Reefwander
Reefwander
Full calendar

Destinations at their peak each month

  1. Jan167
  2. Feb183
  3. Mar192
  4. Apr216
  5. May186
  6. Jun272
  7. Jul307
  8. Aug313
  9. Sep296
  10. Oct180
  11. Nov119
  12. Dec145

Americas

Europe, Africa & Middle East

Indo-Pacific

A stack of grey stones beside a boulder shoreline, waves breaking in clear blue water and a green-topped cliff headland across the bay — Batanes

Batanes · Philippines · Wall

North Wall

Gorgonians on a volcanic face that drops past recreational limits

Area photo: Dr.Jhones · CC BY-SA 4.0

North Wall is a sheer volcanic wall in Batanes that drops away beyond recreational limits. Divers come for classic wall diving: soft corals and gorgonians on the deeper face, schooling fish along it and the chance of a pelagic passing in the current.

0

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of North Wall: typical dive 10–35 m (33–115 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m35 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Batanes and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive starts on the wall at around 10 m and works down a face that keeps dropping beyond 35 m, so the turn depth is set by certification rather than by the reef. Currents vary along the face, and holding a steady position off it takes excellent buoyancy control.

Schooling fish gather along the face, and the occasional pelagic swims past when the current is running. Soft corals and gorgonians decorate the wall at depth.

Marine life and season

  • Reef fish swarms
Month-by-month season rating for North Wall
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairPrimePrimePrimeFairFairFairFairFairFairFair

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

  • Currents run moderate to strong during spring tides.
  • The wall continues past recreational limits, so depth needs close watching on the way down.

Questions divers ask

What certification does North Wall in Batanes need?+

Advanced Open Water at least; Deep Diver training is recommended for anyone going below 18 m on the wall, which runs on to 35 m and beyond.

Sources

  1. Batanes Diving Guide — Philippine Dives

More dive sites in Batanes

Reef

Boulder Point

Moray eels and lionfish tucked into crevices between volcanic boulders

8–22 mintermediate

Channel & pass

Canyons

Swim-throughs in volcanic rock and cuttlefish hunting in sandy channels

15–30 madvanced

Coral garden

Chanarian Reef

Hawksbill turtles and clownfish colonies on a shore-entry house reef

5–18 mbeginner

Reef

Trevallies Lair

Resident giant trevally hunting smaller fish along the reef edge

12–25 mintermediate

Similar dives elsewhere

Wall

Adara

Ataúro Island · Timor-Leste

Coral outcrops one side of the village, a wall past 40 m on the other.

to 40 mintermediate

Wall

Anchor Wreck

Menjangan & West Bali · Indonesia

Sea fans and frogfish on a wall, a 150-year-old wreck below

5–35 m · max 40 madvanced

Wall

Bahuluang Wall

Takabonerate & Selayar · Indonesia

Limestone and white sand, a wall to 35 m, rarely any current

to 35 mintermediate

Wall

Bunaken Timur

Bunaken · Indonesia

A reef so long one dive doesn't cover it

to 35 mintermediate