Solitude Acacia Resort, Anilao

Over the last few decades, Anilao has earned a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its muck diving - in fact, for being a dive destination where guests can see pretty much every critter in their wish list! Rare species of shrimps, crabs, frogfish, scorpionfish, pipefish, seahorse, and octopus are all seen regularly, and the dive guides have become expert at leading guests to the right spot at the right time. As well as all the muck diving sites, there are also some healthy reefs with an abundance of hard and soft corals - perfect for gorgeous wide angle photography. And to add a bit of variety, day trips to nearby Verde Island are also possible, although most people stay focused on macro and critter spotting.

If you’re staying in one of Anilao’s dive resorts, the in-house guides will be very knowledgable about the local inhabitants, and guests are given the best possible chances to find all the critters on their wishlist with small dive groups and the perfect guest-to-guide ratio. Like much of the rest of the Philippines, diving in Anilao is from local open boats, called bangkas. If you’re staying outside of a dive resort, these boats can be hired by visiting groups along with freelance guides with the knowledge and experience to find the rare species. Either way, the normal schedule is two dives in the morning, followed by two in the afternoon and a night dive later on in the day. In many other locations, night dives are often optional but in Anilao they are almost seen as compulsory – in the darkness, Anilao comes to life with the unexpected and unique always a possibility.

Dive time limits are less strict and often extend beyond 60 minutes, as everyone ascends into the shallows hunting for hairy shrimp and boxer crabs amongst the sea grass and rubble. The long dives and slow pace means divers can often start to feel the cold, so we would recommend using a 5mm suit as a minimum to keep you warm.