| Mactan Island - Amboucuan Point Mactan Island - Marigondon Location - 100m offshore in the Hilutangan Channel from Amboucuan Point to Marigondon. Access - 10-15min by banca from most of the resorts on Mactan Island. Average Depth - 100ft Maximum Depth - 180ft Conditions - Normally choppy with strong currents, but can become very rough with fierce currents. Only very experienced divers should be with a divemaster and plan carefully for slack water. Visibility can reach 80ft. There are many diving possibilities between Engaņo Point (Mactan's northernmost tip) and Amboucuan Point but, with so many beach resorts along this stretch, the tourist boat and jet Ski traffic is too dangerous. Further south, however, this is not such a problem. Between Amboucuan Point and Marigondon the strong currents make for good fish life, but in some areas there is heavy coral damage from dropped anchors. Divers planning shallow dives require an experienced local guide if they are to find the best areas. East Side of Panganan Islet East Side of Caohagan Islet East Side of Lassuan Islet Location - Located at the east side of the extensive reef tat extends south from Olongo Island to Lassuan Islet. Access - 20-30min by banca from Mactan Island. Average Depth - 60ft Maximum Depth - 130ft Conditions - Usually choppy with string and localized currents. You would not dive here in rough conditions. It is best to keep to the east side of the reef in the Olango Channel, as conditions can get really tricky on its west side, in the Hilutangan Channel. Both channels have rip currents. Unfortunately this large expanse of reef has been over fished, but it offers good drift-diving over the drop-offs. Excellent stony corals can be seen down to 20m. A good local guide is necessary if you are to find the best points. Kansantik Location - Located in the center of the Olango Channel, east of Lassuan Islet. Access - 45-50min by banca, depending on how long it takes to locate this underwater island and allow for its currents. Global Positioning System (GPS) is useful here. Average Depth - 100ft Maximum Depth - 165ft Conditions - Open water, fierce currents and a fierce surge if you get the tide tables wrong. This dive is only for the most experienced divers, in small groups, and not for those with heavy cameras! A good banca operator is essential to find the site and drop a shoreline and anchor onto it. Once in position, the best guides use a heavily weighted shotline, and some divers use individual lines to tie themselves to the weight on the shotline's bottom. Visibility can reach 130ft. An underwater mountain rises from the depths to within 30m of the surface. Descend the shotline and remember when you leave it that, even if you are presently in slack water, the current will soon pick up again. There are good stony corals, soft corals, whip corals, huge sponges, fishes and other pelagic species. Diving Sites : Capitancillo Island, Talong Island, Olongo Island - Mabini Point, Olongo Island - Mabini Pt to Baring, Olongo Island - Sta Rosa and Poo, Mactan Island - Tambuli, Mactan Island - Amboucuan Point, Mactan Island - Marigondon, East Side of Panganan Islet, East Side of Caohagan Islet, East Side of Lassuan Islet, Kansantik |
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