The Philippines is a Snorkel Lovers Paradise – Here Are the Top Places to Go to See Spectacular Marine Life
Made up of over 7,000 islands and an abundance of colourful coral reefs, the Philippines is an idyllic place to go if you love making friends with the underwater world. Crystal clear waters and an multiple species of marine life, means a snorkeling trip will be an amazing experience.
While there are hundreds of places you could snorkel in the Philippines, there are a few places that take the top spots and should not be missed! Take a look at the list below to find out the places you just HAVE to go snorkeling in when visiting the Philippines.
Nalusuan Island – Cebu
Containing an abundance of live corals and shallow waters, you’ll get to swim alongside orange and blue starfish, parrot fish, clown fish and many more unique varieties of marine life. After having a swim, you can learn all about the marine life at the small islands marine sanctuary. Nalusuan Island actually started off as just a sandbar and a reclamation project turned it into a 1-hectare islet.
Cabilao
This is another small island with an abundance of hard and soft corals, teeming with aquatic life.
Snorkeling around this area will let you swim alongside turtles, schooling reef fish and many other unusual sea animals. Take time to relax on the postcard perfect beach in-between snorkeling sessions.
Anda – Bohol
In a quiet corner of Bohol island is a picturesque bay called Anda. Taking a snorkeling trip here will allow you to swim along 14km of thriving reef and possibly spot the occasional whale shark, frog fish, sea horses, eels, turtles and giant clams! This is generally a lesser known part of the island, so a nice spot to get away from the hordes of tourists.
Coron – North Palawan
Having exceptionally healthy and colourful reefs, taking a snorkeling trip here will allow you to swim over boat and plane wrecks from WWII! After this amazing experience you can take your snorkel to the place known as Barracuda lake on the island. Surrounded by jaw dropping limestone cliffs, this crystal clear lake is a place you can enjoy an incredible underwater landscape.
MoalBoal – Cebu
This is a stunning coastal town where you can snorkel amongst huge schools of sardines. Watching them zip about in their huge groups is truly mesmerizing and you may even get to witness jacks and trevally hunting them. The reefs are stunningly healthy and you’ll probably catch a glimpse of whitetip reef sharks and tropical reef fish going about their day.
Siquijor – Off Dumaguete
Here you’ll find excellent snorkeling in a vast, shallow marine sanctuary near to the Coco Grove Resort. Enjoy stunning beaches, colourful corals and a myriad of marine life including; Spanish dancers, angel fish, slugs, black anemone, puffers, cardinals and parrot fish. The waters can get cold here, so wear a wet suit if you’re susceptible to the chills.
Coral Garden – San Antonio Island, Puerto Galera
Known as the top spot to snorkel in Puerto Galera, snorkeling in the Coral Garden area has a rich and spectacular array of marine life to swim amongst. The bright coral is teeming with reef fish, lion fish, rare crabs, flatworms, turtles and much more. The shallow waters make it a great spot for beginner snorkelers and will let you see a lot in a short amount of time.
