Monkey Wreck - Anilao

Monkey Wreck, tucked just off Maricaban Island, is one of our favourite dives in Anilao for a reason. It’s not some grand, intact vessel, but a relatively small, broken-up cargo ship. We reckon it’s around 30 metres long, maybe a touch more, lying broken in two main sections on a sandy slope. The bow points toward the shore, the stern out to sea, and you can swim through the main hold, which is now home to schools of batfish. The real joy here is the macro life. Every rusty plate and beam is encrusted with nudibranchs you probably haven’t seen before – we’ve found everything from vibrant *Hypselodoris* to the more cryptic *Flabellina*. Keep an eye out for ghost pipefish near the sand and frogfish camouflaged on the broken superstructure. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly in the mid-morning when the light filters down through the calmer surface, illuminating the smaller details. We’d suggest going slow, really taking your time to scan the nooks and crannies. It’s not a deep dive, around 20 metres, so you get ample bottom time to explore every inch.

Location
Anilao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
13.523725, 120.980780
Type
wreck

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 Monkey Wreck

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 Monkey Wreck

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