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The Philippines provides a wealth of diving alternatives – right here RICHARD SMITH shares a few of his favourites
For a few years, the diving scene within the Philippines performed second fiddle to Indonesia, however with so many nice all-rounder locations all through the archipelago, the nation was quickly on its solution to turning into the large Asian dive vacation spot of the second.
The diving is extraordinarily different throughout the nation, attracting divers searching for animals each little and huge, spectacular coral reefs and nice wreck-diving. Right here I’ll share my 4 favorite locations, although they’re simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the Philippines has to supply.
ANILAO, south-west Luzon Island
Anilao is the Philippines’ reply to Lembeh Strait, the place multitudes of fascinating muck-dive critters await the sharpest of eyes. There’s a plethora of lodging choices all alongside the richly forested headland, which is only a few hours’ drive from Manila on the island of Luzon.
Due to its proximity to the capital, and worldwide airline gateway, it’s an incredible add-on vacation spot for one more dive location within the nation, but additionally an incredible dive-spot in its personal proper. The dive-sites embody intriguing smooth coral and sponge reefs, black sand and rubble slopes. For the non-initiated diver, this may sound like a horrible assortment of websites, however in fact for muck-dive aficionados these are a few of the richest substrates.
Anilao accommodates most of the typical muck-dive suspects comparable to furry frogfish, seahorses, mandarinfish and even the rarer Rhinopias scorpionfish, Coleman shrimps, mimic octopus and different treats. Anilao and Lembeh Strait are, nevertheless, moderately totally different. I’ve been to Lembeh Strait many occasions, however in Anilao I noticed fairly quite a few species I had by no means seen earlier than.
One group that appears notably effectively represented in Anilao is nudibranchs. I noticed many species I had by no means even heard of beforehand, and many who I had seen solely in footage. One, Allen’s Ceratosoma (Ceratosoma alleni), I had been trying to find years however by no means had the fortune of discovering. On one dive in Anilao I noticed three chomping their manner by way of a glade of the smooth corals that they mimic and feed upon.
Dives are usually executed from local-style outrigger boats, which rapidly and simply navigate the waters between the mainland and a few of the different websites on neighbouring islands. Night time dives are nice within the space and provide varied highlights, from mandarinfish on the resort’s doorstep to black sand and silty websites which have resident Bobbit worms and the like. Muck-divers will undoubtedly love Anilao.
PUERTO GALERA, Mindoro Island
Puerto Galera is one other location that’s simply accessed from Manila. It’s simply a few hours by automobile to the port of Batangas, the place you meet a ship to take you on the final hour of the journey over to Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro.
I stayed at Atlantis Resort and was proven the good number of native websites whereas being based mostly at its pretty ocean-fronted resort within the coronary heart of the primary city. Puerto Galera is sort of a bustling place and has many retailers, dive resorts and bars. It’s fairly a distinction to another dive areas, however enjoyable and stuffed with vitality.
The diving is extraordinarily different, with spectacular reefs within the Verde Passage, wrecks, muck-dives and every thing in between. Verde is a spectacular dive space, the place sturdy currents convey nutrient-rich water to feed clouds of anthias and all method of magnificent smooth and onerous corals.
Dives are solely manageable, nevertheless, and native guides take into account tides and currents when planning the dive schedule. There are many turtles and passing pelagic fishes right here too, so it’s price maintaining a tally of the blue.
On the different finish of the size, there’s muck-diving right here as effectively. Simply across the nook from the resorts is Secret Bay, the place uncommon gurnard lionfish, black furry frogfish and flamboyant cuttlefish will be discovered. This white-sand muck-diving makes a pleasant distinction to the black sand websites at comparatively close by Anilao.
The opposite aspect of the headland has a muck-dive of kinds, however with rather more of a reef affect. Right here, the occasional whip corals have shrimps, xeno crabs and cowries, plus you’re more likely to discover a pygmy seahorse on a gorgonian should you look carefully.
Puerto Galera is a good all-around vacation spot that’s simply accessible from Manila and provides a mix of reefs with most of the high critters on any South-east Asia wish-list.
