Manila Channel - Anilao
The Manila Channel is all about the current, which often rips through here, making it a drift diver’s delight. You’ll spend most of your time flying over a sandy bottom, spotting garden eels and flatfish, though the stronger currents can bring in bigger pelagics. It’s a good choice for divers comfortable with moving water, particularly those who enjoy a speedy journey.
- Location
- Anilao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 13.524080, 120.945740
- Type
- drift
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
- Agahuta - 10-25m (reef)
- Anilao
- Anilao Pier (muck)
- Aphol’s - 20m
- Aquaventure Housereef (reef)
- Arthur's Rock - 20m (pinnacle)
- Arthur s Rock - 5-30m (pinnacle)
- ASIAN LOGGER - 40m (wreck)
- Bahura Reef (reef)
- Barracuda Deep - 28m
- Basura
- Batalan Rock - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Batangas Channel (drift)
- Beatrice Rock
- big apple
Nearest Dive Centres to Manila Channel
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
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Bridled Goby (Gnatholepis cauerensis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Bar Eyed Goby (Glossogobius giuris) - Reef Fish
- Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) - Reef Fish
- Black triggerfish (Odonus niger) - Reef Fish
- Soft Locust Lobster (Scammarctus batei) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Golden wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Reef Fish
- Blackstriped Angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck) - Reef Fish
- Striped Triplefin (Helcogramma striata) - Reef Fish
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Manila Channel
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