Anilao, Batangas sits just 140 kilometres south of Manila, yet it packs more named dive sites into a single coastline than almost any destination in Southeast Asia. Whether you are chasing nudibranchs at depth, seeking frogfish in the silt, or simply ticking off your first open-water dives in warm, calm conditions, Anilao delivers.
Kirby's Rock
The most celebrated site in Anilao, Kirby's Rock is a seamount rising from 30 metres to just 3 metres below the surface. Strong seasonal currents sweep nutrients past the wall, drawing schooling jacks, giant trevally, and occasional thresher sharks at depth. The shallower stations are blanketed in black coral trees, sea fans, and thick nudibranch colonies.
Secret Bay (Mainit Point)
Secret Bay rarely tops 5 metres visibility and the bottom is black volcanic sand and rubble — which is exactly why macro photographers consider it one of the world's great muck dives. Hairy frogfish, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, and blue-ringed octopus all appear here with unusual regularity. Bring patience and a wide-angle dioptre.
Pro tip: Enter the water at slack tide, roughly one hour before high. The silty bottom kicks up dramatically in any current, cutting visibility to near zero.
Twin Rocks
Two submerged pinnacles sitting side by side make Twin Rocks one of Anilao's most beginner-friendly sites — shallow shelves at 8 metres allow comfortable bottom time while more experienced divers explore the base at 22 metres. The coral coverage here is among the healthiest in the area, hosting enormous schools of anthias and a resident hawksbill turtle that patrols the east face daily.
Ligaya's Garden
Named after a local dive guide who has worked the site for decades, Ligaya's Garden is a gentle reef slope ideally suited to PADI Open Water students and casual snorkellers. Water temperatures average 28°C, depth plateaus at 14 metres, and the garden's coral bommies shelter a remarkable density of juvenile reef fish. It is also the site where Casa Escondida conducts all confined open-water training dives.
Dive Planning Tips
- Book your dives 24 hours in advance during peak season (March – June). The most popular sites fill quickly.
- Always complete a site briefing with your guide — current direction and entry points change between tides.
- Bring a surface marker buoy (SMB). It is mandatory at all Anilao open-water sites and available to borrow from our dive desk.
- Nitrox fills are available at Casa Escondida's on-site compressor room. Pre-book when you check in.