| Visayas Centrally located and with thousand of islands to choose from, it is no wonder that this part of the Philippines contains the most number of diving destinations, with new finds being added every so often. Half an hour from Mactan International Airport in Cebu City is Marigondon Cave , Nalusuan and Hilutungan Fish Sanctuary. Coral covered slopes give way to an impressive wall covered in areas with yellow dendronephtya soft coral. The top opening of a huge cave that extends 100 meters deep starts at 28 meters and drops to the depths. Hilutungan Fish Sanctuary is popular with photographers who want to add pictures of schooling fishes to their portfolios. Fast gaining worldwide attention is Malapascua Island, off the Northeastern Coast of Cebu. Its claim to fame are the Thresher Sharks and Manta Rays that regularly visit the cleaning stations on Monad Shoal in the early morning. Further out, there are several wrecks, including a Japanese warship that lies upright with the shallowest portion at about 40 meters and the Dona Marilyn, a passenger liner that went down in a typhoon over 20 years ago and is conceivably the most beautiful wreck in the Visayas due to the profusion of dendronephtya and black coral bushes that cover most of the ship. Gato Island meanwhile, is a marine Sanctuary. There is an 80 meter long tunnel that cuts through the Northern tip and divers will find the walls covered with yellow sponges and all kinds of shells. The immediate surroundings contain huge boulders and ledges where nurse, white tip and bamboo sharks congregate for a midday nap. From the Malapascua area, we will sail down the western coast of Cebu Island to Moalboal/Pescador Island. Pescador Island, Between 4 to 10 meters, expect to see a sloping reef filled with both hard and soft corals and the requisite reef fishes. But it is the drop off and the sponge covered walls that extend down to about 55 meters that pique the diver's interest with lots of cracks and crevices to explore, and overhangs to swim through . It is the larger pelagic fishes like Tunas, Napoleon wrasses, white tip and even hammerhead sharks that are seen here. The walls are vertical gardens of sea fans as well as Tube and barrel sponges. This diving profile can likewise be applied to the whole area, from Copton and Tongo Points. Next stop is Dauin/Apo Island. The coastline on the southeastern side of the province of Negros Oriental is host to many dive centers and resorts. The beach of Dauin itself is fast gaining popularity as a muck diving site where photographers can find Blue-finned Lionfish, dragonets, several species of octopus (including the famous mimic), bobtail squid, snake eels, ghost pipefishes , cockatoo waspfish and sea horses. Several areas have been declared marine reserves and, for a small fee, allow divers to explore their protected reefs. Masaplod Sanctuary has a sloping reef of intact hard corals. It was delightful to see so many varieties of juvenile fishes in residence while Apo Island , the area's most popular divesite , is where the bigger pelagics such as immense schools of jacks, several colonies of clownfishes can be found. The local officials had implemented an strict No-Gloves-while -Diving policy a few years back and despite the heavy number of divers that visit the island, unbroken fields of both soft and hard coral still cover the reefs that surround this small island. A must -see is Ducomi Pier, a privately owned working port whose supporting beams have turned into a veritable forest of corals. Seafans, sponges, black coral trees and tunicates have covered every inch of the concrete pillars. These in turn host species of fishes too numerous to list down. Schools of pompano, long nosed emperors and jacks run wild among the posts. Painted Frogfishes in pastel shades, nudibranchs, seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish , ghost and ornate pipefishes are also pier residents. Beautiful Bohol, famous for the Tarsier Monkeys and Chocolate Hills also boasts several premier dive sites. Balicasag Island is the centerpiece. It is surrounded by a shallow reef, perfect for snorkeling, However it is the 4 and 5- star rated dive spots that draw in the web-footed visitors. Black Forest, Rudy's wall thrive with jackfish, sea fans with colorful reef fishes. The chance to see Turtles, Bumphead Parrotfish and Napoleon wrasses are what divers go to Pamilacan for. It's healthy reefs are a photographers delight with both soft and hard corals providing shelter to a profusion of reef fishes. Closer to Alona Beach, the dive sites are coral rich slopes that drop off to a wall that extend past 40 meters. Arco Pt or Hole in the Wall , where one can pass through a small hole on top and exit mid reef is also the fish feeding area where friendly damselfishes and Sergeant majors swim up to meet the divers. Gorgonians, fan and tree corals as well as the beautiful dendronephtya soft corals are common sights along the slopes and walls. Surgeon fish and small Tunas cruise along at mid-depth. Cabilao This island is blessed with a variety of dive sites. South-Point is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the Visayas with its flat areas covered in massive colonies of table corals. Spill over from a nearby protected area means a healthy fish population. Coconut wall, just north of South point features gorgonians and black corals. Large schools of barracudas are inhabit the area. Just below the lighthouse is a plateau covered in seagrasses hiding the requisite macro critters. Sea moths, sea horses, nudi-branchs all make an appearance. Always a good pick for a night dive.
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