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Escarceo Point (5-28m) / Air / Nitrox
A truly gorgeous series of dives, boasting some of the best coral in the area. The shallows are home to huge table and Staghorn corals spread to catch the suns rays. These corals have been spared the coral bleaching that has devastated reefs in many other parts of the world. This is probably due to up-wellings in the Verde Island passage cooling the reef. Above the corals hovering fishes number in there thousands, rubys and sapphires all dancing as one. Worth more than just one visit this area is a favourite of both new and experienced divers. Photographers can find endless subjects for wide angle and macro. Just off Escarceo Point is the short swim through known as The Hole in the Wall. Here large schools of drummer and sweetlips play in the current. Sheltering behind a coral wall, divers kneel on the sand allowing the fish to come ever closer. They seem unafraid of the divers as they tumble in and out of the current. From time to time larger pelagics such as Tuna. ,Mackeral and Trevally dash overhead.
The Canyons (28-30m) / Air / Nitrox
Strong currents make this perhaps the best of Puerto's best dive sites. With the current ripping it is an electric dive to challenge even the most jaded of divers. Drifting past the Hole in the Wall, at 28 m, you enter a series of three bowls. In them you can find many species of Sweetlips, snapper and drummer, all in large schools. If that isn't enough there are also many emperor angelfish, clown triggerfish and lionfish. Overhead, wheel schools of Jacks, Trevallies and Barracudas. Increasingly, even more massive animals are being seen above the Canyons. Manta, Thresher Shark and Hammerhead have all been seen there this year. Standing at the end of the Canyons is large coral-encrusted anchor, all that remains of a once proud Spanish Galleon, marking the end of a world-class dive. The canyons is best made on nitrox - the extended bottom time gives you a great chance to explore and take in all the sights.
The Chinese Junk (18m) / Air
This wooden wreck lies at 18m and is home to friendly schools of Batfish and Surgeonfish. In the forward hold are two resident moray eels, while on the deck Lionfish and Scorpionfish patiently wait for a meal to swim too close. At night the wreck again attracts a lot of life. Buried in the sand can be found the rare Stargazer. A mouth and two eyes point towards the stars, while a tongue flicks in and out - a lure to attract over curious fish. Swimming up the reef from the junk there is an area of seagrass at 5m. This harbours many exotic fish rarely seen in other areas. Our experienced guides may be able to show you such oddities as the Short Finned Dragon Fish, Harlequin Ghost pipefish or even the Cockatoo Waspfish. Further west is a small part of the cockpit of a WW2 fighter. Sometimes frogfish can be found sheltering behind the pilots head rest. This area highlights more than any other area what makes Puerto so special. Many dive destinations have big fish, others beautiful coral and others great variety, but it is rare to find all three in one place.
Fishbowl and Horsehead (40 - 80m) / Air / Nitrox /Tech/Trimix
One of the deeper dives in the area, this dive is best done by the more experienced divers. The bowl lies between 40 and 48 metres and contains schools of snapper, sweetlips, batfish and whitetip reef sharks. Strong current can make it difficult to stop and look at the fish. To protect the reef some divers chose to use a reef hook. This simple hook and line allows the diver to hang higher above the reef without expended more energy, or kicking the fragile corals. Further on past the fishbowl is the Horsehead reef. Huge fan corals spread across the current and schools of larger fish abound. Sweetlips, batfish and Jacks are all common in this area which is of course named after a rock that looks like a horse's head. In the past few months nitrox and technical divers have adopted this site as one of the best places to see big fish. Recent dives have seen schools of Barracuda, Manta and a large hammerhead shark. Sit on the bottom with your twins and the action is just overhead!
Shark Caves (26-28m) / Air / Nitrox
The Shark Caves are ledges at a depth of about 27 metres, a place of rest for many species of fish, including Whitetip Reef Sharks. Many divers see their first shark in the caves and are amazed by the beauty and grace of these so-called maneaters. The belief that all sharks are dangerous can clearly be seen to be a myth. The truth lies somewhere between myth and reality. While all large wild animals are potentially dangerous, they usually are not aggressive. In fact reef sharks can be seen in many areas of the Philippines and are usually more scared of man than he is of them. Lying in the mouth of the cave it is possible to approach within a couple of metres of the sharks. If they become disturbed they simply swim away. On the days that there are no sharks there blue spotted stingrays can be found on the sand and octopus are commonly seen on the reef. About 90 metres from the caves stands the atoll. This building sized rock harbours many moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish and octopus. Blue triggerfish hover above the rock and duck into holes at the slightest sign of danger.
