Description of the attraction
Isle of Verde is located in the strait of the same name, separating the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. In 1988, as part of a European project, a small settlement was established on the island using modern technologies such as generating electricity from solar panels. Since then, the Philippine Tourism Association has consistently ranked the Isle of Verde as one of the country's top marine protected areas. You can get here from Luzon Island in 45 minutes by boat or 25 minutes by ferry from Batangas city. Another option is the ferry from Puerto Galera, which will also take about half an hour to travel.
For several decades, Verde has been a favorite vacation spot for residents of Batangas and Mindoro Island, as well as a popular tourist dive site. Among the island's attractions are the kilometer-long Mahabang Bukhangin Beach and the Cueva Sitio Cave, whose tunnels lead to the neighboring island. And divers love clear water with excellent visibility, varied marine life and real underwater treasures - pieces of china from Spanish galleons that sank in these places centuries ago. The first galleon sank in 1620, crashing into a reef off the southern coast of Verde. There is practically nothing left of the ship itself, but at the bottom you can still see fragments of Chinese porcelain made in the 16-17 centuries.
The most popular dive sites are the so-called "Pinnacle" and "Washer", both suitable exclusively for experienced divers due to the strong currents around. The Pinnacle is a huge reef off the east coast of the Isle of Verde that narrows as it approaches the surface of the water. And "Washing Machine" consists of several small underwater canyons at a depth of no more than 15 meters. The site got its name because of the peculiarities of the flow: the water passing through all the canyons creates a “washing machine effect”. In one second, the stream can carry you into one canyon, and in a second - into another.
Among the inhabitants of the reefs off Verde Island you can find huge wrasses, rays, whitetip and blacktip sharks.
