Diving on Siquijor
According to the local legend, Siquijor Island appeared one day, during heavy thunderstorm and raised few hundred meters above the sea level. It is said fossils, corals and shells, which still can be found in the mountains, as well as rocky shores, are clear evidence of that fact.
These days corals and shells are main point of interest of scuba divers and snorkelling enthusiasts who appears on the island to admire its fantastic reefs and many species living under the clear and calm water.
There are 23 diving sites on Siquijor and several scuba diving centres, which surely help you with getting to the most exciting places. In any part of the island you can find professionals ready to advise where to go or take you to the sites relevant to your skills and addressing your point of interests.
Most of the places are accessible for beginners. Only few, in southern part of the island, may not be easy and pleasant enough due to strong currents appearing occasionally. To make sure which sites to avoid if your skills are not the highest, simply visit Apo Diver centre or Siquijor Divers one. Both are located in south-west part of the island and both can advise as well as take you to the best sites for you, offering full and professional equipment for scuba diving, freediving or snorkelling.
Additionally Siquijor Divers (actually SWS – Siquijor Water Sports) centre has easy and direct access to the sea in one of the most interesting spots on the island. There are number of short underwater walls, slopes and canyons and many underwater residents living in coral reefs. During high tide expect an extraordinary meeting with sea turtles.
The most interesting dive sites in southern part of Siquijor Island are Maite Marine Sanctuary, which is very popular for night diving because of huge population of mandarin fish. The other one is Tubod Marine Sanctuary – perfect place for snorkelling and observing stunning healthy corals as well as huge collection of fish and colourful starfish.
Very popular and frequently visited is Paliton Wall with the wall doing over 40 meters deep covered by beautiful corals with variety of underwater residents moving around.
Northern part of Siquijor has its Tulapus Sanctuary, very suitable for beginners with number of barracudas, which are usually, first spotted “habitants” of Tulapus coral reefs. Turtles are also quite common in this area and there is also a chance to “meet” black tip reef shark.
Those who like corals and something else might be interested in diving to wreck of a Japanese landing craft, staying about 30 meters deep. It is covered with corals and many lionfish and moray eels live there. The wreck is located near Larena.
These are only few out of over 20 diving spots and all not mentioned are equally worth visiting as Siquijor marine life and coral reefs around the island are one of the best in the Philippines, and some visitors say that also one of the best in the world.