Puerto Galera is one of the beautiful bays in the world. For many visitors who have walked along the shores of Puerto Galera, they have described the place as a piece of paradise where one can bask in the magnificence of nature and partake in the many activities and leisure the resorts have to offer. Deep Monkey Beach is one of the reasons why Puerto Galera has become one of the most desired tourist destinations in the Philippines, with thousands flocking to its beaches year after year.
Deep Monkey Beach is one of the best diving spots in Puerto Galera. This coral slope down to 18m/60ft is home to a diverse marine ecosystem. Colorful small coral heads with crinoids, nudibranchs and plenty of small reef fish can be seen here.
The beach is series of walls, overhangings, ridges and spectacular cliff-like formations that step off to deep water in this area. Common to the area are giant gorgonian fans, basket sponges, soft tree corals and fields high whip corals along with a great diversity of fish life.
Remember
Currents can be strong so best to plan the dives around slack tide. The site is only suitable for advanced and technical nitrox diving due to the depth.
Historical Significance – A nice tip to scuba divers, a 20m/65foot local cargo boat named Monkey Wreck sunk in 1993 lies off the main reef in sand at 40 meters deep and hosts a large school of batfish and some good-size snappers and groupers. It attracts many divers due to the abundant fish life that shelters within the hull. Large emperor fish, angelfish, schools of red toothed triggerfish and the oddly shaped barramundi cod all take shelter within the bare bones of its ribs.
Venture to Oriental Mindoro!
Oriental Mindoro can be reached through land and sea transport. From Manila, take the Batangas-Laguna-Tayabas (BLTB), Tritran, and other Batangas-bound buses to the Batangas City pier. From there, take the super ferry boats bound for Calapan, which has several trips per day, or those bound for Puerto Galera. A roll-on-roll-off (RO-RO) ferry is convenient for those wishing to take their private vehicles.
In Mindoro Oriental, a number of jeepneys ply the capital from the neighboring towns and to the interior.
Accommodations
• Utopia Resort & Spa - Palangan, Palangan, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines 5203
• Mermaid Resort - Sabang Beach Puerto Galera, Sabang, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines 5203
• The Manor at Puerto Galera - Brgy Sto Nino, Sto. Nino, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines
• Waimea Luxury Houses - El Galleon Dive Resort Annex - Small La Laguna Beach, Sabang, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines
• El Galleon Dive Resort with Asia Divers - Small La Laguna Beach, Sabang, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines
• Sunset at Aninuan Beach Resort - Aninuan, Puerto Galera, Aninuan, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines
• Marco Vincent Dive Resort - Oriental Mindoro, White Beach, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines 5203
• Redsun Dive Resort - Small Lalaguna, Sabang, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines
• Sabang Oasis Resort - Sabang Beach Central, Oriental Mindoro, Sabang, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines 5203
• Dolphinbay Beachfront & Dive Resort - Barangay Palangan, Puerto Galera, Palangan, Puerto Galera / Mindoro, Philippines 5203