Dauin South
Two dives in one: a coral reef slope full of fish and turtles, and a deeper muck area with nudibranchs, warty frogfish and juvenile critters.
Dauin South offers two quite different experiences on one dive, inside a marine sanctuary. The northern area is a beautiful reef slope with coral gardens and plenty of reef fish. Deeper down, the muck diving area has scattered patches of reef and is home to nudibranchs, warty frogfish and many juvenile creatures.
The dive
The depth ranges from 18 to 32 metres. You can enjoy the coral and fish life on the slope, then head deeper for macro on the muck, depending on your experience and what you would like to see.
What you might see
- Coral gardens and reef fish on the northern slope
- Sea turtles
- Candy crabs, perfectly camouflaged on soft corals
- Pink hairy squat lobsters, tiny residents of barrel sponges
- Mantis shrimps watching from their burrows
- Garden eels, which vanish into the sand as you approach
- Nudibranchs, warty frogfish and juvenile fish in the deeper muck area
When to dive Dauin South
Good all year, with water temperatures of about 25 to 29°C. Nudibranchs are at their most varied from January to March. See when to dive Dauin.
Who it suits
Divers who want both reef and macro on one dive. The deeper muck section is best for Advanced Open Water divers.
Our tip
Macro enthusiasts will love exploring the deeper muck section. Approach garden eels slowly and low, and stop a little way off, or they will all disappear.
Good to know
- Dauin South is a marine sanctuary. The standard sanctuary fee is included in our dive price; with a camera, add PHP 50 per dive.
- For an easier coral dive, try our house reef, Dauin North.
Dive Dauin South with us
We dive the Dauin coast every day, with full rental equipment included in our dive rates. See our Dauin diving and prices, or build your dive trip and tell us which sites you would like to see.