Kilima Drift (12-50m) / Air / Nitrox / Tech
At times Puerto gets strong currents which make for electric drift dives. Kilima drift is perhaps the most famous of all. From Sinandigan wall to Escarceo Point can take as little as ten minutes on a fast day, making it one of the fastest drift dives around. Zooming along the undulating bottom, divers are treated to displays from hunters in the current. Schools of Barraccuda, trevally, mackerel and even the odd black tip reef shark hang out waiting for the food to come to them. One of the most popular routes goes past Pink Wall. Here the current picks up and the reef becomes a blur. Schools of drummer and Jacks often swim up from the deeper water at this point to feed. Further on a sharp left turn takes you out of the current and into the more tranquil area of the Hole In the Wall. Like many of the more ferocious drift dives in Puerto Galera this dive is best done in small groups and only with local guides.
Pink Wall (10-16m) / Air
This is one of the more popular night dives in the area. During the day the overhanging Pink Wall is mauve, but it's soft pink colours are best appreciated at night in the glow of a flashlight. There are many smaller fish here to provide food for the predators. Trumpetfish, stonefish, lionfish and moray eels all patrol the area. Occasional at night can be found bamboo cat sharks hiding under corals. One of the beauties of night diving is that colours are so intense in the beam of the lights Larger cousins of nudibranches come out to play, deep purple pleurobranchs and the gorgeous Spanish dancer.. It is also possible to get closer to many species of fish at night .Large pufferfish hide in hollows on the reef and can be observed at close range, although it is best not to disturb them. Moray eels can also be found out and hunting. Unlike other species of fish they have no swim bladder. Unable to make themselves neutrally buoyant they glide along the bottom in search of food.
Sinandigan Wall (5-50m) / Air / Nitrox/ Tech
This wall drops off from 5M to about 30M. It is home to a huge range of invertebrates and so is popular with both naturalists and photographers. Dives here often turn into nudibranch hunts. Nudibranches are brightly coloured sea slugs that eat sponges. Many fish avoid eating sponges because of the powerful chemicals in their cells. The nudibranches can also store these chemicals in their own bodies making them bad to eat. Hence the bright colour is a simple warning sign 'Taste no good'. In the shallows the wall is covered in pastel coloured soft corals. The flower like arms of the soft coral all beat in unison filtering the water of it's plankton. Cuttlefish are also common in this area. Like chameleons they have cells in their skin which enables them to change colour to blend in with their surroundings. As divers approach they become stressed causing patterns to flash in waves across their skin.
Wreck Point (5-28m) / Air
So named after a luckless freighter whose bare ribs can be seen on the beach at low tide. Further down at 28 metres are the two hulls of a sailing catamaran, sunk by the dive centres back in 1993. On the hull are myriad colours of feather stars, inside the wreck lie small Lionfish and moray eels waiting for their next meal. Further up on the reef there is a nice wall with good hard and soft coral. Rooted at one end of the wall is a large clam . Clams have eyes too. Pass the shadow of your hand over the clam and it will close. On it's flesh are small primitive eyes that can detect light. Carrying on from the wall most guides lead their divers into the shallows of Dungon Beach. Here majestic table corals spread to catch the rays of the sun. Amongst them play many of the smaller fish that are so often overlooked. Spectacled hawkfish, standing guard with their brilliant marks around their eyes and the neon damsel fish, fish of such an irridescent blue that it rarely seen in nature.
Ernies Point and Cave (5-28m) / Air / Nitrox
Alas Ernie is no more. Ernie was a large grouper who lived in a hole at the bottom of Ernies Point and has not been seen for many years, but his memory lives on in the excellent site named after him. Ernies Cave is now the roost for a large school of copper bellys. These small copper coloured fish hang around the entrance to the cave during the day, marking it's entrance much the same way as bats mark the entrances to caves on land. Sometimes on the reef it is possible to see devil scorpionfish. Often pure white they can be distinguished from scorpionfish by the orange and yellow stripes under their pectoral fins. Many fish school above the site, fusliers, suregeonfish and unicornfish all feeding in the current. The area is very pretty and makes a nice gentle drift dive.
Monkey Wreck (42-65m) / Air / Nitrox/ Tech / Trimix
Sunk by all the dive centres back in 1993, Monkey wreck is local wooden cargo boat of about 27M, resting on the bottom between 40 and 45 metres. Drifting down into the deep water, the first view of the wreck is often an indistinct shadow against the bottom. One of the more difficult dives in the area it should be dived only by more experienced divers. Mostly collapsed it still attracts many divers due the abundant fish life that shelters within the hull. Large Emperoror angelfish, schools of blue triggerfish and the oddly shaped baramundi cod all take shelter within the bare bones of it's ribs. Mutlileveling up the reef, divers can spend more time up on Monkey Beach. Amongst the hard corals in the shallows are hidden a number of giant clams. These clams were transplanted here by members of UP and divers from the Puerto Galera Dive Association. Originally farmed in northern Luzon, they are part of an ambitious plan to restock giant clams in the Philippines.
