Boat Living In The Philippines: Choosing Your Home Afloat

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, with a rich maritime history and a diverse range of native boats. The term bangka refers to various traditional watercraft, from small canoes to large ships, with or without outriggers. The paraw, a type of outrigger canoe sailboat, is popular for cargo and passenger transport, while the vinta, a variant of the paraw with a different type of sail, is commonly used off the coasts of Zamboanga and the Sulu Archipelago. Liveaboards and scuba diving are also popular in the Philippines, offering divers the chance to explore its diverse marine ecosystems and spectacular coral reefs.

Liveaboards in the Philippines

The Philippines is a liveaboard dream, with over 7,000 islands, 22,550 miles of coastline, and a location in the middle of the Coral Triangle. The country offers a vibrant mix of cultures, with colonial Spanish and Catholic influences coexisting alongside the traditions of hundreds of ethnic groups.

When it comes to liveaboards in the Philippines, there is something for every style of diving and price point. Here is a look at some of the best options:

Philippines Aggressor

The newest addition to the Aggressor fleet, this liveaboard offers seven- and ten-night itineraries, with 20 to 27 dives in Tubbataha Reefs National Park and 22 to 27 dives in Visayas. The boat accommodates 24 divers and features modern facilities, suites with ocean views, and private balconies. However, it has a relatively small dive deck and does not offer Wi-Fi.

Philippine Siren

This liveaboard is known for its great service, comfortable boats, and exciting itineraries. The 130-foot phinisi vessel was handcrafted from ironwood and teak and features an outdoor dining area and an expansive dive deck. Itineraries range from six to 13 nights, with approximately 15 to 34 dives, including night dives. The Philippine Siren usually visits Tubbataha National Park from late February to June and spends the rest of the year exploring Malapascua, the Visayas, and Leyte.

Infiniti

The Infiniti is a 133-foot steel-hulled vessel that caters to 22 guests in 11 air-conditioned en-suite cabins. Most itineraries are seven days/six nights and include dives in Malapascua and Moalboal. Guests can expect to see a wide variety of marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays, sharks, and turtles. The crew of 18 is friendly and attentive, and the liveaboard includes a dedicated camera room with a media centre and plasma screens.

Narayana

The Narayana is an 85-foot-long boat that underwent renovations in 2018 and can accommodate up to 14 guests in eight spacious, air-conditioned cabins with balconies. Divers can explore up to 600 species of fish and enjoy relaxation on the large sun deck.

Stella Maris Explorer

The Stella Maris Explorer is a 108-foot-long liveaboard that can accommodate up to 21 guests. It features comfortable cabins, a spacious layout, and a friendly crew. The liveaboard usually takes divers to Tubbataha in the Sulu Sea, Apo Reef, and Coron.

Discovery Palawan

The Discovery Palawan offers budget-friendly packages and exciting itineraries to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Apo Reef, Coron, Cebu, Malapascua, and the Visayas. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine life, including reef sharks and pelagic fish. The crew and staff provide excellent service, and the food is delicious and accommodating of passenger specifications.

Solitude One

The Solitude One is a 170-foot liveaboard that offers divers the opportunity to explore either Palau or the Philippines, or a combination of both destinations. This liveaboard has three cabin classes to suit different budgets and plenty of cabin choices for single travellers. It also features a hot tub for relaxation.

Seadoors

The Seadoors liveaboard accommodates 16 divers in eight flexible cabins, most of which can be shared by couples or friends. Itineraries range from six to 13 nights, and the boat is designed with divers in mind, making it perfect for small groups.

Traditional boats

The Philippines has a rich history of traditional boats, with the oldest recovered boats in the country dating back to 320 CE. These boats, known as "bangka" or "balangay", were instrumental in the settlement of Austronesian peoples in the Philippines and the Malay archipelago. They were used for cargo, trading, and transportation, with Butuan, Agusan de Norte, Philippines, serving as a central trading port.

Today, there are many different types of traditional boats in the Philippines, each with its own unique features and purposes. Here is a description of some of the most common types of traditional boats:

Bangka

The bangka is a diverse range of native watercraft found throughout the Philippines. The term can refer to small double-outrigger dugout canoes used in rivers and shallow coastal waters, as well as larger lashed-lug ships, with or without outriggers. Bangka are known for their stability and manoeuvrability, making them well-suited for fishing and transportation. They are usually steered using an oar on one side and can be propelled by sails or motors.

Balangay

The balangay, also known as barangay, is a large two-masted sailing ship made using the lashed-lug boat-building technique. These ships were used for cargo and trading, and sometimes as warships. They are characterised by their outriggers and crescent-shaped prows, which are often carved into representations of the mythical sea serpent bakunawa.

Paraw

The paraw is a traditional outrigger canoe sailboat from the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is used for transporting cargo and passengers and has become a popular tourist attraction, especially in Boracay and Iloilo, where the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is held annually. The vinta is a variant of the paraw, with a different type of sail.

Karakoa

The karakoa is a traditional Visayan warship known for its speed and agility. It is built without nails and is said to be three times faster than a Spanish galleon. Karakoa played a significant role in naval warfare and coastal raids, known as "mangayaw", and were used by the noble and warrior classes to gain prestige and plunder.

Other Traditional Boats

In addition to the boats mentioned above, there are several other types of traditional boats in the Philippines, including the baroto, batil, bigiw, dinahit, djenging, guilalo, lanong, pasaplap, seberen, and vinta. Each of these boats has its own unique design and purpose, reflecting the rich maritime history and cultural diversity of the Philippines.

