Puerto Galera - Verde Island
Verde Island (the green Island) is between Puerto Galera (Mindoro) and Batangas on Luzon. The waters surrounding Verde Island are mostly crystal clear and a paradise for Scuba divers. Verde Island is about an one hour ride with a local dive-boat from Anilao and even less from Sabang.
The Scuba Diving around Verde Island can only be described as breath-taking. The visibility reaches most times 25 meters and even 40 meters are not unusual.
A trip to Verde Island is usually done as a daytrip with two or three dives. Make sure you bring some sun-protection as the reflections of the ocean get's you even you hide under the roof of one of the bigger dive-boats. Enough drinking water should be also in your dive-bag, if that is not provided anyway by your local dive-shop.
If your dive-shop goes to the beach during your surface interval or for a lunch-break you can walk up and down the beach and look for porcelain from a Spanish Galleon which shipwrecked close to the beach of Verde Island some centuries ago. The broken lpates and cups got still washed in whit the incoming tide. For those who don't want to search by them self there is also no problem as the locals found out that they can make business out of that and you can buy some pieces of porcelain or shells of them while resting between the dives.
The Pinnacle (some dive-shops call it also Drop-Off) is probably the most famous dive-spot around Verde Island. It raises from deep water and just breaks the surface at the very top.
You should follow your dive-guides instructions and not overtake him. There could be some dangerous down-currents, depending on the tides and the moon. Expirienced dive-master know to navigate the way around and can avoid dangerous situations. The drop-off is also famous for with Tech-Divers and when you crising along at 30 meters you may have some more bubbles coming up from the Abyss below you. This site has a great veriety of fish and corals. Huge gorgonias and Whip-corals can also be found at the Pinnacle.
The Washing Machine is a thrilling dive for those divers who need a bit more kick. It is a roller-coaster ride under water when dived at ebb tide. The dive-site is a number of Canyons where ther currents are running through. The waters rushing from all directions into each other which create the effect like in a Washing Machine. We highly recommend a full suit or dive skin just for protection as contact with the sharp stones or corals can be very painful and happens even to very experienced divers.