Puerto Galera
Experience Magnificent Natural Beauty
The Puerto Galera harbor is breathtaking with lots of small coves within the bay, turquois water, magnificent mangrove areas, small sandy beaches and hillsides covered with coconut trees makes this an wonderful setting for any explorer, naturalist and nature lover. The bay has its own island, Medio Island that separates the north (Manila Channel) and southwest (Batangas Channel) channels. The Puerto Galera bay sometimes know as the Port Of Galleons, was indeed a place the Spanish galleons and Chinese traders would hide from typhoons and use its banks, mostly Dalaruan for ship repairs. Today Dalatuan in still used to repair wooden boats.
This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and scuba diving spots. The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.
Puerto Galera is listed by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, and is the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.
Weather
The hottest time of the year for sun lovers in Puerto Galera is April to June. Rainy seasons last through to July and August. There are the some rainy and windy spells from November to January. Having said that, bad weather tends not to last more than two or three days and diving is almost never cancelled. Daytime temperatures rarely drop much below 28 degree Celsius.
Transfers: July and August weather warnings
When traveling by sea, we all understand the importance of good weather conditions. Here in Puerto Galera the weather is mostly fine with the thought of guests being stranded and unable to go home far from our minds. However, the reality is from time to time poor weather may make travelling difficult if not impossible.
At El Galleon, we have automatic weather forecasters that let us know when there is a storm in the area. Although this cannot be a guaranteed warning, it has proven to be a great help. We will post on our notice on the board in the restaurant any bad weather reports we have for your reference. It may be that you might have to, leave a day before due to bad weather and restricted transportation. Most of our guests take our private transportation. Note that sometimes when the weather gets rough these boats will not be able to take you back, and you will have to take alternate transportation. This may be as simple as taking a small boat or local jeep to Puerto Galera Town and taking one of the bigger ferries. This option is available only when there is no typhoon signal or occasionally when the typhoon signal is no more than signal number one. If the typhoon signal number one or two is raised you may have to take the only ferries that will run. That would be from Calapan, which is two hours away by jeepney. This will add to your travel time to Manila.
Therefore you must let us know well in advance of your travel plans if the weather is looking bad. This may mean traveling a day earlier and spending a night in Manila. We can help you find transportation and hotel accommodation along with a very detailed itinerary on how to get from one place to the other. We are very happy to say that this very rarely happens, but when it does we want to make sure you don’t feel neglected by just simply not knowing!
Scuba diving with Asia Divers
Why would anyone want to dive anywhere else but with Asia Divers PADI “Career Development Center” (CDC) the only PADI CDC in the Philippines? Asia Divers was established in 1987 and has since led the way in Puerto Galera and for many years in the Philippines. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) gave Asia Divers it’s very highest rating of CDC. As a CDC Asia Divers offer you the opportunity to make SCUBA diving a lifetime career. If you’re getting started or are looking to become a professional diver we can get you off to the right start with Asia Divers professional instructors. What makes our instructors different? They care about you! The instructors of Asia Divers are always happy to attend to your every need no matter what it is. If you have any questions about diving as a beginner diver or becoming a professional just ask one of the Asia Divers instructors.
For nearly 50 years Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines has attracted scientists studying the ecostructure of micro-organisms, animals and plants. The diving is famous for its diversity and divers return time after time to marvel at creatures large and small.
There are dives for all levels, from easy training dives amongst pristine coral to high-voltage drift dives. Diving is a year-round activity. The 25+ dive sites are all within a 10-minute boat ride from the beach, which makes for easy and convenient dive planning. Groups are kept to six divers or less and are always read by the experienced local guides. Visibility varies between 40m/130′ to 10m/30′. Temperature is varies between 22c and 30c.
All the dive sites are replete with huge numbers of splendid fish including: triggerfish, parrotfish, pennantfish, moray eels, surgeonfish, snappers, groupers, Moorish idol, lizardfish, gobies, batfish, lionfish, trumpetfish, pufferfish, filefish, emperors, wrasses, fusiliers and trevally. Invertebrates from the tiniest transparent shrimp and neon-coloured nudibranchs to huge basket sponges adorned with hundreds of multi-coloured crinoids; anemones, sea cucumbers, starfish, worms and fire corals reside with vast numbers of hard and soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Turtles, octopus, cuttlefish and sharks make guest appearances.
Looking to dive somewhere new? Then why not let us take you there. Asia Divers schedules regular dive trips, not just around the Philippines, but all over the world. Everything from weekend adventure trips to luxury live-a-boards, all with the comfort of knowing that there’s an Asia Divers guide on board. Wherever you want to go – from land based dive adventures in the Philippines to Aggressor booking in the Galapagos – we can take care of your needs just let us know what you want.
Diving and weather temperature
Best time to dive? All year is fine, February to June is particularly reliable weather; very warm both in and out of the water. We always have some sites sheltered from prevailing seasonal weather conditions and typically will lose only three or four days diving a year to rough conditions. So anytime is good. Temperatures in water range from about 22c (72F) in January and February to 30C (86F) from June to about September.