Siargao · Philippines · Cave & cavern
Blue Cathedral
An open Pacific cavern where schooling jacks and barracuda move through
Blue Cathedral is an open cavern on the Pacific side of Siargao, and the deepest dive around the island. The cavern descends to 40 m, and on calm days the water inside clears past 80 m, giving the interior a sense of scale. Divers come for that space and for the schools of jacks, trevally and barracuda that are absent from the calmer bay sites.
Where it is and how deep
9.8388° N, 126.1673° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Most of the dive is spent around 35 m inside the cavern, which descends to 40 m. Sea conditions here differ sharply from the bay. Schools of jacks, trevally and barracuda pass through the interior, and eagle rays turn up now and then.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Barracuda
- Eagle rays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Siargao: March to May brings the calmest seas and clearest water; from November to February bay diving continues but the Pacific sites, Blue Cathedral included, are less predictable.
Know before you go
- The mouth of the cavern can run powerful rip-like currents during tidal changes, with little visible warning from the surface.
- Pacific currents and surge are common here, and conditions change with the swell and the tide.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving Famous Blue Cathedral | Topography Diving in Siargao, Philippines | Surigao Del Norte · Joseph Schaeffler on YouTube
Blue cathedral scuba diving in Siargao Philippines · Kev_diving on YouTube
Sources
- Siargao Dive Guide: Blue Cathedral & Reef Walls — Philippine Dives
- Siargao diving and snorkeling guide — Mariden Resort
More dive sites in Siargao
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A resident pink frogfish on three linked reefs near Naked Island
Wall
Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks resting on the reef and patrolling the wall
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