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Diving in the Philippines

This article is intended to provide the already qualified Scuba diver with information which will help to plan dives in the waters of the Philippines, whether as a local resident or a visitor. Information is provided without prejudice, and is not guaranteed accurate or complete. Use it at your own risk.

Understand
With 7107 islands, 18,000 kilometers of shoreline and 27,000 sq. kilometers of coral reefs, the Philippines lies in the coral triangle which is one of the most bio-diverse marine regions on Earth. The Philippine seas are home to over 450 species of hard corals, and more than 500 fish families, which include 2000-2500 fish species.

There is a wide variety of dive site types, including reefs, wrecks and underwater caves. The geographic location predisposes the Philippines to typhoons for four months in a year, but the topography and structure of the archipelago give make many of the sites accessible throughout the year.

English is spoken in most parts of the country

Marine ecology
Tropical Indo-Pacific — The region with highest biodiversity, and possibly also the largest extent. Very large numbers of different species can be found in this huge region, but they are also widespread, and similar species will be found in adjoining regions.

Get help
Emergency services

Learn

 * Scuba Tech Philippines

Do

 * Freediving-Philippines
 * Scuba Tech Philippines

See

Dive sites include:

Anilao (Mabini)
Outstanding corals and reef life with high diversity of small marine creatures.

Understand

 * Position: — Cazador Point, the southernmost point of the Calumpan Peninsula
 * Depth: — 5 to 35 meters (16 to 115 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life: — Marine life is plentiful and varied due to the currents. Fish life includes Moorish idols, barracuda, sharks, pufferfish, snappers, surgeonfish, wrasses, angelfish, and jacks. A small cave at 6m is occasionally graced by resting whitetip sharks and a submerged pinnacle at 21m offers a good vantage point from which to see pelagics when the current is running.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — North of Sombrero Island at the northern end of Maricaban Strait.
 * Depth: — 14-27 meters (45-90 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and features: — A series of drop-offs, with channels in between, from 5m to 27m and a pinnacle rising from 14m to 8m. There are large barrel sponges, gorgonians, black corals, soft corals, stony corals, anemones with nudibranchs and sea stars. Fish include clownfish, triggerfish, snappers, surgeonfish, jacks, anthias, and there are also turtles and octopuses.

Stay safe

 * Skills: — Intermediate

Understand

 * Protected diving area for over 20 years. Healthy corals.
 * Position: — Off the Southeast tip of Negros Island
 * Depth: — 3-35 meters (10-115 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and features: — The reef has many large corals and sponges, including table, star and brain corals, barrel sponges and sea whips, and some good-sized clumps of black coral.  Anemones with clownfish, and giant clams are common.  A prolific fish life can be found in the area:  groupers, glasseye snappers, gobies, tangs, wrasses, chromis, damsels, surgeons, squirrelfish, butterflyfish, drums, fusiliers and parrotfish.  Blacktip and whitetip sharks are quite common, and a variety of pelagics, including tuna, jacks, barracuda, wahoos and mackerel, may visit the usually clear water.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards recorded
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * A 340 meter-wide dual-lagoon system divided by a narrow channel that runs west to east.
 * Position: — South China Sea, west of Mindoro Island
 * Depth: — 2 to more than 40 meters (7 to more than 130 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — This is an area where more than 380 species of fish are known to reside, an excellent area to view several species of large pelagics. Among the species of fish that can be found in the Apo Reef area are various sharks (including whitetip, blacktip, hammerhead and whale sharks), stingrays, mantas, jacks and snappers, tuna, wahoos, Spanish mackerel, Napoleon wrasses, surgeons, bumphead parrotfish, triggerfish, lionfish, pufferfish, soldierfish, and many others. Researchers have identified almost 500 different species of corals in the area. There are three wrecks in the area — an old steamer in shallow water at the northern end, and two steel-hulled fishing boats, one in 10m on the southwest portion of the southern reef, the other on the west side of the same reef.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Due to its location Times Square is a rather remote dive. Despite the fact that this site is not dived often, it remains one of the most beautiful sites with pristine undisturbed reefs. Abundant marine life.
 * Position: — 12° 53' 42.61" N, 122° 4' 50.75" E
 * Depth: — 35m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 3 to 4 hours from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — A dive spot rich in swarm fish like fusiliers and surgeonfishes. Great coral formations, nudibranchs, moray eels and other sea life.
 * Photography: — Great photo opportunity.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended. Good for snorkelling
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — Southwest of Panglao Island
 * Depth: — Surface to more than 40 meters (130 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life and Features: — The steep coral covered slopes and walls of these protected waters contain schools of barracudas and jacks, banner and butterfly fishes, batfish, smaller nudibranchs and flatworms, and numerous varieties of anemones with their resident clownfishes.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Suitable for the more experienced diver. This dive site is noted for sightings of Hammerhead Sharks in the deeper waters off the island's northwest point.
 * Position: — Off the Northwest coast of Bohol
 * Depth: — 4 to more than 40 meters (13 to more than 130 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life and Features: — The reef off the point has many cracks, overhangs and coral gardens on it. It drops off to a ledge at 30 meters, and then drops again to much deeper water. The reef features gorgonians and large barrel sponges. Whip corals, sponges and crinoids festoon the walls.  Whitetip and grey sharks are frequently seen, and barracuda, jacks, mackerel and tuna are some of the pelagics that visit the area.  Common reef inhabitants are butterflyfish, Napoleon wrasses, triggerfish, fusiliers, snappers, Moorish idols and sweetlips.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards recorded
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Boracay

