EMILIA - Anilao

Emilia is a bit of a local secret, a proper Anilao standout if you ask us. This isn’t a deep dive, peaking at 11 metres, but what it lacks in depth it makes up for in character. She’s an old motor vessel, went down in ‘74 after a fire, and now rests on her side. We love exploring the bow, which is still quite intact. You can swim through the main cargo holds, which feel like enormous, dimly lit caverns. Sunlight shafts pierce through openings, illuminating schools of tiny silversides that dart and weave. Look closely in the darker corners; we’ve spotted giant frogfish camouflaged on the rusted metal and a few curious moray eels peeking from the shadows. The stern section is more broken up, but it's a fantastic spot for finding robust ghost pipefish hiding amongst the soft corals that have begun to colonise the wreck. This site is perfect for photographers who appreciate the drama of a sunken ship and for divers who enjoy a relaxed pace. We’d suggest going in the late morning, the light penetration is just right then, giving the whole wreck an ethereal glow. It’s not a challenging dive, making it accessible for newer divers wanting their first taste of wreck exploration, but there’s enough here to keep experienced eyes busy too.

Location
Anilao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
13.750000, 121.041664
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
11m

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 EMILIA

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 EMILIA

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