Image: Destination image
DESTINATION / PHILIPPINES
The nudibranch capital - over 800 species and a macro photographer's paradise
Image: Destination image
Visibility
15m
Water Temp
28C
Max Depth
25m
Current
Mild
Difficulty
Beginner
Best Season
Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr-May-Nov-Dec
Certification
open water
Budget
$ Budget
Sharks
Manta Rays
Whale Sharks
Turtles
Coral
Macro
Pelagics
Dolphins
Depth: 5-25m | Beginner
A muck diving site as rich as Lembeh, with mimics, wonderpus, blue-ringed octopus, and frogfish reliably found on most dives.
Blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus, frogfish
Depth: 5-18m | Beginner
Two rocky pinnacles covered in soft corals and sea fans where pygmy seahorses and ornate ghost pipefish hide among the branches.
Pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs
Anilao is the Philippines' best muck diving hub, within three hours of Manila. The black sand slopes deliver some of the most photographed macro life on the planet: rhinopias, blue-ringed octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, and more nudibranch species than most divers can name. The blackwater dives after dark are the standout — larval fish and planktonic creatures rarely seen by day. It is not about coral reefs here; it is about the tiny, bizarre, and beautiful. Budget-friendly, too — three dives a day can still come in under $100.
Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec. Peak: Mar-Apr. Water: 26-29C.
open water certification recommended. Minimum 0+ dives.
$60/day average. budget tier. Liveaboard: not available.
Anilao dives best from Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec, with the peak season running Mar to Apr. During these months you can expect the calmest seas, the clearest water, and the highest chance of encountering the marine life this destination is known for. Water temperature sits at 26-29C, so a 3mm wetsuit or skinsuit is all you need in the tropics.
For divers who are flexible, the shoulder months just outside peak season offer nearly identical conditions at 20-30% lower prices and with far fewer boats on the water. The only periods to avoid are the wet or cyclone windows - check the seasonal calendar below and on the dive operator websites before locking in flights.
Visibility at Anilao averages 15 meters, which ranks among the typical range for its region. Early morning dives consistently deliver the best visibility and the most active marine life, which is why local operators schedule most boat departures before 9am.
Getting there: Fly into Manila (MNL). From the airport, dive operators and hotels usually arrange transfers - budget 30 minutes to several hours depending on whether your resort or liveaboard is based on the mainland, an offshore island, or a distant atoll.
Time and money: The local timezone is UTC+8. A day of guided diving averages $60 at this $ Budget tier destination. Liveaboard options are limited here, so plan day-boat dives around your accommodation.
Who this suits: With a Beginner difficulty profile, a beginner-friendliness score of 5/5, and a minimum of 0 logged dives recommended, Anilao is an excellent match for newly certified divers as well as veterans. It is also family-friendly, with options for non-divers.