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Explore the vivid corals and marine life in San Jose, Philippines, captured in an underwater scene.
📷 Zir YU · Pexels

Coral Gardens

3.2 — based on 6 community signals

Coral Gardens offers year-round diving in the Philippines with vibrant reef ecosystems. Explore a thriving coral destination with community-documented dives.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
PhotoFriendlyBleachingRiskShore entryFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Coral Gardens location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.1 kn
Wave
0.42 m
Water
29.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SSE (46%)
Now: SW (224°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.55m

Next: Low at 04:00 (+0.17m)

+1.4 m0 m-0.2 m
▼ 04:00 · +0.17m ▲ 10:00 · +0.58m ▼ 15:00 · +0.42m ▲ 22:00 · +0.89m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9 · very high Air PM2.521 · moderate 05:26 17:34
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 10.7 0.66 9 0mm
09-20 9.8 0.62 9 3mm
09-21 8.3 0.58 9 4mm
09-22 7.9 0.44 5 6mm
09-23 5.8 0.38 9 6mm
09-24 7.9 0.3 9 6mm
09-25 6.7 0.22 9 13mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions

About this spot

Coral Gardens is a reef diving destination in the Philippines that welcomes divers throughout the year. The site centers on its namesake coral formations, which support a dynamic marine environment. Three community videos document the diving experience here, providing insight into what to expect underwater. The reef structure makes Coral Gardens accessible to divers seeking coral-focused exploration. The site sits outside a marine protected area, so diving follows standard Philippine regulations. Local dive operators in the region can arrange trips and provide current site conditions before you dive. Coral health remains a consideration at this location. Monitor bleaching updates before planning a trip, as tropical reefs respond to seasonal temperature shifts. The Philippines has strong diving seasons, and Coral Gardens performs consistently across the year. Water conditions, visibility, and marine life vary with local weather and currents, so check recent dive reports from the community videos and local operators for the most current information. Plan your visit by connecting with operators familiar with the site. They can brief you on entry points, surface conditions, and any seasonal changes. Community feedback via video content offers realistic previews of the reef and its current state.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Philippines: 119 Sites, Wrecks & Walls Worth the Flight

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B/C · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11752km · ~2703kg · €49

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 11h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Coral Gardens?

Coral Gardens offers year-round diving opportunities in the Philippines. Water conditions and visibility vary seasonally, so contact local operators or review recent community videos to check current conditions for your preferred travel dates.

What depth and difficulty level is Coral Gardens?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented for this site. Consult local dive operators in the Philippines before booking—they can assess your experience level and describe the reef layout and any currents you may encounter.

What marine life can I expect to see?

Coral Gardens supports reef ecosystems typical of Philippine dive sites, centered on coral formations and associated marine life. Specific species observations are limited, so review the three community videos available to see recent sightings and get a realistic picture of what divers encounter there.

Are permits or special access required?

Coral Gardens sits outside a marine protected area and follows standard Philippine diving regulations. Local dive operators will guide you through any required procedures and can arrange transportation and briefings for your dive.

Verified marine species observations

54 records · 49 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Rhinoclavis sordidula

Gastropoda · Cerithiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Mar 2003
×1records
Depth:
61–201 m

Calliostoma sakashitai

Gastropoda · Calliostomatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2003
×1records
Depth:
201 m

Callistocypraea aurantium

Gastropoda · Cypraeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2003
×1records
Depth:
45 m

Calliostoma vicdani

Gastropoda · Calliostomatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 2002
×1records
Depth:
61–201 m

Conus thomae

Gastropoda · Conidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 May 2002
×1records

Callistocypraea leucodon

Gastropoda · Cypraeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2001
×1records

Amalda vernedei

Gastropoda · Ancillariidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1997
×1records

Sigillina signifera

Ascidiacea · Holozoidae
OBIS
Last seen:
7 Apr 1996
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Peronia verruculata

Gastropoda · Onchidiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
4 Apr 1996
×1records
Depth:
1 m

Oxymetra

Crinoidea · Mariametridae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Apr 1996
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Aplidium intextum

Ascidiacea · Polyclinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Apr 1996
×1records
Depth:
33 m

Aplidiopsis ocellatus

Ascidiacea · Polyclinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Apr 1996
×1records
Depth:
12 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Coral gardens of Malapascua, Philippines at lighthouse dive site

tabish mansuri
💬 1 top comments
  • Beautiful

    @humairamansuri9298 · 👍 0

SCUBA drift dive Coron Palawan in the coral garden #scuba #scubadiving #scubagirl

Denis & Geraldine
💬 2 top comments
  • Beautiful!❤

    @thomasphillips3162 · 👍 0
  • Very nice corals! This place has a name? Is also suitable for drift snorkel?

    @robertepure-familytravel5893 · 👍 0

CORAL GARDENS of Bohol - Diving in the Philippines Balicasag 2016

SAM INDOWILD
💬 3 top comments
  • Those underwater air rings at 2:46 were cool!

    @aaron-gray · 👍 0
  • wow, that’s like a real life natural aquarium!

    @KristineB917 · 👍 0
  • The best diving video ever ❤

    @karaloyola3010 · 👍 0
wind peaks Jan-Feb-Mar, calmest Aug-May-Jun.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jan (100/100) Worst: Jul (0/100) Now: Sep (83/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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