I had the opportunity to travel to Anilao one Good Friday because I tagged along with a friend who was logging her diving hours for her Technical Diving course with SDI. We drove to Anilao, Batangas, which was easy enough because of the Star Tollway. We just turned on the GPS and let the annoying British voice take us all the way to Aquaventure, which is nestled in a nice location within the Anilao cove and reef area.
Though I didn't go diving that day (I have yet to sign up for a diving class. I'd like to do it one of these days), I was allowed to hop on the dive boat so that I can jump into the water with my fins and my snorkel. I learned that day that Anilao is one of the best dive spots in the country because the visibility level is so high. The water is so clear and free from contamination that you can see for several feet around you during a clear day. I was able to interact with a lot of the sea life because most of the really colorful fish and corals can be found even just a few meters away from the shore. The water here is quite deep, so you can expect to find some pretty darn colorful sea life just a few feet away from the edge of the water. You can also find a lot of variety here, as it is known that Anilao has some of the highest biodiversity in such a small area - there are thousands of species nestled in the corals within just a few square kilometers.
If you ever want to take up diving, just head to Aquaventure and look for Teacher Mabel and her husband Daniel. I became acquainted to them and their cute kids during the trip, and we even went out several times in Manila after the diving trip. Mabel and Daniel are very experienced divers, and even my friend who is also quite experienced, look up to the couple's skill as technical divers. Aquaventure is by no means cheap. The food is quite expensive, but you can be rest assured that it is really good. The accommodation in the resort is also quite pricey, but there are also other places around that can offer cheaper lodging. read more