SITES TO VISIT

LIGPO ISLAND - Conditions are generally calm but this dive could have fierce currents that change quickly. This is not a dive for novices when currents are running. Visibility could reach 25 meters (80 feet). Good for night dives with lots of flat worms, nudibranchs, moray eels, catfish and squid. This island could be circumnavigated in one dive. There is a small drop-off and a cave on the east side and undersea mount on the west side. Average depth is 27 meters (90 feet) and maximum depth is 61 meters (200 feet).

THE CATHEDRAL - Located off the Bagalangit Point and is a Marine Sanctuary. Generally calm but some strong currents could make photography difficult. Visibility is at 25 meters (80 feet). This is perhaps the best known site in the Philippines. Once barren but since the start of incessant fish feeding, various corals have grown and the area is teeming with fish. The area is composed of two large sea mounts resembling a large roofless cavern. A small cross was planted by former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1983 when he was Chief of the Philippine Constabulary. The same cross was blessed by Pope John Paul II. Angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasse, triggerfish, etc. will fester divers who are about to disembark from the banca, waiting to be fed. The deeper you go the less interesting. Average depth is 19 meters (62 feet) and maximum depth is 30 meters (100 feet PLUS)

EAGLE POINT - Located south of the Cathedral, generally calm with a gentle current. This is an easy dive similar to Cathedral with a shallow drop off from 8 meters (25 feet) to 18 meters (60 feet). Plenty of small reef fish, sponges, nudibranchs and feather stars. Average depth is 10 meters (33 feet) and maximum is 18 meters (60 feet). Visibility is 20 meters (65 feet).

KOALA - South of Eagle Point, calm dive site with medium current and visibility is at 20 meters (65 feet).Koala has a gentle downward slope, ideal for novices. One could find soft corals, stony corals and some big boulders with clownfishes. Average depth is 18 meters (60 feet) and maximum is 24 meters (80 feet).

ARTHUR'S ROCK & DEAD POINT - Generally calm with little current to a medium with a 20 meter (65 feet) visibility. Similar to Koala, these two sites gradually slope to 5 meters (16 feet) to 21 meters (70 feet), offering snakk coral heads on sand, plenty of small reef fish, sponges, feather stars. Average depth is 10 meters (33 feet) to a maximum depth of 21 meters (71 feet)

TWIN ROCKS - Generally calm with just a slight current and visibilty could reach 20 meters (65 feet). The remains of a capsized barge perches on a gradual slope. Explorers could find sponges, algae, hydroids, feather stars and small reef fish, sometimes a barracuda and squids. Average depth is 6 meters (20 feet) and maximum depth is 12 meters (40 feet).

MAINIT POINT - Located as the southernmost part of Calumpan Peninsula and known as the Cazador Point in charts. This site is exposed than most other sites. Currents can be very strong and afternoon winds can make the surface choppy and spoil the visibility. It is the best to dive on a flood tide. Visibility is at 25 meters (80 feet). Some rocks break the surface and the strong currents provide a rich marine life. One could find Moorish Idols, Porcupine Pufferfish, jacks, scorpionfish, etc. There is a cave at 7 meters (23 feet) where Whitetip Reef Sharks are seen resting. Average depth is 15 meters (50 feet) and maximum depth is 30 meters (100 feet).

RED ROCK - Located on the East side of the CAlumpan Peninsula, opposite Arthur's Rock. Generally calm with slight current and visibility is at 20 meters (65 feet). One can view underwater coral mound with lots of feather stars, nudibranch, soft corals, hydroids and small fish. Average depth is 8 meters (25 feet) and maximum depth is 12 meters (40 feet).

BEATRICE ROCK - Located Northern end of Sombrero island. Cal but with generally strong currents but the site is exposed to experience rough times making best dives during neap tides. Visibility can reach at 25 meters (80 feet). The area offers a series of short drop offs with channels in between. Large barrel sponges, good gorgonians, black corals, soft and stony corals, etc. can be found here. The area is populated by a large number and wide variety of reef fish you could imagine. On occassions, Blue-ringed octopusses and turtles could be found in the area. Average depth is 14 meters (45 feet) and a maximum depth of 27 meters (90 feet).

SOMBRERO ISLAND - Generally calm seas with strong current but it can get rough on the surface. A medium slope from 5 meters (16 feet) to 18 meters (60 feet). The site contains similar marine life like Beatrice Rock. Average depth is at 10 meters (33 feet) and maximum depth is 18 meters (60 feet).

BAHURA - Located North of Caban Island, has strong currents but is generally calm with sometimes rough surface. Visibility can reach at 25 meters (80 feet). Average depth is 15 meters (50 feet) or maximum depth if 30 meters (100 feet). The area has slopes, small drop-offs, overhangs and swim-throughs. Area is teeming with fish and fierce currents, almost the same number and variety of marine life at Beatrice Rock.

LAYAG-LAYAG - Located at the Northwest corner of Caban Island, and is a site with generally calm with medium to fierce currents, considered to be a good snorkelling site, but it is essential for snorkellers to familiarize with the tide tables and choose slack water with visibility at 30 meters (100 feet). Average depth is at 10 meters (33 feet) and maximum depth is 18 meters (60 feet). Extensive coral formations cover a steep though shallow slope from 5 meters (16 feet) and 18 meters (60 feet). Currents can be fierce so the choice of slack water and preferably neap tide is essential. Smaller reef fish can be seen and the coral is teeming with rich marine life.

