Snorkel· Medio Island (Puerto Galera)· Philippines
Coral Garden (Medio Island, Batangas Channel)
13° 31.2′ N · 120° 57.3′ E
The marine-sanctuary reef in the Batangas Channel near Medio Island - one of Puerto Galera's best snorkelling and free-diving spots, with reef fish, turtles and the odd ray, and a regular stop on every island-hopping tour.
Practical
Position: Wikivoyage Puerto Galera listing 13.520437, 120.954224; Wikipedia places Coral Gardens as a shallow reef system near Medio Island (OSM Medio Island 13.52373N 120.95309E). Distinct from the giant-clam coral garden off Paniquian/San Antonio (see 'Coral Garden and Giant Clams' entry). Wikipedia: badly bleached in 1998 but has regrown with greater coral diversity. Reachable by boat only - from the PGYC moorings it is a short dinghy ride out through the Manila Channel; go at slack water as the channels run hard on the tide, and do not anchor on coral. Wikivoyage: marine sanctuary, an entrance fee may apply on snorkelling tours (amount not stated - verify locally). Island-hopping bancas also stop at Haligi Beach, Bayanan Beach and the sandbar on standard routes (philippinebeaches.org).
Best for
Classic Puerto Galera reef snorkel by dinghy
Season
Year-round inside the harbour islands; avoid peak tidal flow
Nearby
- Long Beach Snorkel (North Point)0.5 NM away
- Muelle Bay Typhoon Shelter0.5 NM away
- Typhoon Season and Shelter at Puerto Galera0.5 NM away
- Boquete Bay Anchorage0.6 NM away
- Boquete Island Sandbar (Paniquian)0.7 NM away
- Dalaruan Bay Anchorage0.7 NM away
- Big La Laguna Beach0.8 NM away
- Coral Garden and Giant Clams (Paniquian / San Antonio Island)0.8 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).