Diving day in Mactan area in Cebu, Philippines

I had a diving day with the friends in Mactan Island area near Cebu. We did a three dives. Divers: Mikko H., Mikko R., and Petri, who was also our dive guide/instructor.

Dive #: 231

Date: 5.1.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Hilutungan

Depth: 21,6m Average: 10,9m

Dive time: 43min

Visibility: 20m

Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Scuba Haven

Price: Special price for the friends (3 dives)

Diving gears to the boat and to the sea. From the left: Mikko R., Mikko H., Petri and me on the back.

Our first dive spot was Hilutungan Island.

There was a lot of spade fishes. Some of them are very curious and come very close.

Fishes and corals on the wall. 

Petri taking some photos. 

Diaconal banded sweetlips.

That´s me on the wall.

During the first dive we saw also titan triggers, anemones and a lot of different reef fishes.

Dive #: 232
Date: 5.1.2013
Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Nalusuan Island
Depth: 17,6m Average: 9,4m
Dive time: 57min
Visibility: 20-25m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Our second dive spot was Nalusuan Resort Island. We jumped to water near the pier.

There was a lot of black spotted snappers under the pier building. 

 School of black spoted snappers near the pier.

Blue-spotted stingray. If you look closer you can see this one was lost her tail.

 Corals.

Big grouper on the cleaning station mouth open.

 Blue-spotted stingray with the blue-streak cleaner wrasses.

"Nemos" or Clark´s anemones posing. 

Same "Nemos" again. 

More stingrays.

Second dive was quite shallow, but also quite interesting. Especially under the pier we saw so many fishes. Also later on the dive it was create to see  many stingrays. 

Dive #: 233
Date: 5.1.2013
Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Olango Island, Talima
Depth: 21,3m Average: 14,6m
Dive time: 44min
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Our third and last dive spot was Talima. In practice it means deep walls, wooden wreck and lots of fish.

Here Petri diving on the wall.

Wooden wreck has already seen the best days. 

Wreck closer.

There are always a lot of fishes near the wreck. Here diaconal banded sweetlips. 

One sweetlips closer.

Fan coral and barrel sponge.

White eye moray eel ready to attack.

I was taking photo from some coral and suddenly I saw somebody is stearing me very close. It was this guy.

I have dived ones before in Talima about 6 months ago. There are always so many fishes especially near the wreck. 

It was great to dive in Cebu area again especially with the good friends. There are always lots of manine life. If you want to dive near Mactan just contact to Petri.

Regards,

Mika

Manila

Wreck diving in Subic Bay, Philippines

Subic Bay in Philippines is popular place for wreck diving. I dived there in February 2010 on the three different wrecks.

El Capitan

Type of vessel: Freighter of nearly 3000 tons and 130m long.
Depth: 5-18m
Sunk: Storm in 1946

More information.

El Capitan was a big ship, but now it's a home for corals and fishes.
It's easy to go inside the wreck. It was very interesting dive inside the long hull. There are lots of vulcanic ash on the bottom of the wreck so it's important to keep fins up.

My dive buddy Chris inside the hull.
Big ship has also big rudder.
LCU

Type of vessel: WWII Landing Craft Utility
Depth: 10-21m
Sunk: 1946. Exact date unknown.

More information.

Iron LCU is still in good condition.
Deck closer.
One open hatch of the wreck.
A swim through hole.
There was also possible to go inside the wreck in some places.
From the deck.
San Quentin

Type of vessel: Spanish steam gun boat
Depth: 6-18m
Sunk: May 1898

More information.

Old San Quentin has seen already the best days and it has been collapsed almost totally.
Ladder and hatch.
Some hatch.
Last dive and last safety stop in Subic Bay this time.
Subic Bay is interesting place for wreck diving. This was my first dive trip to Subic Bay, but not the last.

More information about Subic Bay wrecks in Subic Bay Dive, Asia Dive Site and Philippines Travel Guide.

Cheers,

Mika

Similan diving safaris, Thailand

Best diving place in Thailand - that's how people usually describe Similan Islands. Similan National Marine Park was established in 1982. Similan Islands have nine islands and it's 100km from Phuket to northwest in Andaman Sea. Diving season is from October to May. Best time for diving is from January to March.
I have been diving on Similan three times. Twice on Similan diving safaris and ones on day trip. Best way to dive there is to go safaris. I was on diving safaris on Feb 2006 and Feb 2007 by Chalong Sea Sport. Diving safaris are very relax way to dive on Similans. Just dive, eat, sleep and relax on the boat. Usually the safaris have four diving days four dives a day and five nights on the boat.

The beauty of Similan is not only crystal clear and rich marine life. There are also beautiful islands and beaches. One of the Similan landmark is Donald Duck Bay. Name of the place comes from this stone.
Up from the hill opens great view to Donald Duck Bay. I'm on the top on Feb 2006.
Diving safaris on Similan are very famous and if you have been there one you know why. Visibility can be more than 30 meters. Lots of different place to dive and rich marine life. Turtles are common especially on the Donald Duck Bay area.
Huge rocks and boulders with swim through.
Lots of different kind of reef fishes.
Moray eels are common. Also giant morays.
There are also few wrecks. This is Atlantis X.
Chinese wreck.
Some places is possible to see also something bigger like whale sharks and manta rays. I haven't seen whale sharks on Similan, but mantas many places. Best place to see mantas is Koh Bon area like I say this one in Feb 2007. Manta was playing with us about 10min before it disappeared to deep blue.
So all in all. Similan is best place for diving in Thailand and it's really worth to visit!!

King Cruiser wreck, Shark Point and Koh Dok Mai

More diving at Phuket. Three dives. King Cruiser wreck, Shark Point and Koh Dok Mai.

King Cruiser was used between Phuket and Phi Phi Islands as a ferry. It sank 1997 and there was 500 people onboard. Luckily nobody died. Wreck is 85 long and 25m width. Visibility is many times quite poor and there can be strong current. It's anyway very interesting place to dive.

Dive #: 187

Date: 24.2.2011
Place: Thailand, Phuket, King Cruiser wreck
Depth: 29m Average depth: 18,9m
Bottom time: 40min
Visibility: 5-8m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5,4Kg

Dive Center: Chalong Sea Sport
Price: 3700THB/90,20€ + Equipment rental 500THB/12,20€

Total: 4200THB/102,40€ (3 dives)

Toilet.

Quite big turtle on the deck.

Bridge has already collapsed.

Deck.

Sea urchins, scorpionfishes, lot of small reef fishes. Visibility was also this time quite poor and the was some current. I like to dive anyway on King Cruiser. Interesting place!

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Dive #: 188

Date: 24.2.2011
Place: Thailand, Phuket, Shark Point
Depth: 21m Average depth: 13,7m
Bottom time: 53min
Visibility: 8-15m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5,4Kg

Yellow seahorse.

A lot of small fishes.

Where is the diver?

Big fan corals, titan triggers, moray eel, nudibranches, very much reef fishes.

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Dive #: 189

Date: 24.2.2011

Place: Thailand, Phuket, Koh Dok Mai
Depth: 23,4m Average depth: 12,8m
Bottom time: 56min
Visibility: 6-10m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 4,5Kg

We dived to two small caves. Here is second one.

Two moray eels in the same places. Today we saw many morays here and there.

Beautiful nudibranch.

Giant pufferfish, yellow boxfish, Durban dancing shrimp, nudibranches.