Just a few hours away from Manila, you'll find paradise - the very sound of the name conjures up images of Spanish galleons and ancient Chinese junks laden with silk and spices. More so does the sight of the island with its beautiful harbor. Countless coves and beaches outdo each other for the city-weary traveller. No wonder then that so many local and foreign visitors tend to overstay in Puerto Galera. An incredible array of underwater dive sites, beautiful beaches as well as plenty of topside attractions; all this in a relaxed, laid-back beach atmosphere without the hustle and congestion of other tourist destinations.

Puerto Galera offers more or less 40 prime dive sites. The sites are between 5 meters to 40 meters depth and the water temperature is ranging between 26 - 29 Degrees Centigrade. Since Puerto Galera is considered as warm water diving area 3mm thick wet suits are the norm. The tide exchange is from a few centimeters up to 2 meters. The selection of the dive sites depends on the tidal exchange and the slack tides, which is an important part of dive planning. The currents which is common in the area are often brisk and unpredictable, creating conditions which may at times prove challenging for novice divers.

Big fish like White tip Sharks, Barracudas, Tunas, even Eagle Rays, Turtles can be seen on selected dive sites like the popular Canyons, Shark Caves, Boulders, especially so on a drift dive during big tide exchanges. It is highly recommended for underwater photographers and marine biologists and enthusiasts alike since it has a lot to offer like the varied species of soft corals, gorgonians, crinoids, colorful sponges and turnicates, crustaceans and shrimps, not to mention the most popular invertebrate subject amongst macro photographers, which has various colors, shapes and sizes the  ‘ nudibranchs’.

Apo Reef is a marine sanctuary rather than an individual dive site, located west of Occidental Mindoro. It is a world famous marine park, frequently published in dive magazines as a place where an extensive wealth of marine life can be found; ranging from great macro photography opportunities to schools of large pelagic fish including many species of shark, barracuda and manta rays. This marine sanctuary is only a three hour boat ride from Pandan Island so ideal for day trips; although live-a-boards are also offered from various locations around the Philippines.
To the west of Apo reef lies Hunters Rock, an underwater pinnacle that provides real blue water diving. Again, there is abundance of pelagic species with large nurse sharks commonly found inside caves and ledges.