Liveaboard Destinations

Here you can read about some of the locations you will visit on the Nourth and South Liveaboard trips. You can click on the location names on the map to jump to that section below.

Apo Island: Coconut Point

Sometimes known as the 'washing machine', this site is usually done as a drift dive because of the prevailing currents that are almost always present. Schools of big eye trevallies, solitary giant trevallies, Spanish mackerel, red snappers, midnight snappers, and clouds of anthias and fusiliers are always seen here. The sloping reef of this site is also a good place to look for turtles and sea snakes. Keep an eye out for the meter-long bumphead parrotfish that is sometimes seen on this site.

At slack tide and during certain phases of the moon Coconut is suitable for novice divers, but otherwise it is strictly for advanced divers with drift diving experience. At one point there is a sand channel running between two rock cliffs, which provides shelter from the current and is an excellent place to sit and watch the show!

What to see regularly: many different types of jacks and snappers, sweetlips, emperor fish, fusiliers, barracuda, tuna, rainbow runners, turtles, sea snakes, batfish, potato grouper.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, bump head parrotfish, reef sharks, manta ray, whale shark.

Apo Island: Cogon

Cogon is often subjected to fierce currents, making it an exhilarating drift dive only suitable for more experienced divers. The dive starts on a sloping reef with excellent mixed corals and sponges and finishes along a wall with luxurious soft corals.

Strong currents guarantee remarkable marine life activity with all kinds of fish cruising the reef and huge schools of big eye trevallies (jacks) hanging in the blue.

What to see regularly: big eye trevallies, blue fin trevallies, giant trevallies, banded seasnakes, turtles, mangrove snappers, black and white snappers, scribbled snappers, five lined snappers, boxfish, clown triggerfish, scribbled filefish, pyramid butterflyfish, longfinned bannerfish.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, cuttlefish, bumphead parrotfish, batfish, eagle ray, mantis shrimp, blue spotted stingray, flatworm, frogfish.

Apo Island: Marine Sanctuary

This marine sanctuary is a “no fishing” area and a maximum of 15 people are permitted to dive here each day. This high level of protection benefits the whole of Apo Island, allowing fish stocks to regenerate.

The Sanctuary is a sloping reef with spectacular hard coral growth. One of the most notable characteristics of Apo Island is the diversity of its coral reefs, and the Sanctuary is a prime example of that. Almost every square meter of this site is bursting with the myriad hues and textures of different coral colonies. This is also the site where Clownfish City can be found.

What to see regularly: many species of clownfish, moray eels, fusliers, butterflyfish, angelfish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, giant trevally, snappers, sweetlips, different species of surgeonfish, fantastic hard and soft corals.

What to see if you are lucky: sea moth, flounder, napoleon wrasse, bump head parrotfish, turtle, frogfish, ghost pipefish, long nose hawkfish.

Apo Island: Mamsa

Mamsa is the local word for jack fish (trevallies) and this is an excellent place to see big schools of hundreds of jacks. Sometimes they swim in a circle for protection, and if you are really lucky you might see the larger pelagics, like tuna, that are hunting them.

This sloping reef and steep wall are covered in hard and soft corals and sponges as well as hordes of other marine life species. There is often a strong current, so at times this site is not suitable for all divers.

What to see regularly: big eye trevallies, blue fin trevallies, giant trevallies, banded seasnakes, turtles, mangrove snappers, black and white snappers, scribbled snappers, five lined snappers, boxfish, clown triggerfish, scribbled filefish, pyramid butterflyfish, longfinned bannerfish.

What to see if you are lucky: tuna, napoleon wrasse, cuttlefish, bumphead parrotfish, batfish, eagle ray, mantis shrimp, blue spotted stingray, flatworm, frogfish.

Siquijor: Paliton Wall

Paliton wall starts at 7 meters and in parts plunges down to around 50 meters. It is covered with soft corals and beautiful big sea fans. There is a very large over hang full of glass fish and lionfish at about 35 meters and visibility is usually excellent.

What to see regularly: many nudibranchs, soft corals, sea fans, eels, scorpionfish, lionfish, groupers, anthias, fusiliers, copper sweepers.

What to see if you are lucky: mantis shrimp, ribbon eel, cometfish, banded seasnake, flatworms, barracuda.

