Contents(3)
Looking back, how long have you been diving? Did you just get certified, have you been at it for a while, or have you not had a chance to dive since you first got your card? Every diver has their own reason — to escape the hustle and bustle, to document underwater life, to behold the beauty of the ocean floor, or simply to capture stunning underwater shots for social media. No matter why you dive or where you come from, the sea always has a place for you. Isn't it time to strap on your mask and second stage regulator and set off on a dive trip? The Philippines — Mindoro, full name Puerto Galera (Dolphin Bay), also known as PG Island. So what makes this island so special?
How to Get to Puerto Galera (Dolphin Bay)?
★ This island is the closest to Manila in the Philippines. Once you land, all it takes is a short drive and a brief boat ride to get there — no connecting flights, no overnight stays required.
This is a drift dive site that connects to another site called "Hole in the Wall" — exactly as the name suggests, a cave opening set into a wall of rock. The fun part is that divers can glide effortlessly through the tunnel, strike a dramatic pose, and hit the shutter!
The pure bliss of being surrounded by damselfish and angelfish
A photo with the performers at a nightclub
Nightlife on PG Island
★ The nightlife on PG Island is absolutely captivating. Once the sun goes down, the streets come alive with bars, restaurants, clubs, and even red-light districts and pole-dancing venues. You don't have to turn in early on your travel nights — head out, grab a cold beer, enjoy some barbecue, and chat with new friends from all over the world about sports or diving. Pop into a professional massage parlour to work out all the fatigue your journey has built up. Here, every night holds the potential for unexpected surprises, and on the path of diving, anything is possible.
A girl with only 10 dives in her log can still dive with total ease and comfort
The Hyperbolic Chamber of the Diving World
★ Mindoro's PG Island is widely regarded by the diving community as a "hyperbolic chamber" — a place where time seems to slow down and you grow exponentially. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned diver, this destination suits you perfectly. It lets you soak in breathtaking underwater scenery while helping you improve and become a better diver. If you ask me where beginners should dive first, I'll say: Mindoro.
For most people planning a dive trip, what you'll actually see underwater is a major factor. Are you after big animals? Macro subjects? Wrecks? As I said before, anything is possible on the diving path, and Mindoro is no exception. This place is not only a macro paradise — you'll encounter vibrant nudibranchs, seahorses, pipefish, shrimp, and crabs — but wrecks are scattered all around and you're welcome to explore inside! If you're after something rarer and bigger, you'll need a bit of luck, but there's a chance you'll encounter Eagle Rays, Thresher Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, and other shark species.
Golden snapper photographed from inside a wreck
The sunken vessels resting on the seafloor have long since lost any resemblance to their original form — only their basic frames and silhouettes remain. They are now blanketed in various small corals and sponges, as if nature itself is proclaiming that these objects no longer belong to humanity. Inside, schools of fish and nudibranchs have made their home, making these wrecks wonderful spots for underwater exploration.
A nudibranch camouflaged to look just like a twig
An incredibly cute and docile pipefish
A porcelain crab the colour of a ripe peach, nestled in a sea anemone
A baby spotted boxfish, also known as a "little papaya"
So how do you spend your free time during the day? Don't worry — you can kick back on a sun lounger or in an infinity pool at the resort, sip on some fresh juice or dig into waffles, and gaze out over the endless blue sea and sky, dotted with colourful outrigger boats for a splash of colour. There's nothing more blissfully indulgent than luxuriating away a languid afternoon like this.
The resort on the island
A scene from the island
Another scene from the island
If you're an adventurous soul, you've come to the right place. Hop on a motorbike, head up into the island's mountains, and become a human flying fox! For less than NT$500, you can experience soaring through the air like an eagle, flying from one hilltop to another at exhilarating speed, with the mountains and the sea sprawling out beneath you.
Feel the thrill of spreading your wings and soaring like an eagle
Ready to fly~~
Land adventures won't disappoint you either
If you're a fan of action movies, you absolutely have to try a real shooting range. Pick up a handgun and imagine yourself as James Bond, or grab a rifle like Rambo and aim for the bullseye — let the recoil and the thunderous crack of the gunshot electrify your veins!
A rifle straight out of CS or PUBG — impossibly cool
Shell casings flying through the air
The bullet fires — the air seems to split apart with the crack of the shot
Finally, ride up to the island's hilltop lighthouse or the famous dreamy white sand beach, take in the stunning orange-red sunset, and watch the romantic afterglow reflecting on the surface of the sea — the perfect prelude to a spectacular evening dinner.
Sunset glow over White Beach
The view from the lighthouse is spectacular — you can also spot it from the water during a boat dive
In closing, I wholeheartedly recommend the Philippines — Mindoro's PG Island. It may be small, but it is absolutely extraordinary. If you feel like being lively, there's always someone to join in the fun; if you want peace and quiet, you're free to have it. Everyone who comes here has their own reason, and this island will find a way to meet every one of your needs.
If this article has made you fall in love with this place, whether or not you can dive, come find me — 花襯衫AlohaShirt!
Related links:
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
