Did you know there is a place in Philippines that is especially famous among divers? That’s Anilao Beach, in Mabini, Batangas province.
Anilao is regarded as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines and is a Marine Protected Sanctuary, so their main business is tourism (that is, having you for great diving trips :)).
Escape to the sun-drenched shores of Mabini, Batangas, where a paradise of Anilao beach resorts awaits. You can get from Manila to Batangas City in just 2 hours by bus.
As someone who has been fortunate enough to explore this coastal gem firsthand, I am thrilled to share my personal experience and insights with you in this article.
Get ready to discover the finest beach resorts in Anilao, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, luxurious accommodations, and unforgettable moments by the sea.
See also: Best Laiya Beach Resorts in San Juan, Batangas
Anilao Beach Club
This is the most traditional-looking beach resort in Mabini, Batangas. The Filipino style gives a provincial vibe to the place: the rooms are made of bamboo and many different native materials.
It does not sacrifice comfort and amenities, however, and they have a great diving spot at their private beach.
This resort itself is smaller than others on this list, but that only makes it better: there is a lot of space at the beach, so they have kayaks and a boat ready to take you on diving or island hopping trips.
Vivere Azure Resort
We begin with one of the most popular options, even among the Manila locals. Many stay at this beach resort near Manila if they are diving in Batangas. It has a tropical vibe, luxurious amenities, and suites are inspired by a mix of Filipino and Mediterranean designs.
That, and the location (only 2.5 hours away from Metro Manila), is the reason why it’s so popular. They have an infinity pool very well located so that you can watch the beautiful Anilao beach sunset over the sea.
During the day, you can enjoy the view of the Maricaban Strait, and on their private beach, you can go for a swim or relax in their beachfront facilities.
La Chevrerie Resort and Spa
La Chevrerie is a 5-star resort located in the heart of Anilao beach. Considered one of the best beach resorts in Mabini, especially for divers and sunbathers. They have a French-inspired design, and that goes for their rooms as well.
Prepare to be enchanted by a truly unique resort in Mabini, Batangas. With only 13 meticulously designed rooms, the French owner’s vision of blending European classic and modern tropical styles has been flawlessly realized.
This intimate setting allows the dedicated staff to provide exceptional service, focusing on one guest at a time.
Dive enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise, with diving gear available for rent and expert instructors ready to guide you through underwater wonders.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the extraordinary charm of this resort, nestled in the heart of Mabini, Batangas.
Planet Dive Resort
This Mabini beach resort doesn’t only have private access to Anilao Beach, but to their “in-house coral reef”, the Twin Rocks point. This is definitely the place to stay if you want to go scuba diving in the reefs.
They are proud to announce to have the “Third best marine protected area” in the Philippines, and we believe it. The diving spot is truly beautiful, well preserved, and sure to have a lot of biodiversities for divers to see.
The Twin Rocks point is the main attraction of the resort, for sure, but they also have very nice rooms, a dormitory room for a large group, a restaurant with a view, an infinity pool, and a diving center with equipment and teachers available.
Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort
If you are not only diving or on vacation, this is the top beach resort in Batangas for you. Many business travelers choose to stay here, mostly because of the location, but also because it has amazing suites and great amenities.
The 3-star resort is located only 2 hours away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It’s only 5 km away from Mainit Point. It has a great infinity pool, with a view from the mountains to the sea that is breathtaking.
If you are looking for an affordable beach resort in Batangas, take a closer look at Aiyanar Beach and Dive resort, as it is the most cost-benefit on this list.
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Sea Spring Resort
Located further away from Metro Manila, this Mabini beach resort is perfect for those wanting some distance from the urban environment.
It’s in a 5-hectare valley in Mabini, with a tropical forest surrounding it: if you want to do some hiking and mountain climbing instead of diving and swimming, you can.
Or maybe both, as they have a seawater pool and a private beach. After the intense activities, they have a great spa and a hot spring where you can bathe.
Pier Uno Dive Resort
A family-owned Anilao diving resort, located at the beachfront and with access to all the major diving spots on the island.
Their focus is giving you the best diving experience they can: with accredited, SDI-certified diving instructors, local divemasters to guide your underwater trip, and a dive shop where you can rent and buy diving supplies.
They offer Bangka dive tours, where “bangkeros” take you around the reefs for a tour. Apart from all the diving stuff, the rooms are great, they have a swimming pool and jacuzzi outside, and a camera room so that you can review, edit, and take care of your camera.
