Intermediate Philippines
Puerto Galera
Strong current, excellent macro, and a passage regarded as the world center of shore-fish biodiversity
The strait separating this coast from the neighboring island is considered the global center of coastal marine fish biodiversity. And the very current that makes it possible is what turns several of its dives into serious business.
In this profile you'll find why the passage concentrates so much diversity, which dives are calm and which demand real current experience, when to go, what macro and what wrecks are there, and how diving is organized in an area with plenty of operators.
It's one of the few places where the same day can include a relaxed macro dive and a fast drift in strong current, and where the biodiversity isn't a brochure claim but a documented fact.
Geography and access
Puerto Galera is on the northern coast of Mindoro island, facing the passage that separates it from the Philippines' main island. That passage is narrow and deep, and an enormous volume of water flows through it with every tidal cycle.
The constant flow delivers nutrients and larvae, and the variety of habitats packed into a small area (protected bays, current channels, walls, sandy bottoms and shallow reefs) multiplies the niches. That combination explains the area's diversity.
The coast has several bays with accommodations and dive centers, all a short boat ride from the dive sites. Trips are short, and it's common to do three or four dives a day.
Access is via Manila, with a road transfer to the departure port and a ferry to the Mindoro coast. No domestic flight is needed, which makes it convenient for short trips.
The area has a dense and varied tourism offering beyond diving, which makes it practical for trips with non-diving companions.
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