The Philippines earned top rank in the Top Value Destination for the Pacific and Indian Ocean Region category in the 2007 Top 100 Readers’ Choice Survey published in the January 2008 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine, the most widely read publication for scuba diving enthusiasts in the United States.

Garnering a near-perfect score of 96.6 points, the Philippines bested other destinations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region such as Palau, Indonesia, Fiji, Truk, Galapagos, the Egyptian Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Cocos Island of Costa Rica, and Hawaii’s Oahu and Maui as the top diving getaway that guarantees value for money.

Scuba Diving’s Reader’s Choice survey results also showed that the islands ranked second and third in the Top Macro Life and Top Dive Destination categories respectively.

The country further consistently landed in the top five list for best Marine Life, Healthiest Marine Environment, Wall Diving, Shore Diving, Underwater Photography and Advance Diving.

According to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, “The positive survey result helps to further strengthen our country’s position as Asia’s diving capital. Great news such as this should only encourage our coastal communities to support scuba diving as an option for sustainable development in their area.”

Scuba Diving Magazine holds a monthly circulation of 180,000 around the US. The yearly poll asked their readers on the different locations, dive operators, resorts or live-aboard experiences they have had in 2007.

Executive Editor Keith Phillips said that the survey answers give their readers and the public in general, “an idea of what divers as a whole are thinking.”

The Philippines is known to have the widest variety of oceanic species in the world. The popular must-try dive sites around the islands include Anilao in Batangas, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental, Cabilao and Balicasag Islands in Bohol, Crocodile Island in Boracay, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Mactan, Malapascua and Olango Islands in Cebu, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reef in Palawan.

Also popular among experienced and amateur divers are the world-famous wreck diving destinations in Coron, Palawan and Subic Bay, Zambales.

“The results of our market study in 2007 showed that the highest awareness about the Philippines was registered among American divers. It is also significant to note that a good percentage of them actually came to the country to enjoy our underwater wonders,” shared DOT Team North America Head Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo.

Scuba diving is one of the three marketing promotional thrusts of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to the American and Canadian travel market. The other two highlights include wellness and spa, and adventure tourism.

The United States is currently the Philippines’ second leading source of tourists. Visitor arrivals from this country reached 58,486 in January 2008, contributing 19.9 percent to overall foreign travel traffic.

The Department is optimistic that the country will maintain its strong presence in North American market, and will continue to capitalize on the 1.8 to 2 million-strong U.S. dive community.

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