Scuba Diving
The Philippines is a multi-awarded dive destination, with unrivaled marine biodiversity and warm waters year-round. The underwater paradise of Puerto Galera caters to various interests and all skill levels. Explore over 30 world-class dive sites with Casalay Divers!
Diving in Puerto Galera
Underwater, Puerto Galera offers vibrant coral reefs which are bursting with color and teeming with marine life! Puerto Galera offers something for every diver. Schooling reef fish, including jacks, snappers, trigger fish, groupers, trevally, drummers and barracuda, set the scene against vibrant coral reefs and passing reef sharks. Turtles, moray eels, cephalopods and macro crustaceans are all found in abundance.
Diving is year round, with the water temperature at 26-30°C (78-86°F). Wet season starts in June until September, while the rest of the year is generally sunny and dry.
Check out the map below for a detailed description of each dive site.
The Verde Island Passage
The Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle, a region in the western Pacific Ocean that is home to the highest diversity of coral reefs in the world. It covers approximately 6 million square kilometers of ocean and is home to over 500 species of reef-building corals, 1,500 species of reef fish, and six of the world’s seven marine turtle species.
The center of the Coral Triangle is the Verde Island Passage, considered to be the “center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity” in the world. It is accessible from Puerto Galera with a 40-minute boat ride. A must on every diver’s list, the VIP is home to over 1,700 species of fish and 300 species of coral.
Apo Reef Natural Park
Apo Reef Natural Park in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro is the 2nd largest contiguous reef system in the world, and the largest in the Philippines! Explore a protected underwater wonderland 34 square kilometers wide, boasting over 385 fish species and 400 coral species.
Apo Reef is a haven for divers and snorkelers, offering encounters with reef sharks, whalesharks, rays, majestic sea turtles and dolphins. This protected area also encompasses three islands: Apo, Apo Menor, and Cayos del Bajo. Apo Island boasts a shallow lagoon, a vital nursery for marine life, while the islands offer pristine beaches for relaxation. It’s a must-visit for marine conservation enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
From Puerto Galera, Apo Reef can be reached via a chartered boat or land transfer to Sablayan.
An Underwater Paradise
For the photographers, the variety of marine life in Puerto Galera offers countless opportunities for macro photography, while its vibrant reefs and majestic wrecks make for stunning wide angle shots.
Why dive with us
Casalay Divers
Our dive facility features high-quality and professionally maintained BCDs, regulators and dive computers, as well as a variety of wetsuits for all divers. We provide all the necessary scuba diving equipment for all dives, including an on-site training pool for beginners.
Our experienced instructors will guide you through the fundamentals, building your skills and confidence before venturing into the open water.
Excellent location
Just a 5 to 10-minute boat ride away from over 30 spectacular dive sites–including world-class ones such as Canyons, The Giant Clams, and Kilima Steps–so you’ll spend more of your valuable holiday time underwater.
At Casalay you get the best of both worlds: accessibility of the dive sites and privacy in a secluded sanctuary.
Best for photographers
Immerse yourself in a world teeming with an astonishing array of delightful critters and captivating marine life.
Our house reef is a mesmerizing muck diving haven that beckons to all macro enthusiasts and underwater photographers. The best macro diving sites in Puerto Galera, Shipyard and Montani Bay, are right in our backyard.
Personalized service
We dive in small groups, with a ratio of 4 divers to a dive guide. Courses are done at a ratio of maximum 2 divers per instructor. The dive center can accommodate a maximum of 15 divers at a given time.
Highly Qualifed Team
With their wealth of experience and passion for diving, our team is committed to creating an unforgettable adventure as you discover the wonders of the underwater realms.
Allow us to introduce you to the most breathtaking reefs Puerto Galera has to offer, providing you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Rates for scuba diving and equipment rental can be found here. Contact us for dive promos and packages!
Dive Shop Features
- On-site dive shop and classroom
- One (1) Outrigger boat and (1) speedboat
- Compressor and Nitrox on-site
- One (1) training pool for courses
- DIN and INT 12L tanks
- Dive equipment rental
- Showers and changing room
- House reef and shore dive available
- Four (4) scheduled day dives in a day
- One (1) night dive
Learn to dive
We offer a full suite of PADI dive courses and packages tailored to your needs. Explore our range of recreational courses from beginner to dive master level
Beginner Courses
If you want to try scuba diving, but you’re not quite ready to take the plunge into a scuba certification course, we offer a half-day experience called Discover Scuba Diving in a pool, and Bubblemaker for kids.
It’s a quick and easy way to find out if you like scuba diving.Continuing Education
PADI Dive Instructors undergo rigorous training to ensure your scuba certification class is fun and safe.
Diving offers an escape from the pressures of daily life, access to an amazing world beneath the waves and the ability to affect positive ocean change.
Join us!
Specialty Courses
For certified divers who want to advance their skills or learn new skills, we offer a range of PADI specialty courses.
Dive Site Map
Click on each location tag to view the dive site description. Technical diving sites are not included in this map.
