Best known for its whale sharks, the area near Donsol offers some of Luzon’s most exciting diving. With whale shark encounters being common between the months of December and May, the region is at its best during March and April, when some fortunate divers and snorkelers find themselves swimming with not just one, but several of these incredible creatures. Located along the deep San Bernardino Strait, Donsol’s waters are rich in plankton, making it a fantastic place to encounter Manta rays and other marine life as well. Here are just five of the area’s best dive sites.
Manta Bowl
A huge bowl shaped depression approximately four hectares across, Manta Bowl is an exciting site where you can fly with manta rays, some of which are exceptionally large. Subject to strong currents and featuring maximum depth at 22 meters, the site is reserved for intermediate divers and up, and is only diveable between December and June although the mantas are here all year. Some of the mantas you will see here can be as large as 9 meters across and weigh a little more than a ton, although most of them are smaller. Watch them as they are attended to by cleaner wrasse at the cleaning stations, but remember not to touch them as this can remove their protective coating and leave them open to nasty infections.
RAC Point
An excellent site for photography, and featuring depths between 18 and 22 meters, R.A.C. Point has a rocky reef covered in coral, where you’ll see surgeonfish, sweetlips, butterfly fish, comet fish, and lots of fusiliers and damsels, along with plenty of crustaceans and nudibranchs. Not only will you find plenty of small creatures here, you also stand a good chance of encountering manta rays and small reef sharks, moray eels and big groupers as you explore. The current is strong, reserving the site for intermediate divers and up.
Shark Apartment
Made up of huge boulders that lie scattered across the white, sandy bottom, Shark Apartment is an excellent place to encounter thresher sharks, bamboo sharks, and even the occasional group of hammerhead sharks. In addition, the site shelters large groupers and schooling snappers, not to mention a wealth of reef fish. Maximum depth here is just 20 meters, and while there is a bit of current, the site is suitable for intermediate divers and up.
Tuna Alley
An amazing site where silver curtains of sardines flash against the sapphire blue of the open water beyond, Tuna Alley is a great place to encounter dogtooth and Bluefin tuna, skipjack, trevally, and barracuda, along with quite a few sharks. With such a dramatic ongoing play that illustrates the relationship between prey and predator, this site is great for videography. Watch for the occasional loggerhead turtle, and keep an eye out for whale sharks and manta rays, too. Maximum depth is 25 meters.
Sweetlips Rock
Named for the schooling sweetlips that are here in abundance, Sweetlips Rock is shaped like a giant mushroom, and can be easily circumnavigated within the course of a single dive. Look for lots of other reef fish in this coral-strewn paradise; they are here in abundance, in every color of the rainbow. Maximum depth is 25 meters, and visibility is usually between 10 and 18 meters. Due to strong current, the site is suitable for experienced divers only. Be sure to keep an eye out for reef sharks as they can sometimes be found hiding beneath the rock.
With such incredible encounters, it is no surprise that Donsol’s dive excursions fill up quickly. Be sure to book well in advance in order to experience the best this area has to offer. You’ll be amazed at the marine life as well as the topography; don’t be surprised if you find yourself returning after your initial visit.