Siquijor: The Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a huge coral garden in which no fishing is allowed. The hard and soft corals are in excellent condition and are home to many interesting creatures. What starts as a shallow slope becomes steeper with depth. It’s also a great spot for snorkeling. It’s a wonderfully relaxing dive through a beautiful coral garden.

What to see regularly: superb hard and soft corals, fusiliers, many nudibranchs, clownfish, parrotfish, schools of juvenile barracuda, razor fish, groupers.

What to see if you are lucky: mantis shrimp, ribbon eel, cometfish, banded seasnake, flatworms, barracuda, turtle, cuttlefish, ribbon eel, sea moth.

Siquijor: The Sunken Island

The Sunken Island is a submerged sea mount, the top of which is at 10 meters. The site can be subject to strong currents, so at times it is suitable only for more experienced divers. After descending to maximum depth, you will slowly circle the sea mount and work your way shallower, making sure you see everything. There is definitely the chance of big stuff dropping on a visit…

What to see regularly: snappers, groupers, anchovies, unicorn fish, batfish, triggerfish, angelfish, anthias, anemone shrimps, sweetlips.

What to see if you are lucky: hunting tunas, large barracudas, eagle rays, sea snakes, turtles.

Balicasag: The Sanctuary

This dive starts as a shallow coral shelf from 5 meters to 8 meters, then drops as a vertical wall. The shelf is a rich coral garden, great for snorkellers and underwater photographers. The steep wall has a profusion of cracks and crevices that require a flashlight to explore. Bigger fish hang off the wall in the current, and clouds of reef fish dart in and out of the profuse corals and sponges. It’s a kaleidoscope of color!

What to see regularly: groupers, stunning soft corals, flatworms, nudibranchs, tuna, batfish, snappers, moray eels, sea fans, sweetlips, jacks...

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, turtle, frogfish, barracuda...

Balicasag: Black Forest

The Black Forest is named after the rare black coral ‘bushes’ that can be found here. These unique corals are rarely found above 50 meters but we are lucky to have them here at 30 meters.

What to see regularly: black coral, big schools of longfin bannerfish, pyramid butterflyfish and red-tooth triggerfish, many colorful nudibranchs.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, schools of jacks, schools of barracuda, schools of batfish.

Balicasag: Divers Heaven

A gentle slope with excellent hard and soft corals dropping to about 10 meters, then a wall which drops off to around 35 meters. The stunning wall itself has everything, many cracks and caves to investigate, plenty of passing traffic and generally great visibility.

What to see regularly: lionfish, soldierfish, moray eels, nudibranchs, sweetlips, batfish, groupers, surgeonfish, fusiliers, snappers, nudibranch, anemone fish.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, turtle, frogfish, barracuda, schools of jacks...

Dumaguete - Main Pier

The Dumaguete pier is something of an unusual dive site. Primarily it is a shipping pier, but when the ships leave it turns into a diver's paradise. The pier is densely overgrown with sponges and soft corals. The whole site is a true heaven for critter hunters. Eerie light patterns, silhouettes and the encrusted pilings make for great wide angle shots, as for a very beautiful dive. Huge numbers of weird and wonderful critters will have the macro photographer in ecstasy. Those who know compare this site to places such as Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, Secret Bay in Bali or Lembeh Strait in Suluwesi.

What to see regularly: different types of frogfish, many nudibranchs, scorpionfish, devilfish, pipefish, batfish, seahorses, juvenile travellies, big sea fans.

What to see if you are lucky: octopus, harlequin ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps, whiskered pipefish, juvenile batfish, porcupine fish, moth fish, demon stingers.

Dauin North

The east side of this very big sanctuary consists of two large reef areas which are densely covered with hard corals and divided by a sandy channel. Each area has its own character with different types of coral and fish to be found there.

What to see regularly: many different types of hard corals, scorpionfish, pufferfish, rabbitfish, nudibranchs, catfish, garden eels, different types of triggerfish.

What to see if you are lucky: juvenile batfish, devilfish, clown triggerfish, cuttlefish, ribbon eel, turtle.

