| Manila Channel Location - The channel between Medio and Paniquian Islands. Access - 15min by banca west around the northwest tip of Medio Island to the western end of Coral Gardens. Average Depth - 12m (40ft) Maximum Depth - 13m (43ft) Conditions - Usually calm with a slight current, though it can get rough. Visibility can reach 20m (65ft). The reef from the shore has 2m ricks and a small, purposely sunk motor boat often used for night dives. The dive follow rubble coral and sand along the edge of a 2m to 3m drop-off. Over the drop-off there is an abundance of good stony and soft corals, though these are mostly of the beige rather than the more colorful varieties. Large leathery corals are everywhere, together with lots of mushroom corals and bubble coral. There are several different types of anemones, colorful sea stars, worms and lots of small reef fish. There is good snorkelling all along this reef edge. Coral Gardens Location. The west face of Medio Island. Access. 15min by banca. Average Depth. 6m (20ft) Maximum Depth. 9m (30ft) Conditions. Usually calm, though it can get rough. Best dived on a flood tide of visibility, which can reach 20m (65ft). Considered the best snorkelling in the area and a good dive for the novice. The terrain shelves out from the shore to 9m (30ft). Lots of corals, both stony and soft, are found around the 2m level, with more sand and coral heads in the deeper water. There are some crevices deeper down with moray eels and the occasional immature sharks. Batangas Channel Location. The northern end of the channel between Medio island and Coco Beach. Access. 10min by banca to the western end of Coco Beach. Average Depth. 14m (45ft) Maximum Depth. 27m (90ft) Conditions. Usually calm with some strong currents. Visibility can reach 20m (65ft). Experienced divers would treat this as a drift-dive on a strong flood tide. There are lots of large barrel sponges up to 2m high around the 14m depth. When the current is running there are shoals of jacks, sweetlips, snappers and fusiliers. There are many small reef fish, several stingrays, and the occasional sharks. Diving Sites : Manila Channel, Coral Gardens, Batangas Channel, The Hill, La Laguna Point, Sabang Point, Monkey Wreck, Monkey Beach, Ernie's Cave, Dungon, Wreck Point, West Escarceo, Hole in the Wall, The Fish Bowl, The Canyons, Shark Cave, The Big Rock, Pink Wall, Kilima Steps, Sinandigan Wall, The Boulders, Verde Island, The Washing Machine, Verde Island - West Point |
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