The Visayas – S/Y Philippine Siren
Departs / Returns: Cebu - Moalboal (alternating) on 6 night cruises
Trip highlights*:
• Cabilao Island
• Balicasag**
• Dauin
• Moalboal
• Pescador Island
• Apo Island
The Philippines comprise over 7,000 islands, surrounded by deep blue seas that contain some of the richest marine life on Earth. Thought by many to be the apex of the coral triangle, diving in the Philippines offers you a wide variety of marine environments to choose from. Dives on steep walls and offshore pinnacles, critter hunting in coastal reefs, the sardine run, and the opportunity to get up close to the world's largest fish - the Whale Shark. The Philippines will whet the appetite of even the most seasoned diver. Join us in Tubbataha, Visayas - Cebu, Cabilao, Balicasag, Apo, Negros, Pescador & Malapascua.
Dive sites around the Visayas
"THE CARS", DAUIN NORTH, DAUIN
Between 25-30m (80-100ft), car parts as an artificial reef are attracting porcelain crabs and different kinds of shrimps amongst the many weird and wonderful creatures found at this site. A true macro critter playground.
LIGHTHOUSE, CABILAO ISLAND
Sloping walls full of huge elephant ear sponges and gorgonian fans. This is a great place to dive with large green turtles. Giant frogfish can be spotted resting on sponges and numerous cowries hiding amidst the stunning hard coral garden. Often we can see schools of surgeon fish and big-mouth mackerel. Drift along the wall and as you ascend towards the shallows a sandy plateau dotted with gorgonian fans is the place the stop and look for pygmy seahorses. The dive ends at a stunning hard coral garden where pipefish, cowries, cuttlefish, commensal shrimps, nudibranchs, squat lobsters and orangutan crabs are amongst a few of the commonly seen critters. Occasionally some stronger currents can be experienced!
DIVER'S HEAVEN, BALICASAG ISLAND
Typically with stronger currents than most dives during the trip, Diver’s Heaven is a character site of Balicasag with a steep reef wall, many overhangs with soft corals, sponges & sea fans. The main attraction of this beautiful dive site is the green sea and hawksbill turtles in the shallow waters. The reeftop edge is a nice habitat for schools of colorful damsels and anthias and when lucky also for giant frogfish.
CAMBAQUIZ, CABILAO ISLANDL
A fantastic spot where we often make night dives. A gently sloping reef and sandy bottom to 20m – soft corals and sea pens can be found dotted over the sand; also a great site for sightings of bottom dwellers. The grassy top is a favourite crab hide out.
BLACK FOREST, BALICASAG ISLAND
Once famed for its black coral, here is where we encounter schools of jacks, long-jawed mackerels, red tooth triggerfish and different kinds of fusiliers.
TONGO POINT, MOALBOAL
Schools of razorfish, crocodile needle fish, purple and threadfin anthias are to be found while reef squids and spade fish are making their way home. Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtle are also commonly seen here.
PESCADOR ISLAND, WESTERN CEBU
Just 30 minutes away from Moalboal this island is a perfect place to explore the dramatic steep walls and the colorful and lively reeftop. Zillions of damsels, anthias and chromis are darting around while schools of fusiliers, red tooth triggerfish, surgeonfish, long jawed mackerel, juvenile convict fish and big eyed trevallies are filling the blue. Pescador Island is also home for a couple of giant frogfish. The big cave on the northwest side of the island is a nice gimmick to the dives.
PANAGSAMA BEACH, WESTERN CEBU
Along with the millions of sardines, performing an underwater ballet, giant frogfish might be found together with reeftop pipefish and ringed pipefish..
SAN MIGUEL, DAUIN
Another critter wonderland! When it is the right season, this is the place to find all your favourites. Painted frogfish, varieties of ghost pipefish, cockatoo waspfish are just a few of species you may encounter.
COCONUT POINT, APO ISLAND
An often fast paced drift brings divers over the sloping coral reef wall. Along the way giant trevally, blackfin barracuda, big school of big-eyed trevally and plenty of sea snakes can be encountered.
ROCKY POINT WEST , APO ISLAND
Just beyond the chapel opposite the marine park warden’s office, Rocky Point West offers some of the most stunning hard corals to be found in the region with endless patches of leather corals on the top. The steep reef walls support numerous colourful reef species – pyramid butterfly fish and red-toothed trigger fish are here in their hundreds, frogfish, cuttlefish, banded sea snakes and hawksbill turtles are amongst the common sightings.