pughio83
Contributor
Just quick post regarding these lesser known dive sites.
Both were dived march/april so peak dive conditions/weather. Maniguin was a day trip and panagatan liveaboard overnight, both set off from boracay with Calypso divers. Maniguin is a small island with lighthouse. Visibilty 30m+ with some great underwater topography. Napolean wrasse, white tips, jacks, traveilly, turtles and your usual stuff for the philippines (little macro) From what the locals say, it used to be a hammerhead magnet if you dived 'the ear' site but from overfishing numbers are low. Currents can be strong as the reef curves from the 'ear' of the island.
Panagatan is a small island/s approx 3-4hrs south from boracay. Islands inhabited but very little on them, no electricity as far as im aware. However IMO was a great dive site given its proximity to boracay. Visibilty in march/april this year was 25-30M, currents can be strong which brings the bigger fish. It is a bit of all or nothing there. we were lucky and had a school of manta rays, mobula rays, lots of white tips and some grey reef sharks, and two great hammerheads at close proximity. Plus sea snakes, jacks, traveilly, barracuda. Dolphins are in the area as are whalesharks but we didnt see them diving. No corals, deep diving minimum 30-35M and prob you will hit deco, best with nitrox. Friends in boracay have also said they have seen tiger sharks, whalesharks, marlin and dolphins on the dives there. However it can be hit or miss depending on currents and how far you stray from the drop off as the mantas and hammers were bit further out. Overnight on boat ideal as best dived early morning.
Panagatan a little gem that you can take 2 days out from boracay to do some big fish diving. experienced divers will get more out of it though, due to depth and currents though the currents we had were not that bad and still got some. Then just enjoy the macro off boracay!!
Both were dived march/april so peak dive conditions/weather. Maniguin was a day trip and panagatan liveaboard overnight, both set off from boracay with Calypso divers. Maniguin is a small island with lighthouse. Visibilty 30m+ with some great underwater topography. Napolean wrasse, white tips, jacks, traveilly, turtles and your usual stuff for the philippines (little macro) From what the locals say, it used to be a hammerhead magnet if you dived 'the ear' site but from overfishing numbers are low. Currents can be strong as the reef curves from the 'ear' of the island.
Panagatan is a small island/s approx 3-4hrs south from boracay. Islands inhabited but very little on them, no electricity as far as im aware. However IMO was a great dive site given its proximity to boracay. Visibilty in march/april this year was 25-30M, currents can be strong which brings the bigger fish. It is a bit of all or nothing there. we were lucky and had a school of manta rays, mobula rays, lots of white tips and some grey reef sharks, and two great hammerheads at close proximity. Plus sea snakes, jacks, traveilly, barracuda. Dolphins are in the area as are whalesharks but we didnt see them diving. No corals, deep diving minimum 30-35M and prob you will hit deco, best with nitrox. Friends in boracay have also said they have seen tiger sharks, whalesharks, marlin and dolphins on the dives there. However it can be hit or miss depending on currents and how far you stray from the drop off as the mantas and hammers were bit further out. Overnight on boat ideal as best dived early morning.
Panagatan a little gem that you can take 2 days out from boracay to do some big fish diving. experienced divers will get more out of it though, due to depth and currents though the currents we had were not that bad and still got some. Then just enjoy the macro off boracay!!
