Coral Triangle · Philippines
Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Overhung walls, caves and wartime wrecks a boat ride from Davao City
Samal Island sits in the Davao Gulf just east of Davao City, and its coast carries a multitude of dive sites reached on boat day trips from Davao. The diving takes in the overhung Pindawon Wall, the split caves of Ligid, the current-swept Pinnacle Point and two Japanese vessels from World War II at the Pearl Farm Wrecks, mostly between 5 and 35 m. Turtles are a regular sighting in the island's marine sanctuaries.
About diving in Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Diving here is a day-boat affair run from Davao. Divers gather at a Davao marina at 7 am, and the boat crosses the gulf to Samal, a ride of 1 to 1.5 hours; the longer trips to the far corners of the island run from 7 am to 4 pm. Sites sit on every side of the island, from the caves and pinnacle on the northeast to the wall on the east coast, the rock formations at the southeastern tip and the Marissa reefs on the west.
The terrain changes around the island. On the east coast, Pindawon Wall drops away under overhangs dressed in gorgonians and black coral, with snapper, grouper and sea snakes along it; Pindawon and Aundanao are both marine sanctuaries. To the northeast, Ligid Caves divide in two at 17–20 m among a wide range of coral and gorgonians, and Pinnacle Point rises close by. The Pearl Farm Wrecks are two Japanese vessels from World War II, and visibility reaches 20 m and more.
Currents across the island's sites run moderate to very strong, and at Pinnacle Point they can be fierce, so the area suits divers who are comfortable in moving water and can manage a 35 m profile on the deeper sites. Pinnacle Point is a dive for advanced divers, and a guide is advised at the Pearl Farm Wrecks because strong currents are possible there.
Best time to dive Davao Gulf & Samal Island
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime |
November to May is the best window for diving around Samal Island.
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, November, December
Dive types & marine life
There is every chance of meeting turtles in the Pindawon and Aundanao marine sanctuaries on the east coast, and hawksbill turtles are regular visitors to the Marissa reefs on the west coast.
- Wall
- Cave & cavern
- Wreck
- Sea turtles
- Sea snakes
Best dive sites in Davao Gulf & Samal Island
- 1
Pindawon Wall
East-coast wall in a marine sanctuary, its overhangs hung with gorgonians and black coral.
- 2
Ligid Caves
Caves off the northeast coast that split in two at 17–20 m, with a diverse range of coral and gorgonians.
- 3
Pearl Farm Wrecks
Two sunken Japanese vessels from World War II at Samal Island.
- 4
Pinnacle Point
Pinnacle beside Ligid Caves where the current can turn fierce; for advanced divers.
- 5
Mushroom Rock
Rock-formation site near the island's southeastern tip, named for its shaped underwater rocks.
- 6
Aundanao
Marine sanctuary just north of Pindawon, with every chance of seeing turtles.
Site guides
Reef
A shallow reef slope off Talikud Island, named for its resident angelfish
A vertical wall of soft corals and gorgonians on Samal's west coast
Reef
Mushroom-shaped rock formations off Samal's south-eastern tip
Wreck
Two Japanese hulls from the Second World War off Samal Island
Wall
Black corals and gorgonians under the overhangs of a sanctuary wall
Pinnacle
A current-swept pinnacle beside the Ligid Caves
How to get to Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Davao International Airport (DVO) serves Davao City. Dive boats leave from a Davao marina for Samal, and passenger ferries also cross from the city to Samal Island and Talikud Island.
Questions divers ask
Is diving at Samal Island from shore or by boat?+
By boat. Dive trips leave a Davao marina at 7 am and cross the gulf to Samal, a ride of 1 to 1.5 hours.
How experienced do divers need to be at Samal Island?+
Currents run moderate to very strong across the sites. Pinnacle Point, where currents can be fierce, is a dive for advanced divers, and a guide is advised at the Pearl Farm Wrecks, where strong currents are possible.
Where are the best places to see turtles at Samal Island?+
The marine sanctuaries at Pindawon and Aundanao on the east coast, where there is every chance of seeing turtles.
Sources
- Samal Island, Davao — Asia Dive Site
- Special diving destinations — South Shore Divers
- Weekend diving — South Shore Divers
- All in packages — Wind and Wave Davao
- Pearl Farm Wrecks — PADI
- Pinnacle Point — PADI
- Davao average sea temperatures — SeaTemperature.org
- Davao — Wikivoyage
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