RP among world’s best dive sites

Thailand, Hawaii and other South Pacific and Caribbean countries are known for their prime scuba sites — but they have nothing on the Philippines, which has officially earned the distinction of being among the world’s top three diving destinations.

Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) general manager Robert Barbers said the country was chosen as one of the top three dive sites in the world during the Dive and Travel Awards for 2006 held in Japan.

The best dive site award was a result of a survey conducted by the Marine Diving Fair (MDF), now considered to be Asia’s largest scuba diving and beach resort exhibition that annually attracts over 50,000 travelers.

"The Philippines was very fortunate to be given recognition and the honor to be named among the best dive sites in the world next to Maldives and Palau," Barbers said.

The Philippines swam past other locations with internationally known diving sites including Thailand, Hawaii and several South Pacific and Caribbean countries.

During the award ceremony, Barbers expressed optimism that with this new distinction, more foreign travelers will be encouraged to visit the Philippines and enjoy the many different dive sites around the country.

According to Barbers, the tourism market of the world’s diving industry is very big, thus tourism industry stakeholders must intensify efforts to develop dive resorts around the country in order to attract more tourists.

"We have more than 7,000 islands and exploring even a third of these as potential dive sites would surely be a welcome development in our tourism industry. Hopefully in the succeeding years the Philippines could be named as the best dive site in the world," Barbers said.

Among the top internationally recognized dive spots in the country are the Tubattaha Reef in the Sulu Sea; Malapascua in Cebu which offers the chance to glimpse rare treasure sharks; Balicasag island off Bohol; Anilao, Batangas; and Puerto Galera in Mindoro for its colorful corals, strong currents and big fishes.

Also well known among divers are Apo Island off Dumaguete and the surrounding islands of Palawan.