Underwater Explorer

This is the true experience of the Philippines for those whose favourite activity is scuba diving and snorkeling. Here dive shops are in many resorts and dotting the beach areas. Bars and restaurants along the coast light up waiting for your return. The party often pushes out into the streets in front of the bars on a Saturday night going into the wee hours.

Coron is considered one of the top wreck diving destinations in the entire world — the Japanese warships sunk during World War II lying on the seabed are now encrusted with coral and inhabited by extraordinary marine life that draws serious divers from every continent. Oslob has the whale sharks that appear in every Philippines travel video — gentle giants you can swim alongside in an experience that stays with people for the rest of their lives. Dauin near Dumaguete is famous for muck diving. Moalboal in Cebu is world-renowned for the sardine runs and turtle encounters. See anything from whale sharks to dolphins, sardine runs and so many tropical fish, outcrops of rocks to explore and underwater caves.

Some of the best diving anywhere in the country is available here. The community dynamic has a specific character — because these are smaller destinations built around a specific activity, the people you meet tend to share a genuine common passion. A shared dive creates a different bond than a shared happy hour. The expat community is smaller than Boracay or Siargao but often feels more cohesive.

The rocky beach reality is worth stating plainly. Most of these destinations have working coastlines built around dive access rather than beach aesthetics. The water is the attraction, not the sand. For a diver this is completely irrelevant.

Backpackers to wealthy Europeans mix well in crowds. There is a good selection of western style restaurants. Even the jungles are filled with great places to explore when you don't want to hit the ocean for the day. Dating here is fairly good — surrounded by provincial areas, locals have few nearby leisure options so these expat areas draw them naturally.

The internet and power situation requires genuine research at the specific location level. Within the same small town you can find a resort with reliable fiber and a generator running 24 hours and a guesthouse two streets away that loses power every afternoon. If you work remotely this needs to be your first question to any landlord.

Supply in housing is limited as they are smaller destinations. It's far easier to negotiate a long term stay at a cheaper resort than find a long term rental apartment. Rentals if found likely ₱35K and up — which is often what you can negotiate a long term stay at a resort just on the outskirts of the main district. Hospitals are basic provincial at best.