Escape the Canterbury winter and discover why Puerto Galera is one of the Philippines' premier diving destinations. Join the NZDiver team as we explore vibrant coral reefs, encounter turtles, schools of tropical fish, the incredible Verde Island, and even the elusive Wunderpus octopus. Follow our unforgettable journey beneath the surface—and see why we're already planning our next adventure for 2027.

From Christchurch to the Coral Reefs of Puerto Galera

An NZDiver Adventure to the Heart of the Philippines

There’s something special about leaving a frosty Canterbury morning behind and waking up in the tropics. For nine NZDiver travellers, that dream became reality as we headed to the Philippines to explore one of the world's most celebrated diving destinations—Puerto Galera.

The Journey Begins

A tropical dive holiday usually means shorts, T-shirts and sunshine—but at 4:00 am in Christchurch, the temperature was just 4°C, so warm jackets were definitely the order of the day.

Our group of seven gathered at Christchurch Airport, where an unusually busy check-in had everyone wondering whether their dive bags would sneak under the airline weight limit. Fortunately, every bag passed the scales without drama, and with plenty of smiles, our dive gear disappeared onto the conveyor belt bound for Manila.

After a smooth flight via Sydney, we were treated to a spectacular sunrise over the Tasman before descending into the vibrant capital of the Philippines. The contrast couldn't have been greater—swapping winter jackets for tropical heat as we stepped into bustling Manila, a city of more than 15 million people.

Following an overnight stay, we travelled south through the colourful countryside to Batangas, where a ferry carried us across calm blue waters to the island of Mindoro. From there it was only a short trip to Sabang Beach, our home for the next nine days at the welcoming Captn Greggs Resort.

Diving Into Paradise

Our daily routine quickly settled into an easy rhythm:

Coffee. Breakfast. Dive briefing. Repeat.

With the dive centre just 30 metres from our rooms, getting into the water couldn't have been easier. Our fantastic local dive guides, Ruby and Kexia, took care of every detail, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy the diving.

Our first dive at Fantasea Reef was everything we'd hoped for. Warm 30°C water, around 12 metres visibility, and an explosion of colour greeted us as we descended. Only a couple of hundred metres from shore, the reef was alive with soft corals, anemones, reef fish and peaceful turtles cruising effortlessly through the current.

For several members of the group, it was their very first experience diving in tropical waters—and judging by the smiles that surfaced after every dive, it certainly won't be their last.

A Different Adventure Every Dive

One of the great things about Puerto Galera is the incredible variety of dive sites.

Over the week we explored gentle drift dives through The Canyons, visited the fish-covered Sabang Wreck, and wandered across colourful reefs packed with marine life.

Kate was jokingly given the impossible task of counting every fish she saw. After about two minutes she admitted defeat!

For underwater photographers, Puerto Galera is a dream destination. Every dive revealed another fascinating subject—from brilliantly coloured nudibranchs to tiny shrimps hiding among soft corals. Sometimes the smallest creatures become the biggest highlights.

Verde Island – The Centre of Marine Biodiversity

No visit to Puerto Galera would be complete without diving Verde Island, often described as the "centre of the centre" of global marine biodiversity.

The currents were alive with schools of trevally, jacks, and tuna, while the reefs overflowed with healthy corals and an astonishing diversity of reef fish.

Every direction seemed to reveal another unforgettable encounter.

Discovering the Weird and Wonderful

Some of the most memorable dives weren't on colourful coral reefs at all.

Our muck dives at Secret Harbour and Montani proved that sandy bottoms can hide extraordinary treasures. Patient searching revealed pipefish, seahorses, cuttlefish and an incredible assortment of fascinating critters that many divers never notice.

Then came the dive everyone would be talking about for the rest of the trip.

During a night dive we encountered a Wunderpus octopus—a beautifully striped, zebra-patterned octopus with distinctive eye stalks. Completely unfazed by our presence, it calmly moved across the sand while we watched in amazement.

For many of us, it was the first time we'd ever seen one in the wild, making it an unforgettable highlight of the entire expedition.

More Than Just Diving

While the diving was exceptional, the trip was about far more than what happened underwater.

It was about travelling with friends, sharing stories over dinner, laughing about underwater mishaps, comparing photographs, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The team at Captn Greggs Resort looked after us brilliantly throughout our stay, while our dive guides ensured every dive was safe, relaxed and full of incredible marine encounters.

A huge thank you goes to everyone who helped make the trip such a success.

Ready for the Next Adventure?

Returning home to a cold Christchurch made us appreciate just how special our week in the tropics had been.

The good news?

NZDiver is already planning our 2027 Philippines group expeditions.

Whether you're an experienced diver looking for your next overseas adventure or you're dreaming about your very first tropical dive holiday, we'd love to have you join us.

We'll help you choose the right equipment, answer all your travel questions, and guide you every step of the way—from leaving Christchurch in winter to diving among turtles, colourful coral reefs and some of the richest marine biodiversity on Earth.

Swap the cold for the coral.

Visit NZDiver in-store or online and start planning your next unforgettable underwater adventure.

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