 * A popular place in the Philippines to become certified. Quality beginner diving as well as a few good intermediate dive sites.

Moalboal, Cebu Province
A small town on the southwest coast of Cebu Island with many dive schools, some good diving and snorkeling nearby, and boat trips to other dive sites. One of the most popular places in the country for beginning divers to get basic training, typically the PADI Open Water certificate.

Understand

 * Position: — West of Panagsama Beach
 * Depth: — Surface - 40 meters+ (130 feet+)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — Sloping reefs with corals, gorgonians, and fan corals, a drop off and sponge-covered walls with lots of cracks and crevices to explore, and overhangs to swim through. Fish life includes large tunas, napoleon wrasses, whitetip and hammerhead sharks.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for novice divers
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — Southwest of Badian Point
 * Depth: — 25 to more than 40 meters (82 to more than 130 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Advanced
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * The Dona Marilyn was a passenger ship that went down in a typhoon over 20 years ago.
 * Position: — South of Masbate, close to Manocmanoc Islands
 * Depth: — 20-32 meters (65-105 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life and Features: — the wreck is covered by a profusion of dendronephtya and black coral bushes that cover most of the ship.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Advanced
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — North of Cebu Island
 * Depth: — 5 - 25 meters (16-82 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: —

Stay safe

 * Skills: — Intermediate

Cagdanao Island, Palawan
Cagdanao is an island in the province of Palawan, 29 kilometers east of the town of Taytay in northern Palawan.

The island surrounded by a coral reef, with shallow coral gardens and deep drop-offs on the north side. Access to the island is usually a 40 minute ride on a speedboat from Palawan.

Popular for snorkeling and scuba diving

Coron, Palawan
This is one of the best-known sites on Earth for wreck diving. In September 1944 American planes attacked a flotilla of Japanese supply ships at anchor in Coron Bay and around nearby Busuanga Island, and sank many of them in relatively shallow (20-60m) water in the bay.

Understand

 * The Tae Maru is a 168 meter-long oil tanker that has a smashed bow and lies at 26m, listing slightly to port.

 * Position: — Southwest of Concepcion
 * Depth: — 10-26 meters (33-85 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — The strong currents encourage the wreck's coral and sponge growth, which includes a profusion of healthy cabbage corals, a variety of sponges, and hard and soft corals. Marine life includes barracuda, sweetlips, groupers, batfish, lionfish, surgeons, several varieties of wrasses, tangs, snappers and solidierfish.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — Strong currents, Wreck overhead environment
 * Skills: — Advanced
 * Equipment: — Appropriate equipment should be used if wreck penetration is intended. If you do not know exactly what this means, don't try it

El Nido, Palawan
El Nido is a marine reserve, a dugong stronghold in the Philippines, and an excellent destination for snorkelers and beginner divers with impressive coral reefs and walls.