Halo Anilao Dive Resort
A great Anilao beach resort if you want to personalize your diving experience, make it your own. They are partnered with many different local diving operators, some of the top-rated in the Philippines.
They have a great in-house diving community. The rooms are great, and the amenities are spot-on: the view from the dining hall is spectacular.
Halo Anilao Dive Resort has a big swimming pool they use to train new divers before a trip, so if you are worried about diving for the first time, they got you covered.
Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort
Located right in the center of Anilao – the True Center of the Coral Triangle – Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort is ready to take you on your diving trip, so you can see the most beautiful marine life in the Philippines.
They call that spot where the resort is located “the nudibranch capital”, because of the great variety of nudibranchs found there (allegedly, over 600 different species).
This resort has an outrigger boat adapted to take you from the beach directly to one of 50 great diving spots nearby or somewhere else you want to visit on the island.
Also have a great infinity pool, their own equipment room, and is rated “2021 Traveler’s Choice” from Tripadvisor.
Anilao Awari Bay Resort
This resort is on the beaches of Balayan Bay, some of the best Mabini beaches there are. In fact, they are proud to have the resort be set up so you can have a unique 180° view of Balayan Bay.
It sits in a stretch of private beach where you can unwind and is very close to one of the most famous diving spots in Batangas, the MatuPoint.
Anilao Awari Bay Resort offers diving and island hopping trips, have their own jet-ski, and a swimming pool. They also have their own diving guides available, as well as diving equipment and instructors.
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Altamare Dive and Leisure Resort
If you want to go for the best Anilao dive sites, but also rest and relax, this may be the resort for you. They offer regular rooms, “superior” rooms, premier suites, but also villas where you can be better accommodated in private.
The resort is just by Anilao beach, so you can enjoy the privileged view, the sands, and the sea. Among their amenities, they have an excellent bar and dining hall, a conference room, an infinity pool, a game room, and a camera room.
Altamare Dive and Leisure Resort has massage services, and have an outdoor lounge. Their dive shop has the full gear available for rent, or you can rent just the parts you need.
Bentrina Diving Resort
In this resort, all of the rooms have a view of the best beach in Batangas for diving: Anilao. Taking advantage of this, they also installed in each room a private terrace, so you can enjoy the view even more.
Bentrina Diving Resort provides many diving services, from classes for new divers to renting diving equipment, and the resort has its own little pier and boats to take you on diving trips. All you have to do is to bring your underwater diving camera and keep your breath away.
It boasts a resident divemaster and supply with many different dive packages, so it can be affordable. The coral reef is just a few meters from the beachfront of the resort, and they are close to the Mount Gulugod Baboy climbing trail.
Paradiso Rito Resort
Another great, yet affordable option. This is a high-quality but cheap resort in Batangas. Paradiso Rito Resort has 10 rooms available, and they are very nice.
You can take advantage of the outdoor infinity pool, indoor swimming pool, an interesting outdoor training area, gaming room, and their own equipment room.
But the best part of this resort, and the most beautiful, has to be the outdoor lounge, by the beach. To one side, it is facing the hills, and on the other, the ocean.
The resort is elegant, if minimalist, but very comfy. Sombrero Island is only 9 km away from the resort, and they are close to all the great diving spots.
Camp Netanya Resort and Spa
A piece of Santorini in the Philippines, the premium prenup location in Batangas, this resort is more than just a place to stay on your diving trip. Camp Netanya Resort and Spa has a heavily inspired Greek design, in a beautiful withe-washed style.
The resort is located at the beach, and gradually “climbs” the hill with its blue-domed villas: this resort located on Anilao beach is really gorgeous, and it’s understandable why many couples choose it for their wedding receptions and prenups.
But they do not lack diving options if that is why you want to go there, as they have a dive shop and offer diving tours. It also has many other great amenities, such as a bar and restaurant, infinity pools, and a wellness center.
See also: 12 Best Beach Resorts In Nasugbu Batangas
You could say that Anilao beach in Batangas is the diving capital of the Philippines, and not be wrong. They have some great beach resorts in Anilao, so you don’t have to be a diver or a diving enthusiast to enjoy the beaches in Mabini.
If that is so, you can have your next vacation there and try diving for the first time, who knows. The important thing is that this place is truly beautiful, has great places to visit (mostly underwater), and great resorts to accommodate you.
To make things even better, most of the resorts on this list can be reached by a short 2-hour drive from the airport in Manila. You can have the best diving experiences without wasting any time.
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