Verde Island - Anilao
Alright, Verde Island. If you’re diving Anilao and looking for a bit more punch, this is often the pick. The currents here are the main event, sweeping through the passage between Luzon and Mindoro, and they’re what draw in the bigger schools of fish. We've certainly had some exhilarating drifts along the walls, but those downcurrents are no joke, so it's definitely a spot for experienced divers comfortable in dynamic conditions. Expect some serious fusilier action and the occasional pelagic passing through, all against a dramatic coral backdrop.
- Location
- Anilao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 13.600000, 120.950000
Best Time to Dive in Anilao
The warmest water temperatures in Anilao occur in June, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C
- February: 27.5°C
- March: 28.1°C
- April: 29.2°C
- May: 30.3°C
- June: 30.9°C
- July: 30.4°C
- August: 29.8°C
- September: 29.6°C
- October: 29.4°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 28.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Anilao
- Agahuta - 10-25m (reef)
- Anilao
- Anilao Pier (muck)
- Aphol’s - 20m
- Aquaventure Housereef (reef)
- Arthur's Rock - 20m (pinnacle)
- Arthur s Rock - 5-30m (pinnacle)
- ASIAN LOGGER - 40m (wreck)
- Bahura Reef (reef)
- Barracuda Deep - 28m
- Basura
- Batalan Rock - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Batangas Channel (drift)
- Beatrice Rock
- big apple
Nearest Dive Centres to Verde Island
Marine Life in Anilao
Home to 88 recorded species including 83 reef fish, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea urchins, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Bridled Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Bar Eyed Goby (Glossogobius giuris) - Reef Fish
- Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) - Reef Fish
- Black triggerfish (Odonus niger) - Reef Fish
- Soft Locust Lobster (Scammarctus batei) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Golden wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Reef Fish
- Blackstriped Angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck) - Reef Fish
- Striped Triplefin (Helcogramma striata) - Reef Fish
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Verde Island
Based on average water temperature of 29.3°C, currents 15 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories