We show you some of the best dive sites in the Philippines
A small yet well equipped SSI dive center for beginners and experienced divers
A small yet well equipped SSI dive center for beginners and experienced divers
Scuba Diving is the main attraction on Pandan Island / Philippines. The dive sites around the island vary from shallow coral gardens to deep drop-offs on the north side, ideal for all levels. Our fully equipped SSI dive center offers dive courses of all level from Try Scuba Diving to Master Diver.
Apart from diving around Pandan Island / Philippines, we are no doubt the experts when it comes to organize dive trips to Apo Reef.
Apo Reef can be reached with the big outrigger boats “M/B Karla” or “M/B Rainbow’s End” within ninety minutes. This forty square kilometer big atoll offers uncountable dive sites and a good chance to see sharks and other pelagics.
Another specialty are the four to five days safaris to Busuanga (Coron) to dive the Japanese wrecks from WWII.
For special offers on temporary dive insurance programs please check the website of www.diveassure.com
All divesites around Pandan Island are within short distance from the beach or accessible by our custom built dive-catamaran.
Below is a description of the main dive sites around Pandan Island and what you can expect to see:
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House Reef
Depths 2 – 18m. Ideal for beginners, courses or a warm-up dive. No current ever. Still, a wide variety of coral fish can be seen. Nearby ‘Lion fish den’ consists of a group of corals & rocks, hideout of numerous lion fish, cleaner-shrimp & surgeon fish. Sometimes leaf and ghost-pipe fish.
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Coral Garden East
Depths 5 – 25m. Easy but beautiful dive. In a lively garden of mainly hard corals with patches of sand inbetween all kinds of marine life can be observed: surgeon fish, trigger fish, coral trouts, schools of fusiliers, stingrays, moray & sand eels, and some of our 10 resident sea-turtles.
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Coral Garden West
Depths 5 – 30m. An area totally covered by hard and soft corals. all kinds of marine life can be observed: surgeon fish, trigger fish, coral trouts, shools of fusiliers, unicorn fish, cuttle fish. In the deeper parts of the dive, large gorgonians and Neptune cups are abundant. Bumphead parrot-fish most often here.
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Neptune’s Land
Depths between 18 – 30 m. This dive is a flat plateau connecting Napoleon Wall and the Coral Garden east. As the name indicates Neptune cups to a considerable size can be found. Also turtles seem to favor this place.
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Corner
Depths between 5 – 30 m. This dive site on the SW-side of the island consists of a steep slope with occasional big rocks and canyons that offer shelter to a wide array of reef fishes and attract predators such as mackerels and trevallys. There is a variation of different corals and big sea fans up to 2 meters diameter to be found.
North Wall
A sheer drop from about 7- 35 m makes that place an interesting dive site. Although not as many fish as in other parts of the island can be seen, the overhanging corals create a very special atmosphere. Pelagic fish such as tuna and mackerel are frequent
Gorgonian Drift
Depths 10 – 35 m. Following the North Wall westwards the the wall becomes less steep and the stronger currents favour the growth of fan corals (Gorgoninans). Away from the wall shcools of snappers and fusiliers can be seen as wall as tunas or mackerels.
Mystic Grounds
Depths 20 – 35 m. This site extends to the S-SE of Pandan, between here and Sablayan. Owns the name to the often limited visibility. Many soft corals, gorgonians, elephant ears, sponges.
Pandan South
Depths 5 – 30 m. This site is great for macro.
Deep dives for experienced divers, best enjoyed with Nitrox
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Anchor
Depths between 25 – 42 m. On a underwater hill at a depth of 32 m, completely overgrown by corals, a huge anchor has come to rest at least 50 years ago. Snappers, barracudas and pelagic fish can be seen. At the bottom of the hill is a tree-like sea nettle, all white.
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North Wall
A sheer drop from about 7- 35 m makes that place an interesting dive site. Although not as many fish as in other parts of the island can be seen, the overhanging corals create a very special atmosphere. Pelagic fish such as tuna and mackerel are frequent.
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Barracuda Deep
Depths from 30- 40 m. Probably the most advanced dive around the island. A wall at 30 m depth facing the South China Sea is the place to see big schools of trevallys, fusiliers, surgeon fish, spanish mackerels and unicorn fish. Eagle rays and napoleons are often seen as well as barracudas up to a size of 1,5 m. The whole wall is overgrown with hard and soft corals and the gorgonians reach a considerable size.