KIRBY'S ROCK - Located at the Northeast face of Caban Island and is with generally calm waters with strong currents. Snorkellers should know tide tables and choose slack water and stay on the shallow reef, inshore of the rock. Average depth is 12 meters (40 feet) and maximum depth is 33 meters (108 feet). Kirby's Rock sticks out of the water and on its shoreward side drops to 5 meters (16 feet), from where the reef slopes upwards the shore. This side of the rock and the reef to the shore have good coral reef. On the seaward side of the rock drops as a wall to 20 meters (65 feet) and then shelves slowly off on sand with coral patches to 33 meter (108 feet). This wall is rich with soft corals, colourful crinoids, good-sized barrel sponges, white finger sponges, etc. The bottom of the wall has several harbouring morray eels and there are many whip corals and anemones with clownfish among the coral heads on the sand.

CABAN COVE - Generally calm waters with little current with visibilty can reach 20 meters (65 feet). This is a sheltered dive so long as you avoid the outer ends of the cove, where currents can be strong. The gradual coral slope from 7 meters (23 feet) to 15 meters (50 feet) steepens as you get deeper. A good dive for novices and one can see mixed corals and lots of small fishes. Average depth is at 10 meters (33 feet) and maximum depth is 15 meters (50 feet).

DARYL LAUT - Located west side of Caban Island and with a slight current in a generally calm seas with visibilty of 20 meters (65 feet) and an average depth of 20 meters (65 feet) and a maximum depth of 27 meters (90 feet). A minor wreck dive from 12 meters (40 feet) to the bottom at 27 meters (90 feet), not the best for most but interesting for novices. Has plenty of smaller reef fishes.

SEPOK WALL - West of Sepok Point and at the Northwest tip of Maricaban Island. Meidum currents in a agenerally calm seas but can be rough with strong currents with visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet). Average depth is 15 meters (50 feet) and maximum depth of 27 meters (90 feet). Normally an easy and very pretty dive with good coral gardens around 5 meters (16 feet) and a wall dropping to 27 meters (90 feet). The shallow water teems with a profusion of small reef fish while the wall has bigger reef fish.

BETHLEHEM - Located at the SOuthern end of Caban Island. Little currents with generally calm waters and visibility is at 20 meters (65 feet). Average depth is 10 meters (33 feet) and maximum depth is 15 meters (50 feet). On this steep coral slope - from 5 meters (16 feet) to 15 meters (50 feet) - you find a mixture of soft and stony corals, hydroids, crinoids and small reef fish.

MAPATING ROCK - Average depth is 20 meters (65 feet) and maximum depth is 40 meters (130 feet). This is open water and needs a good boat driver or guide or else one can miss this spot. Generally calm with very strong currents but can become very rough with a visibility of 30 meters (100 feet). The submerged rock is surrounded by a shallow area at 12 meters (40 feet), which ends in a series of drop-offs down to 40 meters (140 feet). The area is large and the currents are really fierce and this site is for experienced divers only. The marine life is profuse with all varieties of fish and sometimes Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks.

MERRIEL'S ROCK - Generally calm with strong currents but it can be rough. Visibility can reach 25 meters (80 feet). Strong to fierce currents may be encountered in this cluster of shallow reefs aand gullies. The site is rich in a variety of species of corals, anemones with clownfish lots of the smaller reef, surgeonfish and stingrays, pufferfish and boxfish. Best dived in the mornings and it can be rough on the surface on afternoon winds.

DEVIL'S POINT - Known on the charts as the Burijar Point. Generally calm with a medium strong current but it can get rough with strong currents with visibility at 25 meters (80 feet). Maximum depth is 24 meters (80 feet) and average depth is 15 meters (50 feet). A coral slope from 6 meters (20 feet) to 24 meters (80 feet) with good mixed corals and lots of small fish.

RED PALM - Generally calm with a medium strong current with a visibility of 25 meters (80 feet). Average depth of 10 meters (33 feet) and a maximum depth of 24 meters (33 feet). A steep coral slope from 3 meters (10 feet) to 24 meters (80 feet) with large boulder corals and very large lettuce corals. One can see colorful crinoids everywhere, Feather Duster Worms, Christmas Tree Worms, some very large anemones and several types of clownfish.

BONITO (CULEBRA) ISLAND & MALAJIBOMANOC ISLAND - Eastern end of Maricaban Island and with generally calm with strong currents but both areas can become very rough with a visibility of 25 meters (80 feet). These two marine sanctuaries have patches of coral heads on sandy slopes. Currents are often fierce making it necessary to try and find sheltered patches. Malajibomanoc "Feather Chicken" Island has hot springs at 20 meters (65 feet). When Taal Volcano increase in its activity, this area also releasing curtains of bubbles. The east side of the island has two (2) pinnacles rising from a coral slope of 20 meteres (65 feet) to 8 meters (25 feet).Fish and coral life is plenty and Black Reef Sharks are often seen.