Batanes · Philippines · Channel & pass · Reef
Canyons
Swim-throughs in volcanic rock and cuttlefish hunting in sandy channels
Area photo: Dr.Jhones · CC BY-SA 4.0
Canyons is a Batanes boat dive among volcanic rock formations cut by channels and swim-throughs that lead into deeper water. Its walls are good ground for nudibranchs, cuttlefish hunt in the sandy gaps, and the current can make it one of the more demanding dives of the island group.
0Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Batanes and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The volcanic formations start around 15 m and are split by channels and swim-throughs that step down to about 30 m. Nudibranchs are common on the rock walls of the channels, while cuttlefish hunt over the sandy floors between the formations.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
- Octopus & cuttlefish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Batanes: March to May brings calm seas and the warmest, clearest water; typhoon season from June to November often cancels flights and dives.
Know before you go
- Moderate to strong currents are possible through the channels.
Sources
- Batanes Diving Guide — Philippine Dives
More dive sites in Batanes
Reef
Moray eels and lionfish tucked into crevices between volcanic boulders
Coral garden
Hawksbill turtles and clownfish colonies on a shore-entry house reef
Wall
Gorgonians on a volcanic face that drops past recreational limits
Reef
Resident giant trevally hunting smaller fish along the reef edge
Similar dives elsewhere
A channel where the flow swings from light to strong
Drift the channel either way, depending on flood or ebb
Often-strong current turns the channel into a drift
Lionfish and scorpionfish resting on table and brain corals