wreck

Log This Dive

DON FRANCISCO

Don Francisco is one of those sites we always recommend, especially if you've done a few dives in Anilao and want something different. This isn't your usual vibrant reef; it’s a carrier vessel, a proper bit of history from 1944 that ran aground in a typhoon back in '78. We love how much of the hull and superstructure are still intact, making it perfect for exploration. You'll find her mostly upright, which gives a great sense of her original form. Sunlight filters down, illuminating schools of tiny glassfish that shimmer around the cargo holds – it’s a beautiful, almost ethereal sight. Look closely, and you'll spot resident lionfish tucked into crevices and moray eels peeking out from behind plating. We’d suggest going early in the morning; the light is better, and you avoid the occasional afternoon currents that can pick up here. It’s not a deep dive, but the sense of scale you get from finning alongside a piece of wartime history is pretty cool. For wreck lovers, even casual ones, Don Francisco is a real standout in the area.