Anilao · Philippines · Reef · Sand slope
Twin Rocks
Shallow slope worked to 18 m for bobtail squid and Spanish dancers
Area photo: andre oortgijs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Twin Rocks is a gentle slope just off the shore and a favourite among local divers. It goes as deep as 40 metres but is normally only explored to about 18, because that is where the interesting animals are: bobtail squid, Spanish dancers, jawfish in their burrows, and giant Tridacna clams among the anthias and butterflyfish.
Where it is and how deep
13.6904° N, 120.8878° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site is a gentle slope just off the shore, and although it goes as deep as 40 metres it is normally only explored at depths up to about 18, since that is where most of the fun is. That makes it a long, flat dive rather than a deep one: drop onto the slope, settle at a working depth and move across it slowly. The reef holds anthias, wrasse, butterflyfish, groupers and giant Tridacna clams, along with the other typical reef life of the Philippines.
Divers go slowly because of the small stuff. The slope is home to the tiny bobtail squid, and you might also run into the colour and frills of a Spanish dancer, or find a gold speckled jawfish lurking in its burrow with only its head showing. A resident turtle, known locally as Kuba, is part of the site's furniture. Because the profile stays shallow, the dive usually ends on gas rather than on no-decompression time.
Marine life and season
- Squid
- Nudibranchs
- Groupers
- Sea turtles
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Anilao: Main season mid-November to May; July to September is typhoon season, with choppy seas and poor visibility.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Twin Rocks?+
The slope goes as deep as 40 metres, but it is normally only dived to about 18, since that is where most of the animals are. That keeps it within Open Water limits.
What can you see at Twin Rocks?+
Bobtail squid, Spanish dancers, gold speckled jawfish in their burrows, anthias, wrasse, butterflyfish, groupers, giant Tridacna clams and a resident turtle called Kuba.
Sources
- Twin Rocks - Scubago — Scubago
- Anilao, Batangas dive sites — Dive The World
In The Logbook
- Nudibranchs: species, habits and where to diveMacro & muck · 13 min read
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