San Miguel

San Miguel is a muck dive with plenty to find. Macro fans can spend the whole dive searching the sand for tiny critters, and a sunken coconut trunk is worth a close look too. It lies inside a marine sanctuary, which helps explain why the variety here is so good.

The dive

The maximum depth is around 18 metres, so you get long bottom times on a relaxed, slow dive. Most of the action is on the sand, so take your time and let your guide find the subjects.

What you might see

• “Shaun the Sheep” sea slugs (Costasiella), only a few millimetres long and one of the most photographed critters in Dauin
• Many other nudibranchs on the sand and around the coconut trunk
• Hairy frogfish, covered in skin filaments that look like algae
• Painted frogfish, in a range of colours from orange to almost black
• Warty frogfish, often sitting on sponges

When to dive San Miguel

San Miguel is good all year. Nudibranchs are at their most varied from January to March, and the water stays between about 25 and 29°C. See when to dive Dauin.

Who it suits

Shallow and calm, San Miguel suits divers of most levels, and it is a favourite with macro photographers who want long, slow dives.

Our tip

Ask your guide to show you a “Shaun the Sheep” before you start searching on your own. Once you know what you are looking for, you will start to spot them yourself.

Good to know

• San Miguel is a marine sanctuary. The standard sanctuary fee is included in our dive price; with a camera, add PHP 50 per dive.
• Keep your fins off the sand to protect visibility for everyone in the group.
• For more frogfish, try Talisay and Thalatta.

Dive San Miguel 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.