a population of around 22,000 is well known for it’s numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots. The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the best coral reef diving in Asia. There are numerous wreck site for divers to explore including a WWII Japanese patrol boat. There are at least 30 dive sites in the area with a highly diverse marine life.
The two main tourist beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach with Sabang beach being the most popular with foreign tourists and White Beach being more popular with local travelers. In the last few years White Beach has seen a great push in development with restaurants and hotels increasingly moving towards the beach.
The town of Puerto Galera has few attractions other than the few cafes and bistros and a large catholic church. There is a nine hole golf course in the high parts of the area with spectacular views of White Beach, Puerto Galera’s natural harbor, and the Verde Island Passage. Puerto Galera is about three and a half hours away from Manila by bus to Batangas City and then by boat. For more information on Puerto Galera check out the sites below after watching a cool video on diving there.
