Verde Island diving... a gem in the Philippines
Verde Island is located between Mindoro Island and the main island of Luzon. The actual passage way is called Verde Island Passage. The two standout dives on Verde Island, Philippines are the Pinnacle and Washing Machine. Both these dives are extremely different...
The Pinnacle also Known as the Dropoff
A huge underwater reef that comes to the surface on the eastern side of Verde Island, the pinnacle is like a column that that starts in about 60m of water a rises, narrowing as it gets to the surface.
Be careful of the currents in this area. You will be dropped off as close to the pinnacle as possible and then descend to your agreed depth (with Dive master).
The dive zig zags up the pinnacle exploring the fantastic corals and marine life that inhabit the pinnacle. If you look out onto the blue you can be rewarded with schools of pelagic fish.
Take your time exploring the reef. There are very healthy gorgonian fans and at times you can even observe sea snakes sleeping amongst the coral. This is a world class dive with brilliant visibility.
Surface Interval
Usually surface intervals can be rather boring, perhaps a bit of snorkeling or catching a few of the suns rays, but on Verde Island you can enjoy something that not many people in the world have ever done or will probably never do.
In 1620 a Spanish Galleon hit the reefs on the southern side of the island in the Verde Island Passage, where she sank. There isn't much remaining of the ship, but the remnants of her passing still appear on the beach. In the 1960's the Spanish Galleon was heavily salvaged. What remains today is broken Chinese porcelain dating back to the late 1500's and early 1600's.
While beachcombing you may stumble upon shards of broken porcelain. After major storms and a bit of luck, you might even find whole plates or bowls!
The Washing Machine
There are two ways of diving this location. The first is in slack water and the other is during the ebb tide where the current turns the location into the Washing Machine.
The site is made up of of a number of small canyons and swim throughs at a depth of 15 meters. These canyons are all connected. The current runs through these passages and canyons. The water rushes in from all directions creating the washing machine effect. One second you are being pulled in one direction and the next in another making this a dive one for an expeienced diver with an experienced local dive guide.
Diving during slack water, you encounter an amazing diversity of coral life and fish. There are some great sea whips and fans that thrive in these currents.
Verde Island Diving is excellent offering warm water, 30m plus on average visibility, and abundant fish and coral life.
Source: Philippines Tourism
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