About Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera, one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Philippines., was founded in 1572, becoming the first provincial capital on Mindoro Island. It is situated on the northern peninsula of the island, approximately 160 km from Manila. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Malay and Indonesian merchants were already doing business with local traders, and Puerto Galera is where the replenished their provisions.

Mindoro Island is separated from Luzon by the Verde Island Passage. Waters are flushed by the current of the South China Sea, resulting in strong currents of up to 6 knots. This makes the area well known for its spectacular, exhilarating drift dives. The Verde Island Passage is very deep so clear water is very common to the dive sites of Puerto Galera, along with a fantastic variety of underwater flora and fauna.

The diversity of hard and soft corals, along with hundreds of species of tropical fish life makes Puerto Galera one of the most popular dive destinations in the Philippines. The 5 km foreshore of world class dive sites is a protected area and marine sanctuary. Visibility varies from 10m/30ft to 30m/100ft, sometimes even better depending on water temperature, current strength and wind direction. The best diving conditions are usually from April to September, as water temperature reaches 29 C, the seas are at their calmest and visibility is at its clearest. In December, water temperature can drop to as low as 22 C on the deeper dives due to thermo clines caused by upwelling of clear, cooler water. However, conditions remain good enough for year round diving.

Scuba Diving Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera offers more or less 40 prime dive sites. The sites are between 5 meters to 40 meters depth and the water temperature is ranging between 26 - 29 Degrees Centigrade. Since Puerto Galera is considered as warm water diving area 3mm thick wet suits are the norm. The tide exchange is from a few centimeters up to 2 meters. The selection of the dive sites depends on the tidal exchange and the slack tides, which is an important part of dive planning. The currents which is common in the area are often brisk and unpredictable, creating conditions which may at times prove challenging for novice divers.

Shallow, no-current or very slight current sites are always available for beginners. The visibility is ranging from 15-25 meters average and on special days even up to 30-35 meters.

Big fishes like White tip Sharks, Barracudas, Tunas, even Eagle Rays, Turtles can be seen on selected dive sites like the popular Canyons, Shark Caves, Boulders, especially so on a drift dive during big tide exchanges.

On the house reef wreck, thriving fish life like batfish, angelfish, surgeonfish, wrasses, butterfly fish and other reef dwellers are already more than enough for a 36 exposure film. Aside from rarely seen exotic fishes like Spanish Dancer, harlequin ghost-pipefish and at least 5 different colors of camouflaged frogfish, fire gobies and blue-ribbon eels.

It is highly recommended for underwater photographers and marine biologists and enthusiasts alike since it has a lot to offer like the varied species of soft corals, gorgonians, crinoids, colorful sponges and turnicates, crustaceans and shrimps, not to mention the most popular invertebrate subject amongst MACRO-PHOTOGRAPHERS, which has various colors, shapes and sizes the "NUDRIBRANCHS". The house reef alone which is just directly in front of the dive shop can already satisfy the urge to shoot various subjects for underwater photographers.

For almost 50 years Puerto Galera has attracted experts studying the ecostructure of micro-organsims, marine life, animals and plants. The University of the Philippines Marine Biological Station was set up in 1934 and in 1974, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program International declared the area a research center and the reefs a marine reserve. The great ecological complexity and the abundant species have earned Puerto Galera a reputation as the best dive area in the Philippines and maybe in Asia

About Puerto Galera - History
Puerto Galera, one of the oldest settlements of the religious missionaries, was founded in 1574 as the original capital of Mindoro, being the seat of the corigimiento. Originally, the town is located at the Lagundian, now a "sitio", which was chosen by the Spanish authorities as the provincial capital due to its excellent harbor and natural beauty. But due to its susceptibility to moro raids, the Spaniards were forced to transfer the town from the Lagundian to the present site, which they named Puerto Galera. The town was popularly known as "Puerto Galera" (Port of the Galleons). Spanish galleons coming from Mexico and Spain used the presence of an excellent port or berthing place to take refuge during stormy weather before proceeding to Manila.

The mountains and the good harbor nearby served the Spaniards well as shields from the moro pirates and other marauders. Several guard houses and watch towers were built at the top of the surrounding mountains. The biggest was constructed at Dampalitan Point, north of the town facing Batangas Channel. Public and Military headquarters, hospitals, warehouses and a convent made of stones were also erected through the efforts of both the church and the state. A wharf was also built at Muelle Bay. Adjacent to this stood a warehouse for rice, which caught fire one night. Wonderful as they are, the burned grains of rice had withstood the time. Reached by sea water during high tide, charcoaled grains, popularly known as " black rice ", are generally believed to still remain scattered at the shores of Muelle up to this day.