Understand

 * Miniloc Island offers two sites: South Miniloc and Twin Rocks, both are relatively calm and sheltered year-round.
 * Position: — Southwest of Bacuit Bay
 * Depth: — 13 to 21 meters (42 to70 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life and Features: — South Miniloc features lettuce corals and sponges, and it has a large colony of blue eels. Other notable marine life in the area: squid, cuttlefish, jacks, barracuda, angelfish and parrotfish. Twin Rocks, which is north of Miniloc, offers lots of sea whips, table and other hard corals, as well as sponges and a good variety of tunicates. There are also angelfish and stingrays plying the area.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for novice divers
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Puerto Galera
This town and nearby beach areas (Sabang and White Beach) are the main tourist region on Mindoro Island. Much of the diving and a lot of the nightlife are in Sabang.

Understand

 * Once past the hole, several coral heads provide shelter from currents that are often present.
 * Position: — Off Escarceo Point
 * Depth: — 9 - 18 meters (30-60 feet)
 * Topography: — This is a hole on a coral covered underwater ridge at 14 meters which divers can swim through.

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — Huge trevallies, emperor fish and batfish usually gather in shoals overhead and ride the moving water like a ferris wheel.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — This site is known for its sometimes ferocious currents and riptides, whirlpools and eddies.
 * Skills: — Novice

Understand

 * Position: — Off Escarceo Point
 * Depth: — 12-40 meters (40-130 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — A series of three canyons whose sides are completely covered by pink dendronepthya and whip corals. Residents include spotted, oblique, striped and oriental sweetlips. Giant trevallies and batfish hide among seafans and barrel sponges, large schools of snappers, blue-finned trevallies and emperor fish.

Stay safe

 * Skills: — Advanced

Understand

 * Here you will find beautiful coral decorated reefs teeming with marine life.
 * Position: — 12° 32' 53.09" N, 122° 15' 2.94" E
 * Depth: —

 * Conditions: — Agnay Sanctuary is situated in a protected bay area, making this dive easy to handle. Calm sea conditions and much to see and explore.

See

 * Marine life: — A good place to see eagle rays and frogfishes.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This dive site consists of various beautiful coral formations with lots of small fish life such as clownfish, scorpionfish, boxfish and others
 * Position: — 12° 28' 51.32" N, 122° 17' 0.05" E
 * Depth: — 35m
 * Altitude: &mdash Sea level

 * Conditions: —

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Start your dive in shallow waters and gradually slope to a maximum depth of 25 meters to where you will find several swim throughs, caves and reef sections to explore. These underwater structures are teeming with marine life.
 * Position: — 12° 28' 41.37" N, 122° 17' 0.2" E
 * Depth: — 35m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: —

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * The reef is covered in various soft corals and provides a beautiful and exciting scuba dive. There is some amazing marine life here like puffers, groupers, lobsters, cuttlefish and ribbon eels are just a few.
 * Position: — 12° 37' 14.68" N 122° 14' 14.54" E
 * Depth: —
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Includes Soft corals, puffers, groupers, lobsters, cuttlefish and ribbon eels.
 * Photography: — A great place for underwater photography.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * The fish sanctuary of Alad is well known for its endless soft coral fields, barrel sponges and abundant marine life. A true diver’s paradise! This underwater landscape is teeming with marine life and enveloped in dense coral formations.
 * Position: — 12° 37' 10.16" N 122° 14' 15.09" E
 * Depth: — maximum 40m
 * Altitude: Sea level

 * Conditions: —

Get in

 * Boat dive —

See

 * Marine life: — Barrel sponges, Soft corals.
 * Photography: — Ideal for macro photography
 * Suggested Routes: — Start your dive in shallow waters and gradually slope to a maximum depth of 35 meters.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended. This site also provides great snorkeling opportunity.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This site contains a sandy area with some really interesting sea life and is full of colorful mixed coral species and many reef fish. Alad South hosts a large field of garden eels, too.
 * Position: — 12° 36' 48.81" N 122° 15' 26.5" E
 * Depth: —
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Garden eels

