Mike’s

Mike’s is a sandy slope inside a marine sanctuary, with a high chance of spotting a wide variety of marine life. For many divers it is the place to find their first thorny seahorse or flamboyant cuttlefish.

The dive

The maximum depth is around 22 metres. It is a classic Dauin muck dive: a gentle slope of sand where almost everything interesting is small and well hidden, so the pace is slow and the reward is in the details.

What you might see

• Thorny seahorses, covered in small spines and often anchored to debris on the sand
• Octopus peering out of holes and shells
• Flamboyant cuttlefish, small and brightly coloured, walking rather than swimming across the sand
• Ambon scorpionfish, masters of disguise with frilly “eyebrows”
• Frogfish and pipefish

When to dive Mike’s

Mike’s is good all year, and the water stays between about 25 and 29°C. See when to dive Dauin.

Who it suits

Critter hunters and macro photographers of all levels. The slope is gentle, and most of the subjects stay put, so it is a good site to practise underwater photography.

Our tip

Flamboyant cuttlefish are small, around the size of your palm. Watch the sand for movement: when one walks, its colours ripple across its body.

Good to know

• Mike’s is a marine sanctuary. The standard sanctuary fee is included in our dive price; with a camera, add PHP 50 per dive.
• Scorpionfish have venomous spines, so keep your hands to yourself.
• For more seahorses, try Unity Point.

Dive Mike’s 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.