Trip base · Philippines
Anilao
Macro diving in Batangas, a drive south of Manila. Anilao is known for nudibranchs, Cathedral Rock is a pinnacle, and Verde Island's strong currents make it an Advanced dive.
Strong fit for December
- Strength: 4 of 4 sites are in season in December
- Strength: Calm seas on almost every day
- Strength: Water 27°C in December
- Trade-off: Storm risk: a named storm passed within 250 km in 33% of Decembers
Pack a 3 mm wetsuit for December.
Why this match: 53 + 27 + 10 = 90
- Season53 / 55
- 4 of 4 sites are in season in December; calm on almost every day.
- Your level27 / 27
- No level picked, so all 4 sites count.
- Weather10 / 18
- Rain on more than half the days; named storm nearby in 33% of years.
Month by month
Season: best November to May. Marine life uses the same scale (Best = reliable, Good = likely, Possible = possible, Off = not seen; ? = we don't know yet). Water and rain are 1991–2020 averages.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | January: Best | February: Best | March: Best | April: Best | May: Best | June: Off season | July: Off season | August: Off season | September: Off season | October: Off season | November: Best | December: Best |
| Mantas | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Whale sharks | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Hammerheads | January: We don't know yet | February: We don't know yet | March: We don't know yet | April: We don't know yet | May: We don't know yet | June: We don't know yet | July: We don't know yet | August: We don't know yet | September: We don't know yet | October: We don't know yet | November: We don't know yet | December: We don't know yet |
| Reef sharks | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Turtles | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Dolphins | January: We don't know yet | February: We don't know yet | March: We don't know yet | April: We don't know yet | May: We don't know yet | June: We don't know yet | July: We don't know yet | August: We don't know yet | September: We don't know yet | October: We don't know yet | November: We don't know yet | December: We don't know yet |
| Water | 27° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Rain days | 10 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 18 |
| Calm days | 28 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
| Storm risk | – | – | – | – | 10% | 17% | 23% | – | 17% | 37% | 47% | 33% |
Rain days: days with 1 mm or more in the ERA5 grid cell (about 30 km across); over tropical seas it counts more light-rain days than a local rain gauge would. Calm days: waves under 1.5 m and wind under 25 km/h. Storm risk: share of years with a named storm within 250 km that month (– means under 5%).
Dive sites here
4 sites on Divetip. Today's Dive scores are for reference only: live scores cover the next 48 hours, not your trip month.
Getting there
Fly to Manila (MNL). Road south from Manila (about 130 km): about 3 h.
Day boat only.
What diving costs
A day of diving from about €83
A day of diving
Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort: USD 93 for 2 dives (about €83)
2-dive package per person, rates valid 1 Oct 2026 - 30 Jun 2027. Extra: Sanctuary Dive Fee USD 7 per person per day, fuel surcharge PHP 150 per dive, rental gear (full gear w/o computer USD 25/day), Nitrox USD 5. Single dive USD 48; unlimited diving USD 136/day (3-8 days).
Single dives and add-ons
Blue Ribbon Divers: PHP 1,800 a dive (about €26)
Fun dive per diver (page shows PHP 1,800 and PHP 2,000, the higher one apparently including a temporary fuel surcharge); prices valid through August 2026. Excludes government environmental tax PHP 150-300 per diver per day and rental gear (full gear PHP 450 per dive or PHP 1,200 per day). Page does not say whether boat and guide are included.
Prices as published by each operator (a few by a named booking agent), read on 8 November 2026. Euro amounts at the ECB reference rate of 6 November 2026. Park fees, permits and equipment are often extra. Prices change, so check with the operator before you book.
Non-divers: snorkeling from the shore and by boat
Non-divers can snorkel the shallow, low-current sites and some resort house reefs (Dive and Trek's protected house reef draws snorkelers as well as divers), and resorts offer boat snorkel outings such as a Maricaban picnic and snorkeling trip.
Sources: lakwatsero.com, buceoanilao.com
Book your Anilao trip
- Book an Anilao dive day from Manila on Klook (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- Search flights on Aviasales (partner link, opens in a new tab)
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Partners never change the ranking.
Where this comes from
- Water temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1 daily sea surface temperature, 1991–2020.
- Storms: NOAA IBTrACS tracks, 1991–2020. Rain, waves and wind: ERA5 reanalysis, 1991–2020. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
- Coral heat stress: No Stress (No heat stress for corals. Satellite data, highest level in the 7 days to 7 November 2026.) Coral bleaching: NOAA Coral Reef Watch daily 5 km Bleaching Alert Area (7-day maximum), checked twice a day.
- Seasons by site: our dive site pages. Getting there: transfer source.
Marine life sources (4 species)
- Mantas: dive-the-world.com, underwaterasia.info
- Whale sharks: bluewaterdivetravel.com
- Reef sharks: bluewaterdivetravel.com, dive-the-world.com
- Turtles: padi.com, bluewaterdivetravel.com, dive-the-world.com
Typical values are 1991–2020 averages and our site seasons. Always check local conditions with your dive centre. Spotted something wrong? Report a correction.