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Bangug Island is a small reef system running parallel to the island and ending in a maximum depth of 20 meters. In the sea grass fields and under the blocks there is a lot to discover.
 * Position: — 12° 34' 7.14" N 122° 14' 16.28" E
 * Depth: — 20m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Suggested Routes: — Start your dive in a depth of 2 meters and gradually make your way to the sandy bottom.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for all level divers.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — 12° 39' 36.53" N, 122° 9' 21.12" E
 * Depth: — 40m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — This site consists of a chimney within the reef which leads to a cave at 27 meters
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 45 to 60 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — You might find sharks resting in the cave. There are some amazing coral features and some small marine life which takes refuge among the corals. You might see some interesting fish like stonefish and humpback Scorpionfish.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended. Qualification appropriate to the depth is recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Very spectacular and very colorful dive with lots to see. Starting in shallow water of 3 meters, Bonbon gradually slopes down to a depth of 25 meters to where you can explore this beautiful reef with a mixture of hard and soft coral displays and teeming marine life.
 * Position: — 12° 34' 28.97" N 122° 14' 46.8" E
 * Depth: — 3 to 25m. Maximum 35m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Reef with hard and soft corals
 * Photography: — Great site for macro photography.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — This site also provides great snorkeling opportunity.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This dive consists of a series of large rock boulders set in a sea grass plain. Bonbon Sea grass Valley is well known for its great underwater ambience.
 * Position: — 12° 34' 24.18" N 122° 14' 33.43" E
 * Depth: — 20m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — Large rock boulders on a flattish bottom
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — This is a good place to find hidden smaller animals
 * Photography: — Provides great photo opportunity.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for all level divers.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This site is located next to a huge rock in the ocean. You can see numerous species of marine life between the diverse coral communities at a vertical wall. Beside swarm fish you can find sharks, mantas and eagle rays.
 * Position: — 12° 37' 46.79" N, 122° 9' 55.11" E
 * Depth: — 40m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — Vertical wall
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 30 to 45 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — 12° 36' 25.37" N 122° 15' 10.9" E
 * Depth: —
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — This dive consists of sandy bottom with coral formations.
 * Conditions: — There are often strong currents present which make this perfect for a drift dive. This site can be visited 12 months a year

Get in

 * Drift dive — This site can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Marine life here includes lots of lobsters and moray eels.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This beautiful site contains different coral formations with some really interesting sea life.
 * Position: — 12° 39' 7.81" N, 122° 13' 52.57" E
 * Depth: — 35m
 * Altitude: Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — This is a good place to find hidden smaller animals like the ghost pipefish, special shrimps, nudibranchs and scorpion fishes. With enough luck you find sea snakes, turtles and frogfishes.
 * Photography: — This site is good for and attracts macro photographers.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * As the name suggests, this site was named for the beautiful anemone and coral formations outlining this spectacular reef system. Dropping to a depth of only 30 meters into calm waters.
 * Position: — 12° 39' 12.14" N, 122° 13' 48.94" E
 * Depth: — 35m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Anemones and coral formations

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended. Qualifications appropriate for the depth are recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This large reef contains some interesting features including some outcrops and shelves. The minimum depth of the reef is around 5 meters and slopes down to some interesting coral features. There are Lobsters, Sweetlips, turtles and more. Beside swarm fish you can find sharks, mantas and eagle rays, too.
 * Position: — 12° 14' 38.95" N, 122° 37' 3.18" E
 * Depth: — 45m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat/Shore dive — This site can be reached in 4 to 5 hours from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Located in a protected bay next to Tiamban Beach, this dive site consists of a sandy bottom with lots of giant clams. This spot can be visit 12 months a year.
 * Position: — 12° 33' 55.53" N 122° 14' 57.38" E
 * Depth: — 25m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — Sandy bottom

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Giant clams

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills required
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand
An exciting large reef with various interesting formations and an outstanding display of corals and marine life
 * Position: —
 * Depth: —

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 80 to 90 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — includes turtles, rays, eels, Scorpionfish and more.
 * Photography: — Outstanding bottom topography makes for great photo opportunity.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * An outstanding display of corals and marine life whilst you are diving through valleys and above colorful slopes. Very topographical and scenic dive
 * Position: — 12° 34' 59.35" N 122° 14' 42.62" E
 * Depth: — up to 40m
 * Altitude: Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Corals
 * Photography: — Good photo opportunities.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended. Suitable for snorkeling
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * A spectacular wall with colorful sponge and coral display. A large school fusilier fishes dwell in this area, and there are often frog- and stonefish, too. After diving on the wall you go around a corner and come to a beautiful coral field.
 * Position: — 12° 39' 21.07" N 122° 13' 46.08" E
 * Depth: — up to 40m
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — Wall dive
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Fusiliers, sponges, corals.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * A true diver’s paradise! Situated in a depth of 10 to 25 meters and surrounded by clean sand, you will find a spectacular reef covered in table, tube and soft corals, teeming with marine life. Outstanding bottom topography makes for great photo opportunity.
 * Position: — 12° 40' 49.21" N, 122° 7' 29.65" E
 * Depth: — 10 to 25m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This spot can be visit 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 50 to 70 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: —

