PAMILACAN ISLAND
Pamilacan island Dive sites
DAKIT DAKIT North / South
Great drift dive! Depending on which side we are going we call it north or south. Usually we jump in close to the little tree, hence the name of the site.
The reef slopes at 45 degrees with many coral heads, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, yellow margin triggerfish, large bump-head wrasses, jacks and tuna. There is a massive overhang starting right at to the base of the reef edge where bigger fish tend to swim around. This is where the jacks are most of the time. There are plenty of turtles grazing here. Some days there is no current and that allows us to find the local harlequin shrimps.
The island itself is also very pretty and usually when we go here we try to organize a BBQ lunch with some extra beach hanging time. This is a real tropical island.
- Visibility: 10 - 40 meters
- Depth range: 06 - 30 meters (at night)
SPANISH TOWER
This place is perfect for macro diving. The extravagant coral wall is full of holes, small swim-throughs and little cavers covered in fans and sponges. Looking closely at the hallucinating variety of coral here you can find many nudibranchs slipping along the wall you can’t find anywhere else. The thecacera pacifica or Pikachu nudibranch is one of those we find there quite often.
Besides the macro you can usually see some barracudas passing by here and there. There are many green turtles anywhere around Pamilacan but one of the residents here can easily be the biggest one we ‘ve ever seen in the Visayas. It measures over 1.5 m in length, and is always relaxing in the same spot. Our DM’s will be happy to show him to you on your dives here.
- Visibility: 10 - 40 meters
- Depth range: 04 - 30 meters
Snake Island or Cervera Shoal
This is also known as “Snake Island”. This is located on the way to Pamilacan Island. Various species of sea snakes inhabit this sunken island. What is most remarkable is the variety of colors, the rich palette of vibrant colors of the feather stars, sponges and soft corals will have you in awe. The top of the island comes up to about 12 meters from the surface. The hard coral is not so impressive, but on a good day, loads of rough shouldered sea snakes can be seen here.
Diving here depends on the circumstances, weather, sea, current and visibility. You need some experience to do this dive that sometimes starts by sinking into the blue till you see the bottom. Current can be quite strong here so sometimes we have to give it a miss.
- Visibility: 05 - 30 meters
- Depth range: 12 meters