Masaplod Marine Sanctuary

This incredibly active reef is home to thousands of tropical fish, so many that it's very easy to miss the truly amazing small creatures who also call this sanctuary home. Beginners will be amazed at the number and varieties of fish, and seasoned critter hunters won’t be disappointed either by the stranger smaller inhabitants.

A sloping, patchy reef with lots of fish. Peacock groupers, red snappers, batfishes, scorpionfishes, sweetlips and blue-spotted stingrays are usually found here. Small schools of jacks and fusiliers can also be seen here. Lots of nudibranchs in this site. Egg and tiger cowries are always seen here. Frogfishes, moray eels, and mantis shrimps are sometimes found here. This is also another site where crab-eye gobies can be found.

Malapascua: Monad Shoal/Shark Point     26m+ / 80ft+

Monad Shoal is an underwater island on the edge of a 200m drop off, and is famous as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be seen everyday. Manta rays have become a common sight over the last year. The shoal also attracts other pelagics such as devil rays and eagle rays. Manta rays and hammerheads are seasonal. Monad Shoal is perfect for Nitrox. Find out more about Monad Shoal and its threshers. Please note that this is a slightly more advanced dive site.

Malapascua: Tapilon Wreck    22m-28m / 70ft-90ft

A World War II Japanese cargo carrier, the wreck at Tapilon was hit by torpedoes. It now lies in several sections, though is still recognizable as a boat. There is an abundance of life on this wreck and it is covered in beautiful soft coral. Swirling around it are thousands of small barracuda - an incredible sight. This wreck is worth diving for the barracuda alone! There are also many species of flat worms, nudibranchs, moray eels, cuttlefish, squid, and scorpion fish. Huge marble rays are sometimes seen, as well as the fire sea urchin and its accompanying urchin crab and Coleman's shrimp. Sometimes we have several ornate ghost pipefish and frogfish in residence.

Malapascua: Dona Marilyn Wreck    18m-32m / 60ft-110ft

A similar ferry today at almost 100m long, the Dona Marilyn was a Cebu-Manila passenger ferry that sank in a typhoon 20 years ago. It was a huge disaster and many people lost their lives. It is now lying on its starboard side, amazingly still all in one piece. Marble rays, blue-spotted rays and whitetip sharks live under the bow and eagle rays and devil rays sometimes pass through. The wreck is covered in a healthy growth of soft coral, and the fish that live there grow to a large size. Several varieties of sweetlips grow bigger here than at any of our other dive sites and the juveniles are often seen. Large cuttlefish and scorpionfish are common as well as nudibranchs and flatworms. A giant moray eel is living in the wreck. You can also see many of the beautiful purple fire sea urchins around, accompanied by their resident zebra crabs and Coleman's shrimp. Penetration is possible for qualified divers. There are lots to see inside, as it has remained unsalvaged. The photo above shows a similar ferry today.

Malapascua: Kimud Shoal     40m+ / 130ft+

Sunken Island is a fairly small shoal. Almost circular, it is possible to swim all the way around the edge in one dive. The top of the island lies at 12-16m, and the steep sides drop off to 200m+. It is near to Monad Shoal so we often see thresher sharks, mantas and devil rays. Turtles are occasional visitors. The top of the island has a lot of hard coral, and many excellent hiding spots for moray eels. The sides are covered in soft coral growth. Many species of shrimp can be found among the corals and several species of unusual nudibranchs. The east side is especially interesting for its rock formations and overhangs. Because of the drop off, at any point on the island there is the chance of seeing pelagic such as sharks, rays and tuna. Recently spotted here - a school of 50 hammerheads.

Calanggaman Island    40m+ / 130ft+

Calanggaman Island is the picture postcard desert island. Sometimes we will stop on the island for a beach barbeque during our surface interval. Palm trees and a pile of white sand surrounded by crystal clear water and steep walls dropping off into the blue. Vis is usually good and fish life is plentiful. Drop down the walls, which are covered in hard corals and gorgonian fans and inhabited by many varieties of fish. Look for pelagic out in the blue, or unusual fish like clown triggers on the wall. You can also see many critters including nudibranchs, crabs and shrimp. As you come back along the top of the wall, look for fields of nudibranchs and garden eels. Dolphins are often seen on the way back.

