Davao
In Davao findest du das ganze Jahr über perfekte Tauchbedingungen. Die meisten Tauchplätze befinden sich auf einer Inselgruppe östlich von Davao City.
© Shutterstock/Shutterhooks
Explore Mindanao
Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, offers an extraordinary diving experience, characterized by its untouched beauty and diversity. The island's diving sites are uncrowded, providing a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In Misamis Oriental, divers can embark on day trips to explore the volcanic sands of Camiguin and the pristine reefs of Agutayan Island. These stunning underwater environments host a diverse range of marine life, making every dive a new adventure.
The southern region of Davao presents labyrinthine caves and intriguing World War II wrecks, ideal for history enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike. Meanwhile, the Zamboanga Peninsula and Surigao in the east are considered the frontiers of scuba diving, with unspoiled waters waiting to be discovered. The towering drop-offs and extensive fringing reefs of General Santos further enhance Mindanao's appeal. For those seeking a convenient and comprehensive exploration, liveaboards offer an excellent way to access these remote and remarkable sites, ensuring that divers of all experience levels can fully appreciate the island's underwater treasures.
Top Regions to Explore
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Dive Activity
Diving in Mindanao Island
From Cagayan De Oro, take trips to Agutayan Island and Camiguin Island, with stunning walls, pristine reefs, and remnants of lava trails from past volcanic eruptions. Davao City offers the chance for divers to enroll in introductory dive courses while island hopping around the tropical paradises of Talikudm, Ligid, and Samal. In eroded rock faces, caverns have formed and Japenese wrecks from WWII await. Surigao and Buluan Island boast flourishing coral reefs while General Santos claims the most outstanding wall dives in the country complimented by swift drifts at sites such as Tinoto Wall.
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Dive Sites
The best Months to dive in Mindanao Island
The region’s tropical climate ensures that Mindanao Island diving is possible year-round. March through to September are the best months for diving, as the seas are calm and the weather is mostly dry. From December until February, scuba diving in Mindanao Island is still possible but the weather is cooler and less predictable.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Mindanao Island
Heading to Camiguin from Misamis Oriental, divers will find pygmy seahorse, Ambon scorpionfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and the giant frogfish while if you enjoy large schools of fish in fast-paced currents, you should head to General Santos. The area is rich with a plethora of rays and huge schools of triggerfish, tuna, snappers, and sweetlips.
Off the shore from Davao City, seahorse, and ghost pipefish shelter at Talikud Island while dolphins, whale sharks, and even the dugong have been spotted in the area. For another chance to see a whale shark, visit the incredible turquoise waters of Buluan Island while hawksbill turtles, groupers, and nudibranch frequent.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
553 Sightings
J
49
F
60
M
50
A
57
M
54
J
29
J
54
A
50
S
34
O
26
N
41
D
49
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
315 Sightings
J
17
F
30
M
31
A
52
M
39
J
19
J
37
A
32
S
13
O
14
N
19
D
12
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
251 Sightings
J
26
F
32
M
20
A
38
M
5
J
11
J
30
A
33
S
12
O
5
N
26
D
13
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
63 Sightings
J
9
F
2
M
4
A
3
M
10
J
8
J
10
A
4
S
3
O
0
N
7
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
41 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
8
A
1
M
7
J
0
J
9
A
2
S
5
O
2
N
0
D
4
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
33 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
2
J
1
A
8
S
0
O
2
N
4
D
6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
831 Sightings
J
65
F
68
M
88
A
76
M
88
J
36
J
101
A
93
S
45
O
36
N
69
D
66
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
573 Sightings
J
52
F
59
M
54
A
58
M
68
J
27
J
46
A
48
S
21
O
43
N
52
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
349 Sightings
J
27
F
32
M
39
A
39
M
36
J
11
J
55
A
45
S
21
O
9
N
20
D
15
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
333 Sightings
J
18
F
29
M
51
A
39
M
38
J
18
J
28
A
30
S
20
O
12
N
33
D
17
