Monkey Beach in Puerto Galera - Philippines

The Monkey Beach dive sites in Puerto Galera are perfect for beginners and advanced divers. The Monkey Beach site is closer and is better suited for beginners and novices while the Monkey Wreck is a site better suited for experienced divers.

The closer Monkey Beach dive site should be distinguished from Monkey Wreck. Puerto Galera's Monkey Beach site is around ten minutes off of Monkey Beach while the jump off point for Monkey Wreck is usually eight minutes east of Sabang Point. Of course, you can also access the wreck site since it is a little further off the coral filled Monkey Beach site. Monkey Wreck features a pig boat sunk in 1993 and has a maximum depth of 130 feet and strong currents, which is not recommended for beginners. Of course, you can visit both dive sites, however take note that the wreck requires a more advanced dive experience or certification.

Take note that you can either take combined dives to check out both sites. You also have the choice to do each site individually since each of these two Puerto Galera dive sites has something different to offer.

You can opt to check out Monkey Wreck first and then move a short distance heading towards the shore to get to monkey beach or vice versa, the choice is yours anyway. You'll find more corals here than in the wreck site. Divers here will surely enjoy seeing nudibranchs, crinoids, sea urchins, and sea urchins along its gentle slope. Other than the colorful reef fish, you'll also find some turtles and giant clams whenever you're lucky enough. You are quite lucky if you are able to spot pygmy seahorses, which are quite elusive creatures living in this site.

Since currents at the wreck site usually runs from moderate to heavy with a 10 to 30 meter or 65 feet visibility, divers are required advanced or tech diving skill levels. The other Monkey Beach site will be a lot easier than the wreck. Currents there are often calm even if you compare them to other dive sites to the east of Puerto Galera. Visibility here is also around 65 feet with an average depth of 40 feet (maximum depth for this site is at 60 feet. This site is recommended for novice divers due to its naturally favorable conditions.

There are many diving outfitters in Puerto Galera that you can contact if you want to try diving in the Monkey Beach sites. Average diving rates will cost less than P2,000. However, you should expect the rates to differ slightly from one outfitter or shop to another. For those who are out to learn how to dive, shops and dive centers also offer lessons. These rates for these courses will start around P2,000 for beginner lessons to more P40,000 for a dive master internship.

Experienced and beginner divers will enjoy the beautiful array of undersea life in these Puerto Galera dive sites. Remember to take on the sites that are fit for your current experience level.