Diving bargains - Puerto Galera, Philippines

Shark Photo: Matthew Oldfield Harlequin ghost pipefish Photo: MO Many host goby on soft coral Photo: MO

Just a few hours from the Philippine capital, Manila, Puerto Galera is a set of sandy bays set against dense jungle. Its coastal sprawl is a raucous melange of fleshpots, bars and restaurants, with a variety of accommodation, which ranges from US$5 flophouses to modern, airconditioned hotels.

Of all Southeast Asia’s budget diving centres, this possibly offers the best diving for the lowest outlay. The nearest rival would be Bali, which is slightly more expensive but has arguably more spectacular diving when taken as a whole. Puerto Galera’s great strength is in having a good variety of diving available in one compact area. There was a time when sex tourism made up the bulk of business in Puerto Galera, and you will still see plenty of ‘hunting girls’ around here. The good news is that a more responsible sort of tourism has been encouraged by the proliferation of local diving businesses.

So what does the area have to offer divers? There are a few purpose-sunk wrecks in the 20–30m range, the reefs are definitely worth a visit and you may even see a shark or two. The area has acquired a reputation for excellent ‘critter’ diving that puts its other attractions in the shade. It is possible to find many of the familiar macro supermodels here, including pygmy seahorses, harlequin ghost pipefish and various species of cuttlefish and octopus.

When you consider that the other great macro diving destinations are situated in ‘luxury’ destination such as Papua New Guinea, Sabah in Malaysia or northern Sulawesi, you begin to appreciate that Puerto Galera is something special.

It is possible to go it alone and book your own flights and accommodation separately, but Crusader Travel (020 8744 0474, www.crusadertravel.com) offers 13 nights in Puerto Galera from £1,269, including flights, accommodation, transfers and diving.

Top Tips

Travel light. Budget airlines often place tight restrictions on hold luggage (about 20kg on average) and excess fees can be more expensive than buying another seat. If you get an absolute knock-down flight ticket (in the £20– £30 category, for instance), it could be worth buying another seat... and the extra 20kg that comes with it.

If you are making your own travel arrangements, we recommend first deciding which dive businesses you’re going to use. Once you’ve made their acquaintance, either online or in person, ask them to help you get the best possible deal on your accommodation.