BORNION TIGA - Anilao

Bornion Tiga isn’t your typical deep wreck. It's a shallower dive, a massive motor vessel that went down in 1987, but the scale of it is what really hits you. We love diving it early, just as the sun angles down, casting long shadows from the superstructure. You can spend an entire dive just exploring the bow, which sits in around 5 meters of water. The upper decks are completely taken over by soft corals, the kind that pulse gently with the current. Schools of juvenile snapper dart in and out of the broken plating, and we’ve often spotted lionfish tucked into the crevices. Look closely, and you’ll find nudibranchs crawling along the railings. It’s an easy dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to wander, taking their time with a piece of history that’s now a vibrant, living reef. The size of the ship means there's always a new corner to peek into, even on a third visit.

Location
Anilao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
13.878333, 120.031670
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - BORNION TIGA

Year Sunk
1987
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The Bornion Tiga is one of Anilao's most accessible and popular wreck dives, largely because of its incredibly shallow depth. This 105-meter motor vessel was on a voyage from Miri, East Malaysia, to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in June 1987 when it met its end. The ship ran aground on the reef, and despite efforts to save it, it was declared a total loss and settled onto the sandy bottom just meters from the shore.

Lying at a maximum depth of just 5 meters, the Bornion Tiga is a fantastic site for novice divers, underwater photographers, and snorkelers. Over the decades, the wreck has transformed into a thriving artificial reef, teeming with life. Its broken structures are now encrusted with corals and sponges, providing a home for countless species of reef fish, nudibranchs, and crustaceans. It’s the perfect dive for a long, relaxed exploration or a second dive of the day, offering a fascinating glimpse into how nature reclaims man-made objects.

Marine Protected Area: Cabra Marine Park

Best Time to Dive in Anilao

The warmest water temperatures in Anilao occur in June, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.9°C
  • February: 27.5°C
  • March: 28.1°C
  • April: 29.2°C
  • May: 30.3°C
  • June: 30.9°C
  • July: 30.4°C
  • August: 29.8°C
  • September: 29.6°C
  • October: 29.4°C
  • November: 29.3°C
  • December: 28.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Anilao

Nearest Dive Centres to BORNION TIGA

Marine Life in Anilao

Home to 88 recorded species including 83 reef fish, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea urchins, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BORNION TIGA

Based on average water temperature of 29.3°C, currents 15 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories