Beautiful Verde Island Passage is the making of scuba diving heritage and marine shore fish biodiversity.

50 to 60 visibility

60% of the world’s shorefish species

400 coral species

2,000 species of reef fish

Each year, new marine species continue to be discovered in the area, highlighting its evolutionary importance​

The Verde Island Passage is a world-class diving destination and a vital marine ecosystem that draws both scientists and underwater explorers. For Scuba Sirens, including it in dive packages alongside Anilao and Puerto Galera would give your clients access to some of the richest marine biodiversity on the planet!

The Verde Island Passage (VIP) is a biodiversity hotspot in the Philippines and one of the most ecologically significant marine regions in the world. Located between Luzon and Mindoro, it connects the South China Sea to the Sibuyan Sea. The passage is often referred to as the “center of the center of marine biodiversity,” due to the immense concentration of marine species found in its waters.

Puerto Galera

Small La Laguna in Puerto Galera is the safest and most logical way to dive the VIP Verde Island Passage. It is a half-hour away and the best and most trained dive leaders live here. Legendary strong-finned drift diving pros that know the VIP like the back of their hand.

Located in the historic “Ma-I,” one of the Philippines’ first pre-Hispanic trading ports, later renamed Puerto Galera, or “Port of Galleons,” by the Spanish.

3 days Minimum

Minimum 3 Days is the most conservative and safest way to do it

Enjoy 3 days in paradise with 2 nights’ accommodation at the most relaxing white sand beachfront resort,

Included:

3 Full day Meals

Complete Scuba Equipment

Most reliable Scuba dive leaders to transfer you and guide you through Verde’s notoriously strong current

3 Days 2 Nights in Small Lalaguna Resort in Puerto Galera

Sample Itinerary of a 3 day Minimum Weekend Stay

DAY 1 

  • 5 AM Pick up in Hotel Lobby
  • 7 AM Arrival at Batangas Pier
  • 8 AM Roro Ferry to Puerto Galera.
  • 11 AM Arrival at Puerto Galera Balatero Port
  • 11:20 AM Arrival at Sabang Port
  • 1130 AM Speed Boat transfer to Resort
  • Noon Arrival at Resort/Check in/Lunch
  • 1 PM Orientation and Equipment Prep
  • 2 PM Dive 1: Puerto Galera Dive Site Dive and Prep for Verde Dive next day
  • 4 PM Relax/Snack/ Banana Bread must try
  • 7 PM Dinner

DAY 2     

  • 7 AM Verde Dive Day Breakfast of Champions
  • 8 AM Off to Verde
  • 8:30 AM 1st Dive Verde
  • 10:30 AM 2nd Dive Verde
  • Noon Grilled Lunch in Verde Island
  • 3 PM Resort Bound
  • 7PM Dinner

DAY 3 

  • 8-10 AM Breakfast
  • 11 AM Checkout Speed Boat to Sabang
  • Noon Lunch at Balatero Port
  • 2 PM Roro to Batangas Port
  • 3 PM Arrival Batangas Port
  • 6 PM ETA back at your Hotel
scuba dive trip packages philippines

Historical Dive Site

Verde Island Passage is the epicenter of marine shore fish biodiversity. It will soon be a UNESCO World Heritage site because of this reason alone, and beyond that is so much more.

Winding Coastline

The Philippines boasts a highly intricate coastline for a tropical country of its size. Despite occupying only 3% of the total land area of the United States, the Philippines has an equivalent length of coastline, offering a vast range of marine habitats. More coastlines mean more ecological niches, promoting diverse marine life to flourish, which contributes to the country’s extreme biodiversity.

.Geographic Position

Stretching north to south across a wide latitudinal range, the Philippines encompasses tropical species in the north and subtropical species in the south. This variation in climate and environment allows for the formation of diverse ecosystems, each supporting unique species, further enhancing the biodiversity of the region.

Stable Ocean Temperatures

Unlike other regions, the Philippines’ sea surface temperatures remained stable during the ice ages, while other parts of the world experienced drastic drops. This stability allowed marine species to survive and thrive, maintaining biodiversity during a time of environmental stress and mass extinction elsewhere.

Ocean Overlap

The Philippines lies at the intersection of two major oceans—the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This unique geographic location allows marine species from both oceans to migrate and settle in its waters, creating a rich mixture of marine life from two distinct biomes.

Center of Evolution

The Philippines is considered a center of evolution, largely due to the natural isolation of habitats over millennia. Strong ocean currents, shifting coastlines, and dramatic drops in sea level in the past caused populations to become geographically separated. This isolation led species to develop unique traits to adapt to their environment, resulting in the evolution of new species over thousands of years.

Strong Ocean Currents

The Northern Equatorial Current carries marine organisms and larvae across the Pacific Ocean, depositing them in the Philippines. The archipelago’s rich ecosystems, such as the Verde Island Passage, offer shelter for these new arrivals, where they can settle, adapt, and evolve, further enriching the biodiversity of the area.

Complex Geological Background

The geological history of the Philippines is both complex and fascinating. The country’s current archipelago was once divided into three distinct regions, scattered across the Pacific. Through plate tectonics, these regions gradually merged, acting as life rafts for a variety of species. As a result, the Philippines’ waters contain marine life shaped by three separate geologic histories, making its biodiversity truly unique.

DIVE PROFILE

Site Overview

Skill Level: Advanced (due to depth and currents)

Max Depth: 40 meters (131 feet)

Average Depth: 18–30 meters (59–98 feet)

Water Temperature: 26–30°C (79–86°F)

Visibility: 20–30 meters (65–100 feet)

Current: Moderate to Strong (ideal for drift diving)

Dive Plan

  1. Entry and Descent:
    • The dive usually begins with a negative entry (deflating BCDs and descending quickly) to avoid surface currents.
    • Divers descend along the pinnacle structure starting around 5–10 meters, where the coral cover begins.
  2. Exploring the Walls:
    • As you descend, you’ll encounter steep walls and sloping reefs adorned with soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges.
    • At depths between 18–25 meters, you’ll see schools of anthias, butterflyfish, fusiliers, and damselfish
  3. Mid-Dive Drift:
    • Strong currents often flow along the walls, creating exciting drift conditions. Allow the current to carry you while keeping an eye out for trevallies, tunas, and reef sharks cruising along the reef edges
    • At Green sea turtles and the occasional white-tip reef shark are common sightings at this point.
    • Large schools of barracudas, jacks, and snappers tend to hover around deeper sections of the pinnacle, especially around 30–40 meters.
  4. The Shallow Garden :
    • As you ascend, you’ll reach 10–15 meters, where a colorful coral garden thrives. Table corals, staghorn corals, and soft corals create a vibrant habitat for smaller reef fish.
    • This area is ideal for conducting a safety stop while admiring anemonefish, lionfish, and reef crabs.
  5. Exit:
    • After completing the safety stop at 5 meters for 3 minutes, divers surface away from the pinnacle to avoid currents and are picked up by the dive boat.