St Christopher and Elma Jane Wrecks (22-30m) / Air / Nitrox
Another locally produced wreck St Christopher (or St Antoine after it's original French owner) has become a favourite with many dive schools. At 22m long it is fairly small but has over the past few years attracted an impressive amount of marine life. Large lionfish prowl it's hold and often frogfish can be found on deck. Batfish ,rabbit fish, puffer fish and porcupinefish are often found sheltering under the hull. A welcome addition to the dive site is the larger wreck of the Elma Jane. Sunk just two weeks ago (March 7 , 2003) it an all steel inter island freighter. About 30 metres long and 80 tons, it stands uprights and is buoyed. The descent down the line gives a great sight of the mast and bows rising high off the bottom. It has already attracted lots of bait fish and a couple of large emperor. An excellent subject for wide angle photography. A short swim up the reef past St.Christopher takes you into Small La Laguna. Here too Frogfish are common. Looking like dinosours they ambush their prey. One of the fastest 'gulps' in nature they are able to swallow almost the same size of fish as themselves. The reef here is great not just for divers, but also for snorkelers. . Skindivers usually find it best to enter the water from the jetty at the point, or through the boat channel in front of The Full Moon Restaurant. The shallow areas of the rest of the beach have almost complete coral cover making it difficult to enter from these points.
Batangas Channel and The Hill (8-16m) / Air
Batangas channel often goes unnoticed by many divers. At first glance it does not have the classic beauty of areas near Escareco Point. But for the diver that perserveres it may become one of their favourite dives. It is a strange lunar landscape of twisted shapes and undulating plains. Large sponges are host to nudibranches and other invertebrates, while gardens of barrel sponges stand like sentinels in the current. Further into the channel is one of the largest anemone colonies that it is possible to see. Almost a hundred Clark's and Tomato anemonefish live on a colony of anemones that covers more than ten square metres. These small (but terrible) fish defend their anemones against all comers. In nature they can live to be 6-10 years old, while there have been fish that lived to 18 years old in aquarium. Since juvenile anemones are almost never seen it has been suggested that anemones may live to be old as 100! The Hill is also home to rare species of nudibranches, pygmy seahorses and mandarin fish.
A short hop from the main sites are the dives of Verde Island. About 40 minutes by Banca from Sabang they make a nice day trip and an opprotunity to picnic on the beach.
Verde Drop Off (5-75m) / Air / Nitrox / Tech / Trimix
A true wall dropping to sixty metres plus, this site sometimes gets strong currents and large waves. Best dove on nitrox, or with twin tanks, the wall at 40~50 metres is decorated by enormous gorgonian fans in shades of white, yellow and orange. Schools of bannerfish and surgeonfish swim past in the blue. Occassionally larger fish have been seen here, such as eagle rays and sharks. The wall is also covered in beautiful corals and invertebrates. Frogfish, lionfish and scorpionfish are all fairly common here as are banded sea snakes. Much like sharks, snakes receive a bad rap from most non divers. Hollywood has done much to further the myth. Sharks can down helicopters and evil snakes will track a family half way around the world. The truth of course is that sea snakes are poisonous for defense. Usually they ignore swimmers and divers, concentrating on looking into holes for small fish and invertebrates and are often found in the shallows of dives like the Verde Island Drop Off. The Drop Off is now a designated reserve and there may be a local dive fee to dive there
The Galleon Site (10-40m) / Air / Nitrox
In 1621 the pilot of the Nuestra Senora Dela Vida was hung by his neck until he was dead. His crime? To hit Verde Island and sink his Galleon. Fortunately for us he managed to sink his ship in just five metres of water. In the late seventies and early eighties the wreck was excavated by several groups working with the National Museum. Now there is nothing left of the structure of the wreck. In the sand however can be found shards of ming porcelain, the trade ware that the Chinese and Vietnamese traders sold to the Spanish. Slightly deeper on a shelf at 20 metres are larger pieces of terracota jars. These jars served as cardboard boxes. Carrying vegetables, grain, rice and smaller porcelain bowls. The sense of history on this dive is fantastic. What diver doesn't dream of finding a treasure chest?
The Washing Machine (12-45m) / Air / Nitrox
Ever wondered what it feels like to be a dirty T-shirt? This dive will answer all those questions. It feels great! The washing machine is a series of five canyons between 28 and 12 metres. Usually dived less than 15m the diver is treated to a rollercoaster ride when the current is running. Drifting into the canyons you are spun from one side to another in the current. Moving from one canyon to another can present problems and it is easy to be swept away. Best to stay close to the bottom and watch the small fish spin. Where they seem to be stationary is probably the best place to cross the current. However good buoyancy control is required to protect the corals. More experienced divers often chose to pull themselves forward with their hands rather than risk kicking the reef with their fins. This is more than acceptable if care is taken not to hold the living coral, just the dead coral or rock.
Information list above is for reference only. For the most updated information, please contact your travel agent or local operator. Under no circumstances, we are not responsible for the accuracy of information mentioned above. |
