The Philippines

Philippine Tourism Office

Philippine Consulate General

447 Sutter Street, Ste. 507 San Francisco, CA 94108

Tel No. 415 9564060 Fax No. 415 9562093

Email - pdotsf@aol.com

Website – www.experiencephilippines.ph

Philippines Gets Top Spots in Scuba Diving Magazine’s

Top 100 Reader’s Choice Survey for 2010

(Categories for Wreck Diving, Macro Life, Advanced Diving, Beginner Diving, Underwater Photography, Value for Diving Dollar, and Overall Rating for Destination)

The Philippines topped the list in best macro life diving among the dive destinations in Pacific Region based on the results of Readers’ Choice Survey conducted by Scuba Diving magazine, a prestigious and widely circulated diving magazine in North America. In addition, the country also landed the top spots in three other categories: second place in best value for diving dollar and ranked third in destination for both beginner and advanced divers; and wreck diving. Overall, the Philippines garnered the second most preferred dive destination in Asia Pacific Region next to the Galapagos, a group of islands off the west coast of South America.

Majority of the magazine readers favored the Philippines in macro life and this is an affirmation of the findings of US marine scientists who recently declared that the country as the center of the center of marine fish bio-diversity in the world. The Philippines is situated in the Coral Triangle; an area which is dubbed as the global epicenter of marine bio- diversity that needs protection and conservation.

More than 5,000 Scuba Diving Magazine readers from all over the globe have ranked the world’s best diving destinations in various categories, namely, Wreck Diving, Big Animals, Shore Diving, Macro Life, Value for your Diving Dollar, Diving for Advanced Divers, Marine Life, Visibility, Health of Marine Environment, Wall Diving, Snorkeling, Diving for Beginners, Underwater Photography, Overall Rating of the Diving, and Overall Rating of the Destination. It is notable that the results were considered credible and accurate as these were derived from dive experts’ opinions on the basis of their own dive experiences in various destinations and not merely from surveys conducted online

(Diving in the Philippines offers a wide array of colorful corals and marine bio-diversity unlike anywhere else in the world)

The magazine also cited the Philippines as a world-class wide-angle destination with excellent wrecks especially those found in Coron Bay and the fabulous big animals sites in Tubbataha. The country’s diverse macro life has attracted thousands of divers and underwater photographers all over the world to go on underwater shooting safari. Many divers have joined the country’s annual Celebrate the Sea Photo Contest in the last three years.

The Philippines’ 7,107 islands have been labeled as a perfect place for the water enthusiasts. There is always a perfect dive spot for every type of diver with various skill levels. With 11,250 miles of shoreline and 10,546 square miles of coral reefs, this archipelagic wonder lies at the tip of the coral triangle – an area boasting of the most bio-diverse and marine-rich waters on Earth. During the ice age, it is believed that this triangular area is the only part of the world that was not frozen, making all the corals and underwater species flourish here. Today, the Philippine Seas are home to the most number of coral reef species in the world.

“In the past couple of years, the Philippines has continued to become a popular dive destination in Asia in spite of the economic downturn affecting most countries in the world. Our dive tour operators and resorts are getting good results from the North American dive market these days”, Philippine Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said. Many divers and suppliers attending dive shows like DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) had noticed that many dive areas and new dive tour programs are presently being offered by foreign dive tour operators.

“There is a clear indication that our diving industry has grown tremendously, following the strong promotions and ad campaigns done by both the government and private sectors. Many dive tour operators have started to expand their Philippine dive programs. Our country’s dive resorts have likewise evolved – offering a variety of dive facilities from rustic setting to world-class resorts”, the Tourism Chief adds.

Diving in the Philippines is one of the most affordable and exciting in the world. This archipelago of 7,107 islands offers dive packages to some of the world’s best dive sites, at a fraction of the cost to enjoy it elsewhere. “Traveling and diving within the country is very convenient as locals can easily communicate with tourists in English, being the medium of instruction in all levels of education. The people are very friendly and engaging which makes every diver’s experience more memorable and lasting”, Philippine Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. says.

(The Underground River in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan is the longest in the world and one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites)

Aside from the underwater riches of the Philippine seas, divers can also enjoy a multitude of topside wonders and activities – natural wonders, UNESCO world heritage sites, spas, and adventure activities like kayaking, trekking, canopy walking, etc. It is no wonder in the diving industry that the Philippines has emerged as a favorite destination in the Asia-Pacific Region due to its outstanding underwater and topside attractions.

For more information on Scuba Diving Magazine’s Top 100 Readers Choice Awards, visit http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/2010/01/2010-top-100-readers-choice-survey and for more information on Philippine Diving and Dive Tour Packages to the Philippines, visit http://www.experiencephilippines.ph/LM/thematic/pg-theme/token-1208195123149.html.