Top Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Locations in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
1. Manila Ocean Park
An aquarium and oceanarium in the heart of Manila. Offers an immersive underwater world experience, including a shark & ray habitat and sea lion shows.
- Underwater World Experience: Provides a unique opportunity to see various marine life up close without needing scuba gear.
- Educational Activities: Offers educational programs about marine ecosystems and conservation.
- Accessibility: Located within the city, easily accessible for travelers.
2. Rizal Park Aquarium
A small but educational aquarium situated in Rizal Park. It features a variety of fish and sea creatures from the Philippines.
- Educational Focus: Emphasizes on the importance of marine life conservation.
- Affordability: Offers budget-friendly admission prices for visitors.
- City Center Location: Located in the heart of Manila, making it easily accessible for travelers.
3. Aquarium Blu
An aquatic wonderland located at the Mall of Asia. It showcases various marine life in dynamic environments like a jellyfish exhibit and a touch pool.
- Interactive Experiences: Allows visitors to interact with some marine species in a controlled environment.
- Shopping and Dining Combination: Connected to the Mall of Asia for shopping and dining options.
- Sizeable Exhibits: Features large aquariums with a variety of marine life for visitors to explore.
4. Starfish Island
A small island near Subic Bay offering opportunities for snorkeling and swimming with starfish.
- Unique Starfish Encounters: Provides a rare opportunity to swim with starfish in their natural habitat.
- Accessible from Manila: Easily reachable by boat from the mainland, typically as part of a tour package.
- Beach and Snorkeling Activities: Offers beach activities, snorkeling, and underwater exploration opportunities.
5. Verde Island Passage
A popular diving spot located off the coast of Batangas. Known for its rich biodiversity and abundance of marine life.
- Rich Biodiversity: Home to a wide variety of marine species, including turtles, sharks, and large schools of fish.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by boat, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
6. Anilao
A coastal town in Batangas known for its world-class scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities.
- World-Class Diving Sites: Home to numerous dive sites with diverse marine life and underwater landscapes.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by land and sea, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
7. Coral Garden, Batangas
A popular diving spot in Anilao, known for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life.
- Vibrant Coral Reefs: Offers a colorful underwater landscape teeming with marine life.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by land and sea, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
8. Capas Reef
A diving site located off the coast of Zambales, known for its large schools of fish and colorful coral reefs.
- Large Schools of Fish: Offers a breathtaking experience with schools of fish swirling around divers.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by boat, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
9. Lucas Point
A diving site in Anilao known for its macro marine life and underwater photography opportunities.
- Macro Marine Life: Offers close-up encounters with small, intricate marine creatures.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by land and sea, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
10. Mainit Hot Spring Island
A small island near Luzon with warm springs and opportunities for snorkeling.
- Warm Water Springs: Offers warm water pools for relaxation after snorkeling.
- Snorkeling Opportunities: Provides opportunities to explore underwater marine life.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by boat, typically as part of a tour package from Manila.
11. Talisay Marine Sanctuary
A marine sanctuary in Palawan known for its diverse coral reefs and abundance of marine life.
- Diverse Coral Reefs: Offers a vibrant underwater landscape with various coral species.
- Beginner to Advanced Diving Levels: Suited for both beginners and advanced divers due to its varied dive sites.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by air travel from Manila, followed by boat transfers.
12. Honda Bay
A popular tourist destination in Palawan offering snorkeling and island-hopping tours.
- Island-Hopping Tours: Allows visitors to explore multiple islands in one trip.
- Snorkeling Opportunities: Provides opportunities to snorkel in clear, shallow waters teeming with marine life.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by air travel from Manila, followed by boat transfers.
13. Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary
An island sanctuary in Palawan housing endangered species like the Calamian deer and the Philippine crocodile.
- Endangered Species Conservation: Supports the conservation of endangered species found only in the Philippines.
- Unique Wildlife Encounters: Offers unique opportunities to see and learn about various endangered wildlife species.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by air travel from Manila, followed by boat transfers.
14. Apo Reef Natural Park
One of the largest coral reef systems in the Philippines located off the coast of Occidental Mindoro.
- Large Coral Reef System: Offers a vast underwater landscape with diverse marine life.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by air travel from Manila, followed by boat transfers.
15. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best dive sites in the Philippines, located in the Sulu Sea.
- World-Class Diving Sites: Offers breathtaking underwater landscapes with diverse marine life.
- Advanced Diving Skills Required: Requires advanced diving skills due to strong currents and deeper waters.
- Accessible from Sampaloc: Accessible by air travel from Manila, followed by boat transfers.