R.A.C. Point (★3.8)
A local favorite, this site is a gorgeous mix of coral, rock, and sandy bottom formations. The name R.A.C. Point actually came from the founder of Manta Bowl, Rico A. Calleja.
© Aqualung
Explore Ticao Island
Ticao Island, the Philippines, is a tropical dreamscape of aquamarine waters alive with a wide range of marine life. Sharing the same ocean as Donsol, famous for whale shark sightings, divers have the chance to spot manta ray, thresher shark and hammerhead shark at diverse sites.
A short trip by traditional boat from Donsol and visitors can find themselves staying at Ticao Island’s only dive resort, delving into pristine reefs. Donsol dive centres, located on mainland Luzon, also offer day trips to Ticao Island diving sites or liveaboards offer the chance for divers to fully immerse themselves in the incredible underwater world.
Dive Activity
Diving in Ticao Island
Ticao Island is known for its incredible drop-offs, swim-throughs, and ridges carved into limestone rock. In Ticao Pass, where manta rays thrive, rushing currents cause divers to drift effortlessly through the underwater landscape while there are also calm sites with pristine reefs. At the fringing reefs of Ticao Island, dive courses are often held. Nearby the island, several deep wrecks offer technical divers a chance to descend into the unknown.
Dive Sites
The best Months to dive in Ticao Island
Scuba diving in Ticao Island is possible all-year-round but there are times when you are more likely to see certain species than others. To spot whale sharks, visit in November through to June with February and May seeing the highest population of whale sharks in the area. Thresher sharks are best seen from July to October while manta rays are witnessed year-round but December to June is known as the prime time when conditions are at their best.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Ticao Island
Being in such close proximity to Donsol, and sharing many of the same dive sites, it is common to see majestic whale sharks gliding through the water. Strong currents surrounding the island bring phytoplankton to the area which invites a number of small fish and hunting pelagic to feed, including thresher shark, hammerheads and tuna. Manta rays also come to feed and to be cleaned in the nutrient-rich water by parasite-hungry wrasse.
At Ticao’s reefs, divers will delight in a wide range of macro life with robust ghost pipefish, frogfish, seahorse, nudibranch, and stonefish all sheltering within the flourishing coral.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
96 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
22
A
32
M
30
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
4
iStock/Extreme Photographer
Whale Shark
79 Sightings
J
4
F
8
M
13
A
40
M
4
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
8
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
50 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
12
A
16
M
16
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3
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
9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
2
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
2
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
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3
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
37 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
13
A
9
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
31 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
6
A
10
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
6
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse
28 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
8
A
6
M
3
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
24 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
9
A
10
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
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
19 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
13
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
