Guest Blog by Phil North 

Divemaster Phil North, from Dive Worldwide shares his five best spots to find Big Fish in the Philippines. 

If diving with the ocean’s giants is on your bucket list, the Philippines is the perfect destination. Whale sharks, striped barracudas, turtles, hammerheads, manta rays, dugongs, and even 2-metre-long Napoleon wrasse can be found here.

The Philippines is in the Coral Triangle – the most biodiverse coral reef on the planet – so its waters are bursting with marine life, including large pelagics, sponges, and over 2,500 species of fish.

So where should you visit to see the biggest and most exciting species? There are over 7,000 islands in the archipelago and several world-class diving sites to choose from, so read Dive Worldwide’s guide to discover the best diving spots for big fish encounters in the Philippines.

Outstanding marine biodiversity and reef sharks

Tubbataha Reefs National Park

If you’re after an abundance of big fish, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tubbataha will not disappoint.

The dive season runs from March to June, with a chance to see a spectacular range of species, including tiger shark, hammerhead, leopard shark, grey reef shark, nurse shark, manta, marble and eagle ray, whale shark, barracuda, tuna, hawksbill and green turtle, and dolphins.

Tubbataha is the largest marine protected area in the Philippines and offers superb diving opportunities. It is located 150 kilometres from Palawan in the Sulu Sea, so you will need a liveaboard to access these world-class dive sites.

Recommended dive trip:
Tubbataha Liveaboard
When to go: April – June

Shark Encounters – rare thresher sharks

Malapascua

Shark enthusiasts will love this world-famous diving location.

Monad Shoal, also known as Shark Point, is the only place in the world where rare thresher sharks can be seen daily.

This iconic, but usually shy, species gets its name from the distinctive tail which it uses like a whip when hunting. Here, you can encounter thresher sharks as they are swimming around the cleaning stations in the shallow reefs. You may also find white-tip, black-tip, bamboo, and nurse sharks in these waters.

With beautiful coral gardens and white sands to rival Boracay, Malapascua is a popular destination for divers and holiday-makers alike.

Recommended dive trips:
Big Fish Tour
When to go: November – April (but possible all year)

Visayas Liveaboard
When to go: April – June
 
Sharks & Reefs
When to go: All year round

World’s largest rays and fish

Bicol – Donsol and Ticao Island

These popular diving destinations are frequent haunts of the world’s biggest ray and fish species – the oceanic manta ray and the whale shark.

The Manta Bowl dive site, in Ticao Pass, is famous for its manta ray population and for being one of the best diving sites in the Philippines.

Whale sharks migrate to Donsol between late November and May, which is the best time to enjoy close encounters. Although whale sharks can exceed 15 metres long, they are gentle giants that filter-feed on plankton, krill, and small plants.

Recommended trips:
Big Fish Tour
When to go: November – April (but possible all year)

Reef sharks, hammerheads and schools of pelagic fish

Apo Reef

Apo Reef is one of the most celebrated dive sites in the Philippines and an excellent place to find sharks or other big pelagics. Hammerheads are one of the top attractions in these waters, but black and whitetip sharks, and even occasionally thresher sharks visit here. You can also expect to encounter other large species like groupers, tuna, eagle and manta rays, large trevally, turtles and, if you are lucky, dolphins.

Recommended trips:
Club Paradise Resort – offering daily dive trips to Apo Reef
When to go: anytime

Liveaboards
When to go: April – December

Barracuda, turtles and dugong

North of Palawan – Coron   

We know, not all these species are technically fish, but they are impressively large pelagics.

Dugong, also known as sea cows, were even thought to have inspired sailor’s stories about mermaids! This near-mythical marine mammal is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, but you may be lucky enough to spot one on an eco-tourism dive in Coron.

At Barracuda Lake, you can look out for the legendary giant barracuda (though even the regular ones can be over a metre long). This is also a great location for viewing green and hawksbill turtles.

Recommended trips:
Dive Coron Bay on Sangat Island (also excellent for wreck diving)
When to go: October – June

Liveaboards
When to go: April – December

Top choice for big fish encounters:
Big Fish Tour
This underwater safari visits some of the best sites for whale shark, thresher shark, and manta ray encounters. The two-week tour includes up to 14 diverse and exciting dives, with stays at relaxing tropical beachfront resorts.
Find out more

Get in touch with the friendly Dive Worldwide team for first-hand advice on your next diving holiday to the Philippines. They offer a superb range of resort and liveaboard options. Visit the website, send an enquiry, or call the expert team on 01962 302087.