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Position: — 12° 39' 55.82" N, 122° 8' 40.33" E
 * Depth: — Minimum depth of 15 meters and a maximum depth of 50 meters
 * Altitude: — Sea level
 * Topography: — This site consists of three large pinnacles
 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 50 to 70 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Here you might spot Eagle Rays, Mantas, sharks and possibly Whale Sharks.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Qualification appropriate to the depth is recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * One of the deeper dives on Romblon. Here you will slope down to a maximum depth of 35 meters to where you will find a formation with lots of spectacular big Gorgonias. Beautiful dive with abundant marine and coral life.
 * Position: — 12° 34' 28.59" N 122° 14' 35.21" E
 * Depth: — Maximum 35m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Big Gorgonians

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Recommended for intermediate and advanced level divers only.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Salvo Beach is a shallow shore dive situated a few meters from the Three P Holiday & Dive Resort. With a maximum depth of 20 meters, excellent visibility, low currents, interesting underwater landscapes and abundant marine life like different moray eel species.  This spot can be visited 12 months a year.
 * Position: — 12° 33' 19.84" N, 122° 14' 56.8" E
 * Depth: — 20m

 * Conditions: — Salvo Beach is also considered to be a great night dive and is ideal for dive training and beginner diving.
 * Altitude: — Sea level

Get in

 * This site has beach access from The Three P Holiday & Dive Resort (Salvar Beach). From Romblon Town it can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes.

See

 * Marine life: — Moray eels

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — no site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for all level divers
 * Equipment: — no special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This dive site provides an exciting dive and also attracts some interesting marine life, various reef fish, rays and turtles. This spot can be visited 12 months a year.
 * Position: — 12° 31' 43.69" N, 122° 14' 56.07" E
 * Depth: — 40m
 * Topography: — An area of steep vertical walls and boulders.
 * Conditions: — There are often some currents present which make this perfect for a drift dive.
 * Altitude: Sea level

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 15 minutes from Lonos, Romblon or 25 minutes from Romblon Town.

See

 * Marine life: — San Pedro Cliff hosts a large field of garden eels and is good for and attracts macro photographers.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site specific hazards reported

 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Well known and famous for the large amounts of inhabiting turtles to be seen here. This also happens to be the biggest attraction to this site.
 * Position: — 12° 31' 58.77" N, 122° 14' 59.77" E
 * Depth: — 40m

 * Conditions: — This spot can be visited 12 months a year.
 * Altitude: — Sea level

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 10 minutes from Lonos, Romblon or 20 minutes from Romblon Town.

See

 * Marine life: — The reef here boasts some of the best coral formations and marine life to be seen in Romblon Island. Whale Sharks were spotted here, too.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for all level divers.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Situated on the tip of Logbon Island a small rocky island just off the coast of Romblon. This dive starts in a depth of 3 meters and gently drops to a depth of 15 meters where you will find some of the most prolific corals.
 * Position: — 12° 36' 11.12" N 122° 15' 2.09" E
 * Depth: — 3 to 15m
 * Altitude: Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year

Get in

 * Boat dive — This site can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Prolific corals
 * Photography: — Good for photography

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Suitable for beginners.
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended-->

Understand

 * As the name tells this is basically a beautiful submerged island covered in corals. Whilst diving around the island you can find many different fish species, nudibranchs and cuttlefish.
 * Position: — 12° 38' 57.56" N 122° 14' 7.71" E
 * Depth: — Starting at 10 meters sloping down to 30 meters.
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — Various fish, nudibranchs and cuttlefish
 * Photography: — This site provides great photo opportunity.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Telsie’s Garden is a muck site right in front of the village Agpanabat. This site includes a rich sandy slope with scattered coral and some rubble areas. This is an excellent muck site with many different species of cephalopods, nudibranchs and different fish species.
 * Position: — 12° 29' 14.67" N, 122° 16' 17.02" E
 * Depth: — 30m
 * Altitude: — Sea level

 * Conditions: — This site can be visited 12 months a year.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 40 to 50 minutes from Romblon Town or Lonos, Romblon.

