Destinations  /  The Coral Triangle  /  Anilao
Destination

Anilao

Philippines

Nudibranch diversity, and the most photographed muck sites in the Philippines. Two to three hours by road from Manila.

Season
Nov–May
Water
25–29 °C
Visibility
8–20 m
Typical depth
5–30 m
Species recorded
586 of 1316
Sites
38 named
DE-01
anilao · volcanic sand slope · outrigger boat · wide
16:10 · min 2400px

What the diving is like

Boat diving, almost all of it, from bangka outriggers that leave from the beaches along the Mabini peninsula and run five to twenty minutes to the site. The muck sites are on silt and volcanic sand in sheltered bays; the rest of the coast is rock, rubble and coral, and a day usually mixes the two. Sites are close enough together that a group can change its mind between dives. The peninsula sits at the northern end of the Verde Island Passage, with Balayan Bay on one side, Batangas Bay on the other and the Maricaban Strait running between it and the islands offshore. Published work on Philippine shorefish distributions places the global centre of shorefish diversity in this part of the archipelago, which is the background to the species counts the area is known for; the practical version is that a sand slope here carries more different animals than its appearance suggests. Current is what varies. The sheltered bays are calm and the points, rocks and channels between the islands run hard enough to be dived on the tide, so the order of the day tends to be decided by water movement rather than by preference.

The shape of a day

Three boat dives is the standard day, with an early first dive before the wind gets up and a long surface interval back at the resort between the second and third. Night diving is from the same boats or off a pier, and is where a good share of the interesting animals are. Anilao is a photographers' destination and the pace reflects it: guides expect long dives on small ground and will leave a diver on one subject for twenty minutes.

Getting there

Manila is the gateway. The road to Anilao is around two and a half to three hours in good conditions and considerably more in bad ones, so most people book the transfer through the resort and leave outside the Manila rush. There is no useful airport closer.

When to come

November to May is the settled half of the year, with the northeast monsoon bringing cooler, clearer water from December to February. The southwest monsoon from June to October brings rain and swell on the exposed side of the peninsula, and the sheltered muck bays keep working through most of it.

Fees and what is not included

Several of the reef sites sit inside marine sanctuaries and charge a daily or per-dive fee, collected by the resort or by the sanctuary wardens on the boat. Budget for it separately from the diving; it is not usually included.

Named sites

38 sites, described by ground and depth. What is found on each one is not published — naming the exact spot a rare animal sits on is how it gets crowded and moved on. The species recorded at this destination are listed below, and the reasoning is set out in the editorial policy.

  1. Anilao Pier

    Boat · Black sand · 3–18 m

    Sand and rubble under and around the pier structure.

    A standard night dive. Boat traffic overhead; a surface marker is not optional.

  2. Secret Bay (Mainit Muck)

    Boat · Black sand · 5–21 m

    Dark volcanic sand and rubble in a sheltered bay, shelving gently.

    Dived day and night; the shallow half is the more productive ground.

The other 36, named and not yet written up

Site names are as the operators and guides here use them. Descriptions are drafted and need correcting by someone who dives them. Tell us what is wrong and it will be corrected.

Recorded here

586 of the 1316 species in the index have a confirmed record at Anilao, ordered by how hard each is to find here.

