Puerto Galera, boasts of an ideal natural harbor. Visited often for its enticing beaches and exciting dive sites for new, as well as experienced divers. There are over 25 dive sites in Galera, varying from rugged walls to gentle sand and coral covered slopes. There’s a profusion of marine life and a series of underwater canyons with large barrel sponges, angelfish, batfish and color everywhere. Its most popular dive sites are Hole in the Wall, Canyons, Shark Cave and Verde Island Wall.
Hole In The Wall
Expertise Rating: Novice
Off Escarceo Point, it is renowned for its sometimes-ferocious currents and riptides, whirlpools and eddies. It is reached by drop-ping in over a field of stunning table corals at about 9m. Descend in several 3m-high stepped drop-offs, and reach the hole at around 13m. It is covered with multi-colored sponges and crinoids. Beyond the hole, you get a good chance of running into large pelagic and even a turtle or two.
The Canyons
Expertise Rating: Advanced
Usually visited with Hole in the Wall as starting point, swim along the wall to reach the Canyons. It is encrusted with soft and hard corals and home to many interesting tropical fish. Tuna, jacks, lionfish, and whitetip sharks are prominent and the occasional Hawksbill Turtle makes an appearance. Usual end point of this dive is a large anchor (about 1.5m across) embedded in the reef.
Shark Cave
Expertise Rating: Advanced
Usually done as part of a dive at Canyons. Depending on the which way the current is running, drop onto the reef, usually near the Canyons, in about 10-20 m of water. Swim over the ledge and allow the current to take you to the cave which is in a dip along the wall at 28m next to a sheltered sandy patch. The cave itself is more of a horizontal crack in the reef or an overhang. During the daytime, one or two whitetip reef sharks often rest in this cave.
Verde Island
Expertise Rating: Intermediate
Recognized as one of the best wall dives in the country. It is easy to find: look for two rocks jutting out of the sea 100m or so off the island’s southeast point. Drop in a few meters south of them, then head north. The wall is festooned in a vibrant array of soft corals, with impressive gorgonians jutting out between vast slabs of star corals. Expect to see pelagics like Whitetips and other sharks, occasional mantas, eagle rays, tuna and jacks, rainbow runners and wahoos and Spanish mackerel.