Diving at Anilao, Batangas

Anilao, on the Calumpan Peninsula in Mabini, Batangas, is known as the macro and 'muck' diving capital of the Philippines. Its reefs are full of nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish and colourful soft coral, and the area is on the edge of the Verde Island Passage, one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world. There are also a few wrecks and good snorkelling straight off many of the resorts.

The coast is lined with dive resorts rather than beaches, and diving is cheap compared with most of Asia. It's only 2 to 3 hours from Manila, so it gets busy with city divers at weekends; come midweek for quieter dive sites.

Most visitors book a resort package that includes transfers from Manila, as the road signs are poor.