With exceptional macro life, sheltered coves and mysterious caves, plus excellent muck diving opportunities, Anilao has long been known as a paradise for underwater photographers. Divers have been coming to this area, with its many resorts and picturesque historic towns since the seventies; enjoying both the spectacular diving and the many opportunities for fun and relaxation that can be found topside. There are over forty named dive sites around Anilao, all of which have something to offer – and plenty to keep you occupied for weeks. Here are just a few of the best.
Twin Rocks
With hard and soft coral in abundance, and a favorite with photographers, this pair of submerged rocks features easy depths between 5 and 15 meters, offering visibility in the 10-20 meter range most of the time. With calm conditions on just about every dive, Twin Rocks is exceptional for macro, wide angle, and special effects shots alike. The site is home to schooling jacks and three different species of ribbon eels, along with mating devilfish and well-hidden frogfish. Watch for batfish and surgeon fish, schooling blue lined and yellowtail snappers, rabbitfish and goatfish, and swathes of colorful anthias and damsels. You’ll find several species of nudibranch in abundance as well and there are brilliant clownfish living among the lush anemone growth. Besides the rocks, there is also a wrecked barge that hides even more amazing marine life.
Basura
Another easy dive site in shallow depths between 3 and 18 meters, and a favorite for night dives, Basura is best for macro life. You’ll find mimic octopus and little frogfish, pipefish and ghost pipefish, along with shrimp, seahorses, and the occasional weedy sea dragon. During the summer, beds of sea grass spring up from the sand and loose rubble bottom, creating an exquisite backdrop for photos; but during the rainy season, there are a large number of stinging sea urchins in the area. Visibility here is normally 10 meters or better and there is rarely any current. At night, look for the bobbit worms, but be careful not to touch them. Their jaws are powerful even though the creatures are tiny!
Secret Bay
Perhaps this site is known as Secret Bay due to all the well-concealed creatures that live here; it is also known as the Manit Muck dive and is located near a fairly large resort. Well-known and a great site for all divers, offering maximum depth at 21 meters and with plenty to see in as little as 3 meters of water, this pebbly bottomed bay is best for macro photography. Home to both thorny and common seahorses, long-armed octopus and blue ringed octopus, rare purple and white Motuti octopus and mimic octopus, the site is also good for finding curious looking anglerfish and jawfish with their mouths filled with eggs. You’ll also encounter a variety of nudibranchs and a few scorpionfish, along with garden eels and a variety of fish. Watch for wonderpus and flamboyant cuttlefish here as well, and be sure to try at least one night dive here, as the site is at its best once the sun goes down. Don’t be put off by the bottles and other “artifacts” that can be found here – they act as homes for octopus and other critters. Watch carefully, and you may see an octopus come out of its bottle apartment – it’s incredible to see how flexible these creatures are.
Betlehem
With huge basket corals and colorful soft coral, along with a mixed bouquet of sponges that spring up from the rocky bottom, Betlehem is an excellent site for both wide angle shots and macro shots. Home to a splendid array of tropical fish and several different species of nudibranch, the site is sometimes good for an easy drift dive depending on the current. Featuring depths between 3 and 15 meters, and offering visibility at about 10 meters, it is suitable for all divers. Watch for comet fish – they are wonderfully colorful and are excellent subjects for photos.
Devil’s Point
Best for wide angle photography, Devil’s Point features depths between 8 and 30 meters and is suitable for intermediate divers and up. This site can be accessed via shore and offers excellent visibility at 20 meters or so. Beginning in a shallow cove, with huge pinnacle shaped rocks covered in elephant ear sponges and big gorgonians, layers of soft coral and leather coral, sea fans and more, the area is subject to a current and is an excellent place to encounter large pelagics. Watch for tuna and sweetlips, Bluefin jacks, and the occasional shark.
Beatrice
Often divided into two dive sites and sometimes referred to as Larry’s Garden, Beatrice is suitable for experienced divers only. Featuring depths between 25 and 40 meters, and subject to a bit of current, the site has huge underwater rock formations, some of which are 30 meters high. With patches of sand where you can find rays and octopus, plus beautiful sea fans and soft mushroom coral, it is an excellent site for wide angle photos. Look for wahoo and dogtooth tuna, emperor fish and barracuda, and even a few reef sharks. In addition, watch for large reef fish, lobsters, crabs, and other small creatures sheltering in the reef. While most of the shallower dive sites do have an abundance of smaller fish, this is one of the best places to find larger animals, and on occasion, even small whale sharks have been spotted in the vicinity.
Located a three hour drive south of Manila, Anilao is great for diving year-round, although visibility and conditions are best during the summer months, between October and June. Prices are low, with the average dive costing about $25, and there are several good dive operators to choose from. Be sure to book in advance, particularly if you hope to visit the most popular dive sites, and try to practice your photography skills before your trip if you’re rusty. You’ll be sure to come away with great shots of some of the most intriguing creatures ever discovered.