See

 * Marine life: — many different species of cephalopods, nudibranchs and fish

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — No special skills recommended
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * Turtles’ Feeding Place contains coral formations in a depth between 5 and 25 meters.  This spot can be visited 12 months a year.
 * Position: — 12° 32' 10.57" N, 122° 15' 33.22" E
 * Depth: — 35m

Altitude: Sea level

 * Conditions: — Normally with a mild current and good visibility.

Get in

 * Boat dive — This spot can be reached in 10 minutes from Lonos, Romblon or 20 minutes from Romblon Town.

See

 * Marine life: — Turtles can also be spotted here, with many shoals of fusiliers buzzing around.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards recorded

 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Understand

 * This wreck is notorious for its bloody history. Sunk in a US air attack during World War II, it was subsequently discovered that more than 1,600 American prisoners of war were onboard, all of whom perished in the attack.
 * Position: — 400 meters (1/4 mile) from Alava Pier
 * Depth: — 15 to 20 meters (50 to 65 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — Not much is left to suggest that this used to be a Japanese passenger vessel, but this is now home to a variety of fish, including a resident shoal of barracuda, butterflyfish, sweetlips, fusiliers, angelfish, triggerfish and many others. Soft corals and some hard corals, sponges and hydroids cover much of the remaining tangled superstructure.

Stay safe

 * Skills: — Advanced

Tubbataha reef (Palawan)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Understand

 * Position: — 180km (110 miles) Southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
 * Depth: — Surface to more than 40m (130 feet)
 * Topography: — The diving off the north shore of the islet is over a fissured, coral-covered sandy slope,

Get in

 * Boat dive — Live-aboard

See

 * Marine life and Features: — At several spots around Tubbataha's North Islet, several species of large pelagics can be encountered: manta rays, sharks, tunas, snappers, Moorish idols, groupers, surgeons, soldierfish, trevallies and jacks. The fissured, coral-covered sandy slope of the north shore is home to shovelnosed rays, stingrays, lobsters hiding amid the large table corals, sea whips and coral bommies. Lots of black coral, tube sponges, gigantic gorgonians, colorful soft corals and barrel sponges grow along the many overhangs and crevices of the gently sloping wall of the islet.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards reported
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

Verde Island Passage
The Verde Island Passage was identified by noted American Marine Biologist, Dr. Kent Carpenter, as the center of the center of marine biodiversity. This area is reputed to have the most number of species per square meter of coral reef.

Understand

 * Position: — Southeastern point of Verde Island
 * Depth: — 5 to more than 25 meters (16 to more than 82 feet)

Get in

 * Boat dive

See

 * Marine life and Features: — Whitetips and other sharks, occasional mantas, eagle rays, tuna and jacks, rainbow runners, wahoos and Spanish mackerel are among the pelagics that can be seen along this wall. Other marine life that can be seen throughout the area are Napoleaon wrasses, parrotfish, unicornfish, soldierfish, surgeons, batfish, tangs, gobies, sweetlips and emperors.  The wall is festooned in an array of colorful corals.

Stay safe

 * Hazards: — No site-specific hazards have been reported
 * Skills: — Intermediate
 * Equipment: — No special equipment recommended

title: Diving in the Philippines


text:
Diving Sodwana Bay

This article is intended to provide the already qualified Scuba diver with information which will help to plan dives in the waters of Sodwana Bay, whether as a local resident or a visitor. Information is provided without prejudice, and is not guaranteed accurate or complete. Use it at your own risk.

Understand

Sodwana is one of the better known and more popular dive destinations in South Africa. It is in the far north east of the country and is in a tropical bioregion with reef corals and typical Indo-Pacific marine life.

Respect
The dive sites of Sodwana Bay are in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA. The permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office. Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators. The permits are valid for all South African MPAs.

