Dive Donsol

Philippines Donsol ( Itinerary)

WHALE SHARKS OF DONSOL

AS EARLY AS THE 70’S. LOCAL FISHERMEN IN DONSOL, PHILIPPINES HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE WHALE SHARKS THAT THEY THINK OF AS PESTS BECAUSE THE WHALE SHARKS SOMETIMES GET CAUGHT IN THE NETS AND DESTROY NOT ONLY NETS BUT THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE FAMILY AS WELL. BUT IT WAS ONLY DURING THE EARLY 1980S THAT SCUBA DIVERS DOING SURVEY ON THE SORSOGON SEAS BECAME SURPRISED AT THE UNUSUAL CONGREGATION OF THE GIANT WHALE SHARKS ( RHINCODON TYPUS ) THAT ABOUND DONSOL WATERS FROM THE MONTHS OF FEB TO JUN EVERY YEAR. SO BEGINS THE DONSOL STORY

ADAPTED BY THE DEPT OF TOURISM AND THE WWF AS A CONSERVATION PROJECT, THE ECOTOURISM FACTOR SOON SWELLED INTO OVERWHELMING ACCLAIM AS TOURISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD FLOCK TO DONSOL EVERY YEAR TO SEE THE WHALE SHARKS FEED ON THE PLANKTON RICH BAYS OF THE DONSOL TOWN. TOURISTS GET TO SNORKEL WITH THE WHALE SHARKS IN THE WATER WITH TRAINED AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDES PARTNERING WITH TRAINED BOAT CREWS. STRICT RULES OF INTERACTION HOWEVER ARE OBSERVED, IN FAVOR OF THE FEEDING GIANTS AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE TOURISTS AS WELL.

there are only a few known destinations in the world where one can see the biggest fish in the world. donsol, PHILIPPINES is so far the most accessible and definitely the most affordable. a lifetime experience one should never miss and that one should do over and over again.

Link Page http://www.outsourcetoasia.de

THE MANTA BOWL - TICAO

Dive with the pioneers of the world famous MANTA BOWL - ADVENTURE BOUND. A shallow (18m / 60ft) underwater mound in the middle of deep water Ticao Pass, discovered in the early 2000 by the same group. It is home to large pelagics like sharks ways and other pelagics. But during the month of January to June the reef becomes alive with congregating giant Pacific Manta Rays (5-6m adults have been sited frequently). MANTA BOWL HAS 5 DIVE POINTS. ALL LOCATED IN ONE 10 HECTARE REEF. EXPERIENCED DIVEMASTERS WILL FIRST TAKE YOU TO SEE THE MANTA POINT, WHERE THE EXPERIENCED DIVERS HAVE LOCATED A “ CLEANING STATION “. AT THIS 60 – 70FOOT SLOPE, MANTA ARE SEEN HOVERING AND GETTING “CLEANED” BY NUMEROUS CLEANER WRASSE.

THEN , AS DIVERS GET FAMILIAR WITH THE CURRENTS, ON THE 2ND DIVE, THEY WILL BE TAKEN TO BIG BOYS ALLEY. THIS IS THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF THE REEF WHERE THE REEF SLOPES DOWN TO UNEXPLORED REGIONS. THIS IS WHERE FREQUENT SIGHTINGS OF HAMMERHEADS AND TRESHER SHARKS HAPPEN, USUALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, CURRENT HERE ARE FELT AT THEIR BEST, SO GUESTS ARE ALWAYS ADVISED TO BRING REEF HOOKS AND SURFACE BALLOONS. BOATS ARE TRAINED TO PICK UP GUESTS BLOWN OFF REEF BY THE CURRENTS. THEN AS A SPICE UP DIVE, THE GUESTS ARE TAKEN DOWN TO THE “BOWL”, A DEPRESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REEF WHERE THERE IS LIVELY CORAL AND OCCASIONAL WHITETIPS PATROL THE REEF. MANTAS OFTEN PLAY AT THE TOP OF THE BOWL WHEN CURRENTS ARE RUNNING HIGH. ALL DIVES IN THE BOWL ARE DRIFT AND HOOK DIVES. ALMOST ALL ENTRY IS DONE NEGATIVE, A STRAIGHT DROP TO THE REEF WITH THE BCD DEFLATED AND DIVERS KICKING THEIR WAY DOWN.

MACRO DIVING

Halea Macro Heaven

Singaporean guests named this site their own macro heaven for the critters they were able to take pictures of. The site hosts the biggest seahorses ever seen in the region OF THE PHILIPPINES.

bantol kokok

considered a premier macro destination by experts from the macro photography arena, including top macro guides from abroad. bantol kokok is the local name for the star critter of this dive site, the hairy frogfish. the site is just a few minutes away from the resorts IN DONSOL and was considered to be an open water classroom until the discovery of the critters. also seen were the elusive pygmy seahorse and the rare rhinopias scorpion fish. regular sightings of the wonderpus, the flamboyant cuttlefish, ornate ghost pipefish and a library of various species of nudibranches were oberved by trained guides.

macro photography is at its infancy stage in this area so the operatotrs consider every dive as a discovery dive. guests and experts are encouraged to help indentify and document critters and rare species that can be found to help promote the place as a macro dream. perhaps soon, it will take its place in the macro sites of the world, beside lembeh and mabul. ENJOY THE MACRO WORL IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THE VITTON BEACH RESORT

Like his neighbour Woodland Beach Resort (Booth belong to the same owner), offer vitton beach Resort, Donsol - Philippines unmatched FILIPINo Hospitality. The resort is now in the second season and very new. ITS LOCATED direct by side the department of tourISm, Donsol. The PLACE WHERE Whale shark tours ARE starting. the resort offers like woodland A/C rooms with hot and Cold shower. The Restaurant serves typical Filipino and chosen international cuisine.

LOCATION