Best time to dive Anilao
Main season October–May (busiest April–May); January–March water can drop to about 23–25 °C but brings the most critters and juveniles. Typhoon/monsoon risk peaks July–August; rain run-off lowers visibility.
Peak season: October–June
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov medium · Dec medium · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Macro life | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Coral & reef health | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Visibility | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Water temperature | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Weather & sea state | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Weather & sea state +1 · El Niño suppresses typhoons and rain; La Niña brings more storms (Nov 2026 – February 2027)
- Coral & reef health -1.3 · Heat stress in the months after a strong El Niño (widespread bleaching in 1998) (Apr 2027 – October 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2026 | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 10–20 m |
| January 2027 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 10–20 m |
| February 2027 | 24.5 °C (76 °F) | 10–20 m |
| March 2027 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 10–20 m |
| April 2027 | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 15–20 m |
| May 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| June 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 10–20 m |
| July 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 8–15 m |
| August 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 8–15 m |
| September 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 8–15 m |
| October 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 10–20 m |
| November 2027 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2027 | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 10–20 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nudibranchs | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| frogfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| blue-ringed octopus | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| moray eels | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| ribbon eels | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| ghost pipefish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| mandarinfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| turtles | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| giant clam | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| lionfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| batfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 3–25 m
- Max depth of interest
- 30 m
- Dive styles
- Resort, Day boat
- Suggested certification
- Open Water
- Nearest airport
- MNL
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- nudibranchs, frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus
Famous sites: Secret Bay · Twin Rocks · Basura · Beatrice
Season notes & sources
- Main season October–May (busiest April–May); January–March water can drop to about 23–25 °C but brings the most critters and juveniles. Typhoon/monsoon risk peaks July–August; rain run-off lowers visibility.
- Buceo Anilao documents morays (including ribbon eels), ghost pipefish, mandarinfish, turtles, giant clams, batfish and lionfish among its local marine life. Resident-group calendars indicate possible year-round encounters, not guaranteed finds or measured peaks; rare critters need a guide and recent sightings.