Puerto  Galera   has  a   very   rugged   topography.   The  land   is  generally  mountainous  and is crisscrossed  by   numerous streams and rivers.  Back  by the  Cabarian Ridge and  the 680 meter high pyramidical Mt. Malasimbo, its 32.25 km. – long  hilly landmass extends towards the sea and spreads out to a maximum of 13.4 across.

Three    mountain    ranges  covering  a  total  of  11.755  sqm.  rise above  Puerto Galera’s coastal  barangays:  Mt.  Alinbayan  in Barangay  Balatero,  Mt.  Talipanan  in  Barangays Aninuan and  San Isidro, and  Mt. Malasimbo in Barangay Aninuan. These mountains  reach  peak  elevations of 1,400 meters above sea level and are home to rare animals such as deers, wild boars, monkeys and even the endangered tamaraw(a local buffalo endemic to Mindoro; bubalus mindorensis).  Likewise, its  numerous mountains springs provide natural habitats  to orchid varities such as the tawa-tawa, tiger  orchid, and mariposa. Popularly know  as the divers’ haven  by the sea, Puerto Galera’s  coast is  42 km.  long consisting  of irregular short lines rimmed with dazzling white beaches, coconut  plantations, and delightful  scenery. At the eastern  side of  the coast, crescents of white  beaches are  interspersed  with limestone cliffs  and escarpments  that are penetrated  by inland bays  and coves.  These numerous coves  and water channels  support  a rich  marine life , forming “non-reef coral communities:. Whereas, its tube-like  harbor with two natural  entrances  provide  home to dozens of ships  seeking safe anchorage.  The Bay of  Puerto Galera has a total area of 4.2 sqm. It is framed  by the short projections and numerous points of Mindoro Island on the east west, and by the two small islands of Medio and Paniquian on the north and northwest. The two latter islands project Puerto Galera’s famous Muelle Bay from the open sea, thus making it one of the world’s safest harbors. 

GETTING THERE

Unfortunately, the only way to reach Puerto Galera is still  via land sea from Manila to Batangas to either Puerto Galera or Calapan City. The land-trip takes about 2 to 3 hours while the sea-trip from 1.5 to 2 hours.
The most convenient way is to avail of a Sikat bus-and-ferry package from Centerpoint Hotel(formerly sundown Hotel). The package offers passengers the convenience of having a “connecting” bus and ferry trip.
The fare is more expensive than in other buses(Php350 one way and Php 600 roundtrip/open-sted, but the coaches are more spacious and the  trip is much shorter since there are no  stopovers. Unfortunately, there’s only one schedule per day for either way. 
More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AN and every hour then on(depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 80 to 100 depending on whether it is a regula or an air-con bus.
At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guess intend to enter. (There are three main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities: Muelle Pier,  Balatero Pier, Sabang Beach). Calapan City  also serves as a getaway to the town via an all-weather road. The trip from Calapan to Puerto Galera takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on weather and road conditions. 

THE  ISLAND
Puerto Galera has one of the most beautiful  natural harbours in the world. This was the place of refuge  for the Spanish Galleons in times of storm or for a recreational stop-over  for the crews after months at sea when this was a gateaway for the galleons on the way to the from Spain, Mexico, China, India, Sumatra and Java. Mindoro, the island on which Puerto Galera is located at the North East Coast, was named from a contraction of “mina del oro” or “mines of gold” after the Spanish founded the local community with the consecration of the Church in 1572.
The international cuisine available in Puerto Galera is remarkable…specially restaurants serve the bountiful seafood and traditional German, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Australia, Korean, Japanese, Philippine and Continental cuisine.
Mountains covered with tropical rainforest, waterfalls and beautiful secluded sandy beaches make Puerto Galera an ideal  holiday destination for the whole family. Rediscover the unspoiled beauty of nature. The famous French painter Gauguin would have loved this island!

The Canyons –30m/100’
An advanced dive that requires a good dive guide to allow for the currents to sweep you into position. Racing over several small  drop-offs below the Hole in the Wall covered in soft corals and sponges, you can duck into and one of the Canyons for a respite from the current. There is much to find  on the  bottom but primarily it is the large schools of snapper, emperors, sweetlips, barracudas, jacks, trevally and occasional sharks that make this an exciting dive. The dive  ends at a 11/2m/5’ anchor embedded in the coral, where the group can gather before being swept off to the safety stop in the current. Excellent Nitrox dive. 

Shark Cave – 17m/60’
A large overhang, which is a favourite spot  for white-tip reef sharks to rest during the day. Usually visited at the beginning of a multilevel dive or the Pink Wall or as a stop on the way to the Canyons. Good for Nitrox.

Sabang point –24m/80’
A good wall  dropping down to 24m/80’, with stony corals, soft corals  many fish and unusual  invertebrates such as large cuttlefish and octopus. A ridge rising to 5m/15’ is covered with more crinoids that are colourful and  corals. A good night dive. 

Monkey Wreck – 42m/140’
A 20m/65’ local pig-boat sunk in 1993 lies off  the main reef in sand and host a large school of batfish and some good-size snappers and groupers. Advanced dive since the currents can be very tricky. 

Batangas Channel – 15m/50’
A good drift dive on the  right  tide  this dive site has many unusual sponge and coral formations and is a good place to find some more unusual creatures such as blue-ribbon eels and stonefish.

The Hill – 12m/40’
A good dive for novices as long as it is slack water. Good corals and sponges abound, with small reef fish teeming around them. 
Monkey Beach 18m/60’
A coral slope down to 18m/60’ makes an easy dive, good for novices. Small coral heads have crinoids, nudibranchs and plenty of small reef fish.

Dungon  Wall – 27m/90’ 
Easy multilevel dive. A wreck sits in 27m/90’ at the bottom of the wall. The wall rises to 12m/40’ where the bottom extends  into the bay for an easy safety stop.

Pink Wall – 12m/40’
An overhang which, when dived in the correct tide, is perfect for novices and photographers. Surface conditions can be a little rough. Good night dive. 

Japanese Wreck – 42m/140’
Situated on a flat sandy bottom, all the remains of this WWII Japanese patrol boat is the engine block  and propeller shaft. Two  very large moray eels are resident, along  with 30+ sweetlips. A large orange stonefish is also hidden amongst the engine  along with a wealth of small invertebrates. A flashlights makes for a memorable dive. Good Nitrox dive.

Sinandigan Wall – 40m/130’
A real wall goes down to 40m/130’,  with all manner of corals plus at least seven different varieties of nudibranchs and plenty of larger fish.

Washing Machine – 15m/50’
A high-voltage dive made over a series of seven shallow gullies with the current taking your bubbles in all directions, and throwing you around. Requires a good guide and some experience of current diving. Made at slack tide it is an easy dive.