Aside from being a popular destination for beach lovers, Batangas also possesses some of the best divesites the Philippines has to offer. Its proximity to Manila, about two and a half hours away by car, has made the province the diving center of Luzon. Its coastline is dotted with numerous dive camps and resorts. Here, the major dive sites are Balayan Bay and Nasugbu.

CATHEDRAL MARINE PARK SANCTUARY Approximately 23 meters off Bagalangit Point lies a giant rock formation that looks like a roofless underwater amphitheater. Originally barren, the Cathedral has been seeded with corals. Moorish idols, parrot fish, and the usual reef dwellers all cluster around divers and peer into their masks.

LAYAG-LAYAG REEF Extensive coral formation on a shallow, steep slope. On the south side of this open-water area, a ledge drops to about 20 to 30 meters from close to the surface.

SOMBRERO ISLAND On the surface, this island resembles a hat underwater, so its profile makes the name Sombrero even more appropriate. The rim of the "hat" stretches a long way underwater from north to south. Gorgonians, black corals, shells, turtles, rays, grunts, jacks, snappers and a great variety of soft corals are scattered all over the place. Currents are normally strong during the full moon.

SEPOK The rim of the drop-off due west of Sepok Point and running southwest is a very good divesite with a wide variety of marine life. A great number of small reef fish dart in and out of the numerous corals.

MAPATING ROCK (Shark Cave) This open reef is for experienced divers only and its exploration requires help from local guides. The rock itself is surrounded by a fairly shallow area at about 12 meters, ending in a series of drop-offs running down to about 20 meters or more.

CULEBRA ISLAND (Bonito) and MALAHIBONG MANOK ISLAND (Marine Sanctuaries) Strong currents make it necessary to hunt for quite patches of water, which can usually be found on the lee side of one of these islands at most times of the day. Both islands are surrounded by shallow ledges at about 4 to 8 meters, with a rich supply of both soft and hard corals and plenty of natural wonders.

FUEGO ISLAND This island, located in the Nasugbu area of western Batangas, has many divesites. The West Face of the island has a drop-off reaching up to 30 meters, where pelagic fish can be found. The East Face, which has depths of 7 to 20 meters, is a calm area ideal for underwater photography. Another interesting site is Balatigue, with depths of 4 to 25 meters. The area, good for slow drift dives, is characterized by small drop-offs and rocky outcrops.