Islands for the Intrepid

Diving

There’s no better way to take in the Philippines’ underwater wonders than donning your scuba gear and heading down into the deep blue. In westernmost Palawan, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tubbataha Reef is considered one of the most extraordinary diving destinations in the world for its immense biodiversity. Situated 180 kilometers from the provincial capital of Puerto Princesa, the 97,000-square-kilometer marine sanctuary is accessible only on liveaboards fitted for the 10-hour journey. Chartered five-day expeditions can be arranged with Zamerdius (zamerdius.com), one of the accredited tour operators that helps fund Tubbataha’s conservation.

The same outfitter also runs trips to Mindoro for another covetable dive site: Apo Reef, home to over 300 marine species, including white tip sharks, eagle rays, and bottlenose dolphins. Spanning 34 square kilometers, it is the largest contiguous coral reef in the country. Above the water, it’s