MALAPASCUA, northern Cebu
Malapascua Island, off the northern tip of Cebu Island, has change into world-famous as the one web site on the planet the place thresher sharks can reliably be sighted. The dive to search out them entails a really early-morning entry onto a deep reef, the place the sharks come every morning to be cleaned.
The most effective sightings happen whilst you kneel calmly on a small pure platform at 30m. Even on nitrox, the depth doesn’t let you spend quite a lot of time ready for the sharks to reach.
The three mornings I went I noticed the sharks, however the perfect day was the final, when two sharks gave me fairly an in depth cross. The tails of those animals is one thing to behold. Scientists had guessed that the operate of the ridiculously lengthy tail was to whip and stun education fish, as a result of they had been so typically caught by the tail on long-line hooks. Solely just lately was their looking methodology confirmed on digicam.
The highest of Monad Shoal, the place the threshers go to be cleaned, is round 15m deep, however there are good sightings of different pelagics there whilst you slowly ascend. A gaggle of adolescent eagle rays had been resident throughout my go to and would make fairly shut passes. It’s truly pretty, after an adrenaline-filled descent into the darkish waters of daybreak, to spend a while watching the reef get up.
Aside from the morning dives searching for threshers, there are many different native websites to maintain you occupied for the remainder of the diving day. The reefs are attention-grabbing and dominated by invertebrates comparable to smooth corals and sponges, moderately than onerous corals.
We noticed surprising beasts, comparable to algae octopuses, uncommon nudibranchs and, in fact, pygmy seahorses. There may be loads to maintain you occupied apart from the thresher sharks round Malapascua.
DUMAGUETE, Negros Island
Dumaguete is one other nice all-around vacation spot however is extra biased in the direction of muck-diving than a few of the others. The Dauin coast, the place Dumaguete is positioned, runs alongside the south-east of Negros. The shoreline is dotted with resorts and plenty of have their very own home reefs. Blacksand slopes are par for the course there.
Some rubble slopes are exceedingly good for octopuses, whereas one web site, Tyres, is well-known for its abundance of frogfish. I’ve been to Dumaguete a number of occasions and every time there was an abundance of a selected animal. The primary time I noticed almost 50 ghost pipefish, then throughout my subsequent 10-day keep I counted as many frogfish.
There are different attention-grabbing indigenous creatures that piqued my curiosity, too, together with the yellow dottyback and uncommon fairy/flasher wrasse.
Apo Island is a well-liked day journey from Dumaguete. The island is a marine park and surrounded by wealthy coral reefs. Among the many fields of onerous corals, there are the same old coral-reef fish species, plus turtles and a few pelagics comparable to trevallies.
It’s the one place I’ve ever seen the big-lipped damselfish, which appears to be like like a fish model of Angelina Jolie. Currents will be sturdy at some websites and visibility is variable. Siquijor Island is one other day-trip possibility with reef partitions, do you have to want for a distraction from muck-diving.
A few of the resorts within the Dumaguete space are actually elevating the bar relating to the providers they provide. They’ve good spas with nice massages, superb eating choices and varied excursions and actions. You’ll be able to even take a yoga course at one.
Effectively-equipped digicam rooms have gotten commonplace, as are wonderful guides who actually cater to their consumer’s requests. I used to be glad to see that the guides had been cautious to not disturb and manipulate the animals, though it’s all the time price mentioning to your information should you really feel they’re extra hands-on than is nice for the critter.
The Philippines has rapidly change into some of the widespread dive locations on the planet, and for good motive. Whether or not you get pleasure from diving for critters or a wholesome bustling reef, that is the place for you. Simple worldwide entry and flights additionally assist, and the Philippines will be reached comparatively cheaply. There may be undoubtedly one thing for everybody there.
Robust stomachs required!: - When you fancy ‘being native’, then attempt the 21-day balut egg, a avenue meals the place you're consuming mentioned dish simply earlier than the duckling inside is sort of able to hatch.
Journey a kalesa: - The kalesa is a horse-drawn calash that was launched to the islands by the Spanish within the 18th century, making it one of many oldest modes of transport within the Philippines.
By Dr Richard Smith | www.OceanRealmImages.com
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