Barrel sponge
Xestospongia testudinaria
Reef slopes · 10–45 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Bubble-tip anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
Coral reef and rubble · 2–25 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Checkered snapper
Lutjanus decussatus
Rubble, coral heads and reef slopes · 3–35 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Clark's anemonefish
Amphiprion clarkii
Sea anemones on rubble and reef · 1–35 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Eightband butterflyfish
Chaetodon octofasciatus
Branching coral heads · 2–20 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Gorgonian sea fan
Gorgonacea
Reef slopes and drop-offs · 10–45 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Mushroom coral
Fungiidae
Sand and rubble · 2–30 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Mysid shrimp
Mysida
Rubble and jetty pilings · 1–30 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Pink anemonefish
Amphiprion perideraion
Sea anemones on reef and rubble · 3–30 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Red lionfish
Pterois volitans
Rubble and coral reef · 1–45 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Red-cheeked anthias
Pseudanthias huchtii
Coral reef and slopes · 5–40 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Snapping shrimp
Alpheus spp.
Sand and rubble burrows · 1–30 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Tomato anemonefish
Amphiprion frenatus
Bubble-tip anemones on reef · 2–25 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Variegated lizardfish
Synodus variegatus
Sand and rubble · 1–40 m
1 star of 5, found on most dives
Barred soapfish
Diploprion bifasciatus
Reef edges and rubble; larvae in blackwater · 3–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Black-ray shrimpgoby
Stonogobiops nematodes
Sand and rubble slopes · 5–40 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Coconut octopus
Amphioctopus marginatus
Silt and rubble · 5–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Comb jelly
Ctenophora
Open water over deep drop-offs · 0–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Common ghost goby
Pleurosicya mossambica
Sponges and soft corals · 3–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Crescent-tail bigeye
Priacanthus hamrur
Overhangs and coral reef · 5–45 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Crinoid shrimp
Laomenes amboinensis
Feather stars · 5–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Filamented flasher wrasse
Paracheilinus filamentosus
Rubble and coral reef · 5–35 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Fire urchin
Asthenosoma varium
Sand and rubble · 8–40 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Foxface rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus
Coral reef and rubble · 2–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Hair jellyfish
Thysanostoma thysanura
Open water; blackwater at night · 0–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Leopard flounder
Bothus pantherinus
Open sand · 2–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Longnose butterflyfish
Forcipiger flavissimus
Coral reef and slopes · 3–45 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Magnificent sea anemone
Heteractis magnifica
Coral reef and rubble · 3–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Ornate ghost pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus
Crinoids · 5–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Peacock mantis shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
Burrows · 3–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Purple anthias
Pseudanthias tuka
Coral reef and slopes · 5–35 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Purple firefish
Nemateleotris decora
Rubble at the base of slopes · 20–60 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Redfin butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunulatus
Hard coral on reef and rubble margins · 2–20 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Royal dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae
Rubble and coral reef · 5–45 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Saddleback anemonefish
Amphiprion polymnus
Carpet anemones on sand · 3–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Salp
Salpida
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Siphonophore
Siphonophorae
Open water over deep drop-offs · 0–25 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Skunk anemonefish
Amphiprion sandaracinos
Sea anemones on reef · 3–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Spine-cheek anemonefish
Premnas biaculeatus
Bubble-tip anemones on reef · 2–20 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Teardrop butterflyfish
Chaetodon unimaculatus
Coral reef and rubble · 3–30 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Tiger cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus macrodon
Overhangs and rubble · 2–40 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Twinstripe fusilier
Pterocaesio marri
Open water over reef slopes · 3–40 m
2 stars of 5, usually seen in a week
Blue-ringed octopus
Hapalochlaena lunulata
Rubble · 3–18 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Coleman shrimp
Periclimenes colemani
Fire urchins · 5–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Copperband butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
Rubble and coral reef · 3–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Coral rabbitfish
Siganus corallinus
Coral reef and slopes · 3–30 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Ascarosepion pfefferi
Sand · 5–20 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Flying fish
Exocoetidae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–15 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Hairy frogfish
Antennarius striatus
Sand · 5–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Harlequin shrimp