Scuba diving

The Philippines is a highly desirable scuba diving destination, with over 7,000 islands and a location right in the middle of the Coral Triangle. The country offers a vast array of marine life, including nearly 600 species of reef-building corals, six of the world's seven sea turtles, and over 2,000 species of reef fish. The Philippines is also home to pristine coral reefs, wrecks, and spectacular drop-offs, making it a perfect destination for divers of all skill levels.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is often regarded as the best diving spot in the Philippines and one of the most biodiverse diving spots globally. Tubbataha is home to more than 600 species of fish, 360 species of corals, 11 species of sharks, and 13 species of dolphins and whales. It is also a great place to spot manta rays, schools of barracuda and tuna, and smaller marine life like nudibranchs and seahorses. The best time to dive in Tubbataha is from February/March to June when the sea conditions are calm and the weather is dry.

Anilao, Batangas

Anilao is one of the world's best macro photography destinations, offering a wide variety of rare critters perfect for muck diving, blackwater diving, and macro photography. You can find nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, cuttlefish, pipefish, and more in this area. Anilao is easily accessible, located just a 2-3 hour drive from Manila.

Dauin, Dumaguete

Dauin, situated on Negros Island, is another excellent destination for macro photography. It offers a mix of stunning coral reefs and muck sites, making it a great spot for both macro photographers and those seeking more traditional dive experiences. Apo Island, a small marine preserve located near Dauin, is known for its healthy coral gardens, sea snakes, turtles, and massive schools of fish.

Moalboal, Cebu

Moalboal is famous for its Sardine Run, where you can witness a mind-boggling bait ball of up to 7 million sardines. It also offers diverse diving with big schools of fish, beautiful walls, canyons, caves, and fascinating macro life. Pescador Island, with its dramatic walls and caverns, is a particular highlight. The diving in Moalboal is year-round, and it is easily accessible via Cebu airport.

Puerto Galera, Mindoro

Puerto Galera offers a diverse range of dive spots, from macro to wide-angle photography opportunities, making it suitable for divers of all interests and skill levels. It also boasts beautiful beaches and a vibrant social scene, with walkable restaurants and picturesque piers. Verde Island, located near Puerto Galera, is known for its high biodiversity and is a great spot for wide-angle photography.

Anda, Bohol

Anda, located on the island of Bohol, is an off-the-beaten-path dive destination with ivory-white beaches and a laid-back atmosphere. It offers a mix of wall, slope, and sandy muck dive sites, as well as coral gardens. The area is home to a diverse range of marine life, including pygmy seahorses, skeleton shrimps, anemone shrimps, dragon sea moths, and more.

Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malapascua is renowned for being the best place in the world to see thresher sharks. Monad Shoal is the top site for diving with these elusive creatures. The area also offers excellent macro life, with Gato Island being a particular highlight. The diving in Malapascua is year-round, but the weather can be rough and visibility reduced during the typhoon season from July to October.

Coron Bay, Palawan

Coron Bay is home to some of the best wreck dives in the Philippines. It was once a harbor for World War II Japanese warships, and today, these wrecks serve as reef systems teeming with marine life. The area also boasts beautiful limestone cliffs and crystalline lagoons. Coron Bay is easily accessible, with a short flight or ferry ride from Manila.

Sailing

The Philippines is a great place to sail, with its thousands of islands and stunning marine life. There are several types of boats native to the Philippines, including the bangka, the balangay, the karakoa, the paraw, and the vinta.

The bangka is a diverse range of boats specific to different regions in the Philippines. The term originally referred to small double-outrigger dugout canoes used in rivers and coastal waters but now includes larger lashed-lug ships, with or without outriggers. Motorized bangka, also known as "pump boats" or "lancha", are the main form of watercraft in the Philippines today.

The balangay is a large wooden boat used for cargo and trading in ancient times. The Butuan Boat, or Butuan Two Boat, is the first wooden boat excavated in Southeast Asia and is said to have been instrumental in the settlement of Austronesian peoples in the Philippines and the Malay archipelago.

The karakoa is a traditional Visayan warship, built without nails, and known for its speed.

The paraw is a traditional outrigger canoe sailboat used to transport cargo and passengers in the Visayas. Paraw sailing is a popular tourist attraction in Boracay and Iloilo, where the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is held annually.

The vinta is a variant of the paraw, with a different type of sail, used off the coasts of Zamboanga and throughout the Sulu Archipelago.

When sailing in the Philippines, it is important to consider the weather conditions. The prime dive season runs from November to May, while the rainy season, with strong monsoons, falls between June and October. Diving is not recommended during the rainy season due to reduced visibility and some dive sites may be off-limits.

Houseboats

Types of Houseboats

The Philippines has a variety of houseboats, from floating bungalows and cabins to glass houseboats and traditional bangka boats. Some houseboats are motorized, while others are sailboats or yachts. They range in size, accommodating anywhere from one to 24 guests.

Locations

Houseboat rentals are available in several locations across the Philippines, including:

• El Nido
• Coron
• Puerto Galera
• Nasugbu
• Subic
• Laguna de Bay
• Lake Caliraya in Cavinti, Laguna
• Buri Island in Occidental Mindoro

Amenities and Activities

• Air conditioning
• Sun decks or patios
• Kitchens or kitchenettes
• Snorkelling gear and other water sports equipment
• WiFi
• Meals and beverages
• Tours and trekking
• Massage services
• Libraries and board games
• Childcare services

Cost

The cost of houseboat rentals in the Philippines can vary depending on the location, size, and amenities. According to Getmyboat, pricing for houseboat rentals starts around $200 per night but can range from $200 to over $1000 per night.

Frequently asked questions