Asia Dive Expo 2008

The Philippines is to scuba divers what Switzerland is to skiers, Hawaii , to surfers, Nepal to mountaineers. It's a place you must visit, at least once, to get to the real hear of the sport.

The country, which is an archipelago of than 7,100 islands, is a veritable smorgasbord of world-class dive sites set in a lush tropical environment with all the trappings you could wish for. Statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism indicate that divers visiting the Philippines return from an average of ten trips each - which speaks volumes about the quality of the dive sites and the professionalism of the operators.

The diving infrastructure here is the most extensive of any country in Asia . PADI, the dominant certification body in the Asian region, has almost as many affiliated resorts and centers in the Philippines as it does in the rest of Southeast Asia . In a typical year in the Philippines , PADI certifies in excess of 20,000 divers.

All of this activity has spawned many retail outlets, clubs, and associations, and even a national controlling organization for the industry, the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD). Most internationally known diving equipment brands, and some less well - known ones, are available at dive centers throughout the islands. Retail sales are brisk. Despite the financial turmoil in Asia, dive retail outlets continue to open in Manila .

Resorts are proliferating. Where once there were a few main dive destinations, now the volume of dive travelers is so high that there are operators and resorts from one end of the country to the other. Some are exclusive hideaways, some are competitively priced, professionally run, and excellent value. Overall, standards are good, but the problem for consumers is, as always, to choose the one that is right for them.

Northwest Luzon
Subic Bay is one of the best wreck diving areas in Asia . Over many decades of Spanish and US military tenure, many vessels wound up at the bottom of the bay. Since the American forces left in 1992, the wrecks have been explored. The best of them are open to recreational divers. A must see is USS New York, a dreadnought from the 19 th century.

Southern Luzon

Anilao is the easiest high quality diving destination to get from Manila . Though you wont see many big fish, the coral and reef life is outstanding. It's a favorite with macro photographers. Some marine biologists regard the diversity of the small marine creatures here to be among the highest in the world. There are many resorts and operators - but lots of local divers on weekends.

Puerto Galera, the fabled Port of the Galleons, is one of the most convenient and enjoyable recreational dive areas in the Philippines . The currents that sweep the Verde Passage bring nutrients to feed the coral - making the reef slopes here some of the most beautiful in the world - and also sweep in more than a few pelages. On the deeper dives, you'll see plenty of bigger reef fish. Canyons are a classic site and can always be counted on for something interesting. Don't miss some of the nearby sites, like Verde Island.

Panay / Negros
Though not a blue-chip travel destination, Boracay has a few good sites, including a great deep dive at Yapak. This popular holiday destination has more than 20 dive operators, most catering to beginners. Prices are competitive. The fun lifestyle of the island and the still, clear waters make Boracay an excellent place to learn.

Cebu / Bohol
Although Mactan Island has few attractions for experienced divers, it remains the hub of diving in the Visayas and the gateway to some great destinations. Moalboal, on the west coast, is a prime destination. An hour by ferry boat are Panglao and Balicasag, in the island of Bohol, which are popular dive sites and offer good accommodation and dive services. The walls at Balicasag are outstanding.

Many divers who have traveled extensively in the Philippines rave about Palawan . The prime destination is Bacuit Bay , better known as El Nido, where a number of superb resorts make excellent bases for exploring the reefs. Coron is emerging as a prime diving destination, helped by several World War II wrecks located at depths in Coron Bay .