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 get back in the water since you passed your course? Every diver has their own reason — to escape the hustle and bustle, to document underwater life, to witness the beauty of the ocean floor, or simply to snap stunning underwater photos 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 kick off your dive travel? The Philippines — Mindoro, formally known as Puerto Galera Dolphin Bay, also called 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, it's just a short drive followed by a brief boat ride — no connecting flights and no overnight layover required.
This drift dive site connects to another site called "Hole in the Wall" — and true to its name, it's a cave opening right in the rock face. The fun part? Divers can glide effortlessly through the cavern, strike a dramatic pose, and hit the shutter!
The bliss of being surrounded by damselfish and angelfish
A photo with the performers at the nightclub
Nightlife on PG Island
★ The nightlife on PG Island is absolutely captivating. As soon as the sun goes down, the streets come alive with bars, restaurants, clubs, and even red-light establishments and pole-dancing venues. You don't have to turn in early on your travel nights — head out, grab a beer, enjoy some grilled food, and strike up a conversation with new friends from all over the world about football or diving. Pop into a professional massage parlour to work out the fatigue built up from the day. Here, you can create all kinds of unexpected surprises for your trip. On the road of diving, anything is possible.
A girl with only 10 logged dives can still dive with ease and confidence
The Diver's Hyperbolic Time Chamber
★ Mindoro's PG Island is universally recognised among divers as a hyperbolic time chamber — perfect for beginners and seasoned veterans alike. It's a place that lets you take in breathtaking underwater scenery while helping you grow into a better diver. If you ask me where's the best place for a beginner to dive, I'll say: Mindoro, without hesitation.
For most people planning a dive trip, what you can see underwater is a major deciding factor. Are you after big animals? Macro critters? Wrecks? As I said before, anything is possible in diving — and Mindoro is no exception. It's not just a macro paradise; beyond the dazzling nudibranchs, seahorses, pipefish, shrimp, and crabs, there are shipwrecks scattered throughout the area, all open for exploration. If you're hoping for rarer or larger creatures, you'll need a bit of luck — but you do have a chance of spotting eagle rays, Thresher Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, and other shark species.
Golden snapper photographed from inside a shipwreck
These sunken vessels, now reduced to little more than their basic frames and silhouettes, are barely recognisable as the ships they once were. Encrusted with all manner of small corals and sponges, they feel as though nature has declared them her own. Schools of fish and nudibranchs have taken up residence inside — making them a fantastic place to explore.
A nudibranch mimicking the texture and colour of a twig
An adorably well-behaved pipefish
A porcelain crab in a sea anemone, coloured like a ripe peach
A baby spotted boxfish, also nicknamed "little papaya"
What about the leisure hours during the day? Don't worry — you can unwind on a sun lounger or in the infinity pool at the resort, sip on fresh juice or enjoy some waffles, and gaze out at the endless blue sea and sky, dotted with vibrantly coloured outrigger boats. There's nothing more luxurious than squandering an afternoon like that.
A resort on the island
A scene from the island
A scene from the island
If you're the adventurous type, you've come to exactly the right place. Hop on a motorbike, ride up into the island's mountains, and become a human zipline! For less than NT$500, you can soar through the air like an eagle, flying from one hilltop to the next, feeling the rush of speed as you hang suspended high above the ground, with sweeping views of mountains and sea spread out below you.
Experience the thrill of 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 live-fire shooting. Pick up a pistol and imagine yourself as James Bond, or go full Rambo with a rifle and try to hit the bullseye. Let the recoil and the thunderous crack of the shot electrify you!
A rifle straight out of CS or PUBG — incredibly cool
Brass casings flying
The bullet fires — the air seems to split with the blast
To finish off, ride up to the lighthouse at the top of PG Island or head to the famous dreamy white sand beach, where you can take in a stunning orange-red sunset reflected in golden ripples across the horizon — the perfect romantic prelude to a great evening ahead.
Sunset glow over the white sand beach
The view from the lighthouse is stunning — you can also spot it during a boat dive
Finally, my recommendation to everyone: the Philippines — Mindoro, PG Island. Small, but absolutely spectacular. Come here wanting excitement, and you'll find plenty of company. Come here wanting peace, and you're free to have it. Everyone who visits has their own reason for coming — and this island will find a way to meet your needs.
If this article has made you fall in love with this place, whether you dive or not, come find me — 花襯衫AlohaShirt!
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