Dona Marilyn Wreck in Malapascua

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Malapascua

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Philippines Board

Dona Marilyn is a public ferry sunk on Malapascua Island caused by Ruby, a strong Typhoon which hit the ship on October 23rd of 1998. This Cebu-Manila ferry is about 96 meter long that saddled down on her starboard side at 34 meters of water and created in the following years a unique artificial coral reef and a stunning wreck diving experience.

Dona Marilyn Wreck lays on a depth from 17 meters to 34 meters which is not suitable for novice divers. Some different species of shark resting inside the wreck and made this artificial reef their own habitat.

From 1988, (when the ferry sunk) a constant coral growth is recognizable. At present, the wreck is already mostly covered with plenty of different tree-corals and fans, where some of the ambush predators likes cuttlefish can be found. Brightly colourful fishes also can be seen here like the sweetlips, puffers, scorpion, batfish and some of the nudibrachs roaming around on the wreck site.

On the port side of the wreck, certified wreck divers has the big opportunity to penetrate the Dona Marilyn and the passenger walkways which carpeted coral tress.

There are some dive spot with the same depth of Dona Marilyn in Malapascua, what makes the Island to a perfect diving adventure to get the full benefit of Enriched Air/Nitrox diving.

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