Puerto Galera
On The Verde Island Passage, Called The Centre Of The Centre Of Marine Biodiversity And A Bar Strip The Dive Magazines Never Mention · Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
PUERTO GALERA SITS ON THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE, THE STRETCH OF WATER BETWEEN MINDORO AND LUZON THAT MARINE SCIENTISTS HAVE CALLED THE CENTRE OF THE CENTRE OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY - the highest concentration of shorefish species anywhere on earth. It was declared a MAN AND BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN 1973 and it is three hours from Manila, which is why generations of Filipino divers learned here. THE DIVING IS THE REAL THING: walls, wrecks, currents and world-class macro life, with nudibranchs and frogfish that people travel across continents for. NOW THE PART THE DIVE MAGAZINES LEAVE OUT: SABANG HAS A LONG-ESTABLISHED AND VERY VISIBLE BAR STRIP with the trade that goes with it, and it is the first thing many visitors notice. WATER QUALITY OFF THE BUSIEST BEACHES HAS BEEN CRITICISED. Both things are true at once. Sabang and White Beach are different places twenty minutes apart - diving and bars at one, families and parties at the other - and choosing the wrong one ruins the trip.
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
PUERTO GALERA IS REACHED BY BUS FROM MANILA TO BATANGAS PORT, roughly two to three hours, THEN A FERRY OF ABOUT AN HOUR to Sabang, Muelle or White Beach - the crossing is frequent and is CANCELLED IN ROUGH WEATHER. AN ENVIRONMENTAL FEE IS COLLECTED ON ARRIVAL. THERE IS NO GATE ANYWHERE; the town is covered by tricycle and jeepney. DIVE SHOPS ARE CONCENTRATED IN SABANG and run daily; SOME SITES HAVE STRONG CURRENTS AND ARE NOT FOR NOVICES - the Canyons and Washing Machine are named for what they do. WHITE BEACH IS THE FAMILY AND PARTY BEACH, SABANG IS THE DIVE AND BAR STRIP, and they are different places twenty minutes apart. IT IS BUSIEST AT WEEKENDS, being close to Manila.