Boundaries of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area are shown in the image, which also shows the sanctuaries, wilderness and restricted zones, where no fishing or harvesting activities are allowed.

Dive Sites

 * 1/4 mile Reef (10 m) SS-27.53, E32.68
 * Bikini (22 m) SS-27.53, E32.69
 * Bikini 2 S-27.53, E32.69
 * Bikini 3 S-27.53, E32.69
 * Bikini North S-27.53, E32.69
 * Hopscotch north (26 m) S-27.53, E32.69
 * Mellow Yellow south (18 m} S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile 2-Buoy (14 m) S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile 2-Buoy block S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile 4-Buoy (14 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile 4-Buoy block S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Antons (16 m) S-27.53, E32.68
 * 2 mile Antons S tip (16 m) S-27.53, E32.68
 * 2 mile Antons south S-27.53, E32.68
 * 2 mile Arches (14 m) S-27.52, E32.68
 * 2 mile Ash 1 S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Catt N S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Catt Reef (18 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Caves (14 m)S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Caves S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Caves & Overhangs 16 m S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Caves north S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Chain (14 m) S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Chain Pieter S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Coral Gardens (14 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Grand Central (14 m} S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Grave (30 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Hot spots north (30 m) S-27.51, E32.70
 * 2 mile Hot Spots south	(30 m) S-27.51, E32.70
 * 2 mile Hotspots (30 m) S-27.51, E32.70
 * 2 mile Pinnacle (14 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Pinnacles (14 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Pinnacles block S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Pinnacles south S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile S - Chain (18 m) S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 mile Simons S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Simon's Cave (18 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Tiles 1 S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Waynes World S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile Wayne's World (14 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 mile	Zambi Alley (16 m} S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 outside Deep Sponge (35 m) S-27.52, E32.7
 * 2 outside Deep Sponge / Tombstone (30 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 outside Deep Sponge 2 (30 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 outside Sponge (35 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 outside Sponge (19 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 Roonies (30 m) S-27.52, E32.69
 * 2 Roonies S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 Roonies north S-27.53, E32.69
 * 2 Stringer (14 m) S-27.53, E32.68
 * 2 Stringer S-27.53, E32.70
 * 3 mile (23 m) S-27.50, E32.69
 * 3 mile	S-27.50, E32.69
 * 3 mile Pin S-27.50, E32.69
 * 5 Canyon (48 m) S-27.49, E32.70
 * 5 Canyon S-27.49, E32.70
 * 5 Canyon Wall (38-46 m) S-27.49, E32.70
 * 5 Fusilier (21 m) S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 Fusilier S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 mile	(23 m) S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 mile 5 pin S-27.50, E32.70
 * 5 mile Cabbage	30 m S-27.49, E32.70
 * 5 mile Gotham (46 m) S-27.49, E32.70
 * 5 mile Lettuce - Uniform 30 m S-27.50, E32.70
 * 5 mile Pachycerus (36 m) S-27.49, E32.7
 * 5 mile Pothole (22 m) S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 mile Ribbon (19 m) S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 mile Ribbon North (19 m) S-27.49, E32.69
 * 5 mile Ribbon South S-27.49, E32.69
 * 6 mile Snapper College 26 m S-27.46, E32.71
 * 7 mile North 22 m S-27.49, E32.70
 * 7 mile North S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile South (22 m) S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile South S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7-Mile north S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7-Mile northern S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile Amphitheatre (20 m) S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile Castle R S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile Mushroom Rocks (22 m) S-27.45, E32.71
 * 7 mile North Wall (22 m) S-27.45, E32.71
 * 8 mile (19 m) S-27.45, E32.71
 * 8-Mile 2 S-27.45, E32.71
 * 8-Mile 3 S-27.44, E32.71
 * 8 mile	Ramsey (18 m) S-27.44, E32.71
 * 9 mile (18 m) S-27.41, E32.73
 * 9 mile 9 tree	S-27.41, E32.73
 * 9 mile 9-Mile green tree S-27.41, E32.73
 * 9 mile Breaking Waters	(16 m) S-27.42, E32.72
 * 9 mile drop off (23 m) S-27.42, E32.73
 * 9 mile	tree S-27.41, E32.73
 * Diepgat South (64 m) S-27.61, E32.67

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Diving Sodwana Bay