In 1837, the seat of government was transferred to Calapan. Probably, it was due to suitable and wide agricultural plains of Calapan that the Spaniards opted to stay there. When Puerto Galera was no longer the seat of the government, the Spanish government officials left the town and only the friars remained. A "cabesa" or "capitan del pueblo" was then appointed by the "governador" to collect the tributes or taxes from the people and to maintain peace and order. Among the heads of the town called "gobernadorcillos" who became famous and outstanding were Jose Salamat, Juan Quinto, Aguido Cobarrubias and Hilarion Axalan.

Guarding the coasts of Puerto Galera was a Spanish warship, named " Cañonero Mariveles ". However, on November 18, 1879, the ill-fated battleship was hit by a powerful storm, which caused it to sink outside the West Coast of Muelle. As a tribute to the lost ship and its crew, a wooden cross was erected right at the center of Muelle with the following inscription: "Ultima tierra que pesaron los tripolantes del Cañonero Mariveles el 18 de Noviembre de 1879, Memoria de sus campañero". As one of the greatest relics of the past century, this cross was renovated in 1938 by a Spanish national named Luis Gomez y Sotto.

Revolutionaries from Puerto Galera participated in the overthrow of the Spanish Government in Mindoro in 1898 -1900 under the leadership of brothers Miguel and Estanislao Cobarrubias Sr.

During the American regime, a military governor by the name Captain Robert Offley was appointed. On November 2, 1902, Puerto Galera was again made the capital of the province until 1903 under Act. No. 500 of the Philippine Commission. It was annexed to Calapan in 1905 as a barrio represented by Hilarion Axalan in the Calapan town council in 1916. in 1919, under Act No. 2324. It was made municipal district with Isidro Suzara as "municipal president".

On February 21, 1928, Under Act. No. 3415, it was organized into an independent municipality with Anacleto Atienza as first "municipal presidente". Estanislao Cobarrubias Sr. was the last "municipal presidente" of the civil government and the first municipal mayor of the commonwealth government.

On February 27, 1942, the Japanese air force and naval auxiliary occupied the town. Leoncio Axalan, who was supposed to end his term as mayor in 1942, was made to extend his term until 1946 because of his courage and integrity. It was indeed a great test for a man to run the affairs of the municipal government amidst the warring parties, the guerrillas and the Japanese.

After the liberation in 1946, then Governor Arturo Ignacio appointed Rafael Garcia as the municipal mayor of Puerto Galera. In 1948, Estanislao Brucal, an officer of the guerrilla unit in Mindoro during the Japanese occupation, became the first elected municipal mayor of Puerto Galera under the Republican form of Government.

In 1972, during the third term of Mayor Rogelio Cataquis, the sitios of Sto. Niño and Villaflor were created and organized into regular barangays together with the recognition of Poblacion as a duly organized barangay.

On December 26, 1973, PD 354 was issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos making Puerto Galera a reservation area under the Man and Biosphere Program of the UNESCO.

Today, the beautiful and scenic Puerto Galera is the center of tourism in this province, making full use of its long line of white beaches and its abundant flora and fauna.

About Puerto Galera - The Beaches
In almost every bay with a beach that's at all useable, you'll find cottages for local and foreign tourists. To the east, resorts have sprung up at Sabang Beach, Small La Laguna Beach and Big La Laguna Beach. To the south, they go as far as Tabinay Beach. To the west, Talipanan Beach development has almost reached its limit. While the main beaches have electricity, considering the number of power failures, it's a good idea to have a torch handy.

Sabang is a more 'happening' place for visitor, especially after dark, and it might not be everybody's scene.

It can get very hectic and loud at night around the discos and bars. Some restaurants have been built on sites close to the water and the remaining beach is almost completely blocked by outrigger boats. A hill path takes you through a palm grove and over a grassy meadow to Escarceo Point, two km east of Sabang. There you can go to the top of the 14m high lighthouse where you can get a gorgeous view, especially at sunrise and sunset.

There is also some action to be found on Small La Laguna Beach, although it is maybe a bit more relaxed. The beach itself is not particularly impressive. The most popular activities during the day are snorkeling and diving. many travelers prefer to stay overnight at Small La Laguna Beach, or just spend the days there, and go out at night at the nearby Sabang Beach.

At Big La Laguna Beach there's a lot of activity. Some of the cottages here are packed close together, but the coral reef is worth seeing and is good for snorkeling.

The reefs at Balete Beach, Long Beach and Haligi Beach are also good for snorkeling, but careful: strong currents can make Boquete Beach dangerous for swimmers.

There's not much action on the beaches between San Isidro and Talipanan Point, a few km wet of Puerto Galera. The busiest one of them all is White Beach. On the other hand, the adjoining beaches of Aninuan and Talipanan in the next bay are extremely quiet. All three of them are good bathing beaches although - unlike the beaches mentioned above - snorkeling is not particularly interesting there. The water at White Beach gets very deep a few metres from shore - too deep for children and non-swimmers.