Dive Sites in Anilao (Batangas), Philippines
7 dive sites in Anilao (Batangas)
The Philippines' macro diving capital with over 800 recorded nudibranch species. Anilao is where underwater photographers come to spend 70 minutes staring at 3-centimetre creatures on volcanic sand slopes. Just 2.5 hours from Manila, with 30+ dive sites ranging from pure muck to healthy reef. Browse all Anilao dive sites below.
Beatrice Rock rises from the blue water off the Calumpan Peninsula, a submerged pinnacle that breaks Anilao's reputation as a macro-only destination. ...
Cathedral Rock is a reef formation off the Anilao coast that combines the area's famous macro life with enough wide-angle interest to justify putting ...
Eagle Point sits at the tip of the Calumpan Peninsula, the rocky headland that defines Anilao's diving geography. The reef here wraps around the point...
Kirby's Rock is the site Anilao regulars argue about. Some insist it's the best macro dive in Batangas; others save their loyalty for Twin Rocks or Se...
Secret Bay is a black sand muck diving site that looks entirely unremarkable from the surface: a small, sheltered bay with dark volcanic sand and some...
Sombrero Island is a tiny volcanic islet shaped like a hat (hence the name) sitting in the Balayan Channel about 2 kilometres off the Anilao coast. Be...
Twin Rocks is Anilao's gentle workhorse, a site that every resort uses and every photographer returns to because the critter density per square metre ...
If your idea of a good dive involves spending 70 minutes at 12 metres staring at a 3-centimetre nudibranch, Anilao is your place. This small stretch of coastline in Batangas province is the Philippines' undisputed capital of macro and muck diving, with a nudibranch species count that makes underwater photographers weep with joy.
Diving in Anilao means slow, careful dives over sandy slopes and coral rubble, hunting for creatures that most divers swim straight past. Blue-ringed octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs, and dozens of species you've never heard of. The diversity is staggering: over 800 nudibranch species have been recorded here, making it one of the richest macro sites globally.
There are 30+ named dive sites spread along the Anilao and Mabini coastline, most reached by bangka boats in 10 to 20 minutes. Some, like Secret Bay and Mainit, are muck sites in the purest sense: volcanic sand with almost no coral, just sand-dwelling critters. Others, like Beatrice and Twin Rocks, have healthy reef sections with decent hard coral coverage and schools of anthias.
Anilao's biggest advantage is proximity to Manila. The drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic, making it the closest serious diving from the capital. Weekend warriors and travelling photographers fly into Manila and head straight south. Resorts range from basic to high-end, and fun dives cost $25 to $35. Conditions are best from November to May, with visibility reaching 15 to 20 metres. The wet season brings reduced visibility but better critter activity, so dedicated macro shooters often prefer it.