Diving in Subic Bay
Diving in Subic Bay is well-recognized as one of the world’s top dive destinations,
with its coastal waters having a wealth of superb
dive sites hidden within.
Marine Life Highlights in Subic Bay
Bobtail Squid
Nudibranch
Flamboyant Cuttlefish
Diving in Subic Bay
Dive Subic Bay
Being a vast archipelago of islands, the Philippines has many of Asia’s most visited beaches. When in central Luzon, however, Subic Bay is one of the first choices for visitors. Around 100 kilometers in the northwest of Manila, the country’s capital, is one of the most visited tourist areas in the country. Subic Bay is an industrial and commercial area that was once a US Naval Facility when the Americans resided in the island. The enclosed naval base is known as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The Subic Bay and Zambales area is also recognized for its many beaches along the coastline. At the coastline are numerous resorts, hotels and waterfront establishments. The city of Olongapo in the Subic Bay area attracts dozens of beach lovers per day because of this. Bordering on the Subic bay are the two parts of Olongapo namely Barretto and Kalaklan. There are many options for accommodations in the Subic Bay, fit to suit the various needs of tourists. Tourists on a budget may visit the public Ocean View beach resort, Baloy Long beach, Sierra Beach in Kalaklan and the Pailadium beach in the Barrio Barretto. For those willing to splurge a bit, there is always the Johan’s Dive and water sports resort as well as the Arizona International Hotel and resort.
A fantastic vacation full of many fun filled activities, scenic underwater paradises and many beautiful landscapes, await you at the Subic Bay! One of the best places in Central Luzon to plan your Philippine vacation.
Best Time to Dive Subic Bay
At Subic Bay, diving can be experienced all year round because typhoons and storms rarely touch the area. The best time to dive however is during the dry season, from November to May. Any other time during the year has tropical showers and occasional rainfall that may make the area unfit for divers, depending of course if they do not mind diving despite the weather conditions.
Getting There and Around
The most common transport to take to get you to Subic Bay is the Bus. From the capital city Manila, you can take any of the major bus lines to get directly to Subic. Otherwise, you can take the bus to Angeles City and take a connecting bus to Subic. Depending on the specific dive site you wish to visit and where you plan your accommodations, you can arrange with the transport to take you directly where you want to go. Also, your accommodations may have transfer cars available. Aside from the bus commute you may also take a car and drive there directly. Travel time ranges from 2 to 3 hours depending on where you are coming from. The Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway can be taken at the Dau, Angeles or Tarlac exit to save for travel time. Once you arrive there you can take the local jeepney or tricycle to get you to your specific destination.
Best Diving Season: | December to June |
Weather: | March to May (Dry season) August to November (Wet Season) |
Water Temperature: | 25°C-30°C. |
Marine Animal Highlights: | Barracudas, Dogtooth Tunas, Giant Trevallies, giants Manta Rays, Dolphins, Whales |
Recommended Thermal Protection: | – |
Water Visibility: | 10m-20m |
Tipping: | – |
Transportation: | – |
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