Hymenocera picta
Rubble · 3–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Heteropod
Carinariidae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Immortal jellyfish
Turritopsis
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Lanternfish
Myctophidae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Larval flounder
Bothidae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Larval goby
Gobiidae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Larval mantis shrimp
Stomatopoda
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Leptocephalus
Elopomorpha
Open water over deep drop-offs · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Magnificent shrimpgoby
Mahidolia mystacina
Silty sand · 3–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Megalopa
Brachyura
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Metallic shrimpgoby
Amblyeleotris latifasciata
Sand and rubble slopes · 5–30 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Octopus paralarva
Octopoda
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Phronima
Phronima
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Pikachu nudibranch
Thecacera pacifica
Rubble · 5–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Sea butterfly
Thecosomata
Open water over deep drop-offs · 0–25 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Shaun the Sheep nudibranch
Costasiella kuroshimae
Algae · 3–15 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Soft coral ghost goby
Pleurosicya boldinghi
Soft corals on rubble · 5–30 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Stingfish
Minous
Sand and mud · 5–35 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Three-spot angelfish
Apolemichthys trimaculatus
Reef slopes · 10–55 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Urchin clingfish
Diademichthys lineatus
Long-spined urchins on rubble · 1–20 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Yasha goby
Stonogobiops yasha
Coarse sand and rubble slopes · 15–40 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Yellownose shrimpgoby
Stonogobiops xanthorhinicus
Sand slopes · 10–30 m
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Ambon scorpionfish
Pteroidichthys amboinensis
Algae · 5–25 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Bobbit worm
Eunice cf. aphroditois
Sand · 5–30 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Box jellyfish
Cubozoa
Open water near the surface · 0–20 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Boxer crab
Lybia tessellata
Rubble · 3–20 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Braun's pughead pipefish
Bulbonaricus brauni
Living stony coral heads · 3–20 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Comet
Calloplesiops altivelis
Rubble and ledges · 5–30 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Favorinus
Favorinus
Egg ribbons on rubble and algae · 3–25 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Lined dartfish
Ptereleotris grammica
Deep rubble slopes · 25–45 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Longtail seamoth
Pegasus volitans
Sand and seagrass · 3–30 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Pelagic nudibranch
Cephalopyge trematoides
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Ribbonfish
Trachipteridae
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Rose petal bubble shell
Hydatina physis
Sand and rubble · 1–20 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Sea apple
Pseudocolochirus violaceus
Rubble with current · 5–30 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Simplex shrimp
Phyllognathia simplex
Rubble · 5–25 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Snake blenny
Xiphasia setifer
Sand and silt · 5–30 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Wunderpus
Wunderpus photogenicus
Sand and rubble · 6–22 m
4 stars of 5, two or three a season
Blanket octopus
Tremoctopus gracilis
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Diamond squid
Thysanoteuthis rhombus
Blackwater, open water at night · 0–25 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Dragon shrimp
Miropandalus hardingi
Wire corals and black coral · 12–35 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Ghost melibe
Melibe colemani
Rubble · 5–25 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Greater argonaut
Argonauta argo
Open water over deep slopes · 0–30 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Hairy shrimp
Phycocaris simulans
Algae · 3–15 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Mimic octopus
Thaumoctopus mimicus
Sand flats near river mouths · 8–20 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records
Torpedo ray
Torpedo sp.
Sand and rubble · 5–35 m
5 stars of 5, a handful of records

The other 491, recorded here but not yet photographed

Every one has a page and a record at Anilao. They are listed rather than shown because nothing has been photographed or logged for them yet.

Also in The Coral Triangle

More reef fish and more coral species than anywhere else on earth, and the birthplace of muck diving: volcanic sand and silt in sheltered straits, dived slowly and close to the bottom for animals a few centimetres long. Warm all year, rarely clear, and the reason most of this index exists.

Lembeh Strait Indonesia A narrow channel of black volcanic sand between mainland Sulawesi and Lembeh island. Sheltered water, short boat rides and a high density of cryptic species. Ambon Indonesia Harbour muck, psychedelic frogfish, and rhinopias in season. Shallow and rarely crowded. Dauin & Dumaguete Philippines Shore-entry muck twenty minutes from the airport. Apo Island is a separate day trip. Bali Indonesia Black sand on four coasts, from the Tulamben shore dives to Secret Bay in the far west. The muck is spread across the island, not gathered in one bay. Papua New Guinea Milne Bay, Tufi, Kimbe Bay, Rabaul and Kavieng. Black sand in sheltered bays, wartime wrecks, and reefs that are among the healthiest in the region.