Diving in Camiguin
Camiguin Island is a small volcanic Island North of Mindanao. Even it is a small Island, Camiguin has seven volcanoes. These volcanoes are sometimes like a magnet for clouds. You can expect some heavy rain between November and March. During that time the visibility is not the best.
Traveling to Camiguin is quite easy. There are small propeller aircrafts twice a week from Cebu directly to Mambajo. Another option is a domestic flight from Cebu or Manila to Cagayan de Oro and a trip from there either by local transfer or a pre-booked pick-up from your resort with a short Bangka ride to Camiguin Island.
Most of the dive spots around the Island are also great Snorkel-sites. Colorful coral-reefs in the shallow waters turning into walls with a lot of cracks, overhangs and small caves. It is a paradise for underwater photographers, as they have to decide to go for macro or wide-angle. Be aware of the occasionally ripping currents.
Some divesites of Camiguin:
The Burias Shoal of Camiguin is pretty exciting. Burias Shoal is a series of slopes and small walls. The stiff current is good only for advanced divers. There are huge brain corals around. Plenty of black corals are hiding points for snappers and long nose emperors. There are also resident schools of Jacks, Midnight Snappers Long Nose Emperors and Bonitos around the Burias Shoal of Camiguin Island.
The Old Volcano dive site in Camiguin is the basement of an extinct volcano. The hardened lava and the gigantic boulders creating a unique underwater landscape. These boulders are encrusted with marine life and is a fantastic opportunity for breathtaking wide angle shots. A big variety of colorful reef fish are always around. Turtles munching on Soft corals and sponges make this dive to an unforgettable one.
The Jigdup Wall and Jigdup Slope are widely known as the home of maroon and dendronephtya. The wall starts around 6 meters/20 feet and drops down to 45meter/150 feet. The marine life you can find there includes Nudibranches, Leaf Fish, schools of Onespot Snappers, Barracuda, Fusiliers and seasonally Marble Rays, Manta Ray and Eagle Ray.
Mantigue is a small island near Camiguin and is also a good dive site.
The Mantigue Island Sanctuary is a great dive site for novices. There is a diversity of macro critters with clown fishes in different varieties. Other fish species are also present in this dive site. You can find some turtles on the rocky protrusions resting there.
The Mantigue Crack is a crack within the coral formations of Black Coral. This crack is filled with snappers, cardinal fish, sweetlips, and drummers. Myriads of clownfish can be found within their host anemones.
The Mantigue Whip is basically a sandy slope. If you look hard into the sand, you’ll find some stingrays dueling. Lots of fish species are found in this dive site due to the dense forest of Black and Whip Corals. Also look for the beautiful whip-coral-shrimps.
If you want to spend your diving vacation in Camiguin you will have a great time in a relaxing atmosphere as long you don’t expect any 5-star hotels. The lifestyle in Camiguin is easy, slow and relaxed.