Gato Island    24m / 80ft

Gato Island is one of our most famous dive sites. Gato is a marine reserve and sea snake sanctuary. It has at least five dive sites with a huge diversity of marine life. We are constantly seeing new creatures. At all sites you can see such things as banded sea snakes, cuttlefish (often while mating), seahorses, nudibranchs, frogfish, moray eels, scorpion fish, squid and big-mouthed mackerel. There are many whitetip sharks in residence at Gato, as well as bamboo and cat sharks. The coral is in good condition and the rocky island has many interesting underwater rock formations, overhangs, and swim-throughs.

Gato: The Cave   10m / 35ft

The CaveOr more accurately, "The Tunnel". Journey underneath Gato Island and come out the other side! This 30m tunnel houses all the usual cave dwellers like crabs and lobsters. You should also encounter some large puffer fish. Most of exciting of all, the cave is home to whitetip sharks! You may see them hiding in a corner as you pass by inches from their face, or see their silhouette as they circle near the exit. If you are careful and move slowly, they will swim straight by your face. The sight is simply breathtaking. Not for the faint of heart. For experienced divers only.

Camotes Islands

Made up of 3 islands located half way between Cuatro Islas and Capitancillo.

TALONG Island (translates as "eggplant"), the smallest of the islands, offers good diving and is just North of the Northwest point of Pacijan Island, the Westernmost of the Camotes Islands. Depth: Up to 40m(130ft) plus. Visibility: Up to 40m(130ft).

The North and Northwest sides of Talong Island have long slopes out and down with field of stony corals, mainly large Coral Tables and Coral Heads. Deeper down, Gorgonian Sea fans, Black Corals, Whip Corals and soft Coral Trees are sheltering all the expected reef fish which may include Bumphead Parrotfish, Jack fish, Batfish and Fusiliers.

On the sandy area are stingrays, Lizardfish, Sand Perch, Sea Stars, Sea Cucumber and Sea Urchins. Talong Island is a good area to spot pelagic species. Normally choppy with medium current, it is recommended to the novices to stay close to their dive guide.

Cabilao Island

THE LIGHTHOUSE

Straight bellow the lighthouse on the North-Western portion of the island is a double drop-off. The first one goes down slightly to 25-30m(85-100ft) deep. Strewn with a good variety of hard and soft corals, massive Barrel Sponges and a large sandy area sheltering 2 species of Garden Eels, this spot is perfect for underwater photographers. Experienced divers, in the deep water of the second part, may have the chance to encounter Gray and Whitetip reef sharks or even Hammerhead Sharks.

TALISAY

At Talisay located in the North side of Cabilao, the vertical wall starting close to the surface is brightly colored by Crinoids hiking on Gorgonian Sea Fans, Coral Tables, blue and yellow Tube Sponges or even directly on the rocky edges of a multitude of small caves where brown Pipefish couples with orange flat tails have made their well-protected habitat.

SANDIGAN

Sandigan, the Southwest part of the island is the starting point for 2 drift dives. Either to the North or to the East, beside a wall jumping beyond 40 meters with lots of Gorgonian Sea Fans, large Barrel Sponges, Elephant Ear Sponges and colorful Soft Corals. The reef, in a similar way as all around the island is animated by Lionfish, Sweet Lips, Snappers, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, a myriad of Blue Anthias, Coral Groupers, Bluefin Trevallies, Jacks and larger Groupers in deeper water. Reef Sharks, can be spotted resting in caves or under overhangs during the day.

Sumilon Island

Had the first Marine Sanctuary in the Philippines. On the western side of this little island, a shallow 2-5m deep and 200m wide Coral Garden may be enjoyed either by divers or snorkelers.

The East and Southern sides are sandy slopes with Coral Heads, Mushroom corals and Garden Eels. The Marine Sanctuary is located on the West part where the flat shallow coral reef reaches the edge of a 35m drop-off. There are plenty of small caves with purple, yellow, white Sea Fans, Bushy Corals, colored Sponges, nice hard and soft Corals as well as big oysters encrusted in the rock. Angelfish, Bannerfish, Pufferfish, Trumpetfish, Anthias, Damselfish,

Clownfish in their anemone are some of the reef fish that will be observed there. Sometimes, pelagic like Jacks, Barracudas and Tuna may be viewed out of the blue as well as occasional Sharks