The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, fringing the Pacific Ocean to the east and the South China Sea to the west. There are many diverse dive centres, all with their own unique characteristics that would make a multi-centre dive trip around the Philippines a memorable trip for most divers. The Philippines has had its recent history shaped by the Spanish and latterly by the USA. This is particularly evident in and around Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. Today, the Philippines is a welcoming place to visitors with obvious signs of western influence on the country and popular culture. The Filipinos are unpretentious warm welcoming people who will do their best to make your visit memorable. The Philippines has previously suffered from reports of under developed and down at heel dive centres and locations. However more up to date reports show this not to be the case, returning the Philippines to a logical choice when selecting a world-class destination in terms of facilities and dive centre professionalism.
The Diving: The diving is diverse. There is a good blend of reef diving with the usual myriad of reef fish and corals typically found in tropical waters. In addition, there are pelagic in the deeper waters where the currents run, wreck diving in some areas, liveaboards and in Puerto Galera, Deep technical diving. The Climate: There is a distinct dry season from November to May. The water temperatures are slightly cooler, but on balance, offer the best diving in terms of visibility and for mainstream under water photography. The dry season would also provide the best land conditions to enjoy the country and relax, when not diving. The rainy season is from June to October. There is a chance of typhoons affecting the north of the country, in areas away from the more popular dive locations. However, the knock-on effect further south is severely reduced visibility and rain affecting any surface based activities. Diving is possible during the rainy season, but may be limited and/or disappointing. Overall, the climate is tropical, with an air temperature annual average of about 32 degrees C and water temperatures varying from 25 ? 31 degrees C, depending on the time of year and location. The monsoon winds are also divided into two distinct seasons: The first, from November to March, brings strong north westerly winds. The second gentler winds blow from the south west between June and November.
Currency: The official currency is the Peso, US dollars and credit cards are also widely accepted. Any financial transactions are best done at a bank for safety and the best rate of exchange. Opening hours for banks are Monday to Friday only, from 0900-1600 hours. Power: Predominantly 220 vac but 60 hz rather than the more common 50 hz found in the rest of the world outside of the Americas. This should have little or no effect on most items of electrical equipment, but it may be wise to check this with the equipment manufacturer. Some of the larger hotels in the cities also have 100 vac/ 60 Hz power outlets to cater for visitors from North America. Some of the far-flung resorts rely on their own generators for power, which may mean power is not necessarily available 24 hours a day. Tourism and other Activities: The Philippines have a vibrant culture with many diverse activities and sights for the visitor. For further information, contact: Philippines Tourist Authority, 17 Abermarle Street, London W1X 7HA ph. 0207 499 5443
