CHEN YOW NO.1 - Donsol & Sorsogon
The Chen Yow No.1 is a wreck we always recommend for a relaxed afternoon dive, especially if you’ve spent the morning chasing whale sharks. This fishing vessel, which ran aground back in ’91, isn't a deep dive at all – in fact, it often breaks the surface, making it perfect for snorkelers too. What we love about it is how the light plays through the broken hull, silhouetting schools of jacks that swirl through the holds. You can peek into the engine room, or what’s left of it, and often spot a grouper or two lurking in the shadows. The structure itself is a haven for macro life, with nudibranchs inching across the encrusted metal and juvenile sweetlips darting in and out of crevices. It’s a great site for photographers, offering both wide-angle opportunities with the wreck structure and plenty of small, colourful critters to zoom in on. We'd suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, which can drop a bit if there's been heavy rain.
- Location
- Donsol & Sorsogon, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 13.671667, 124.413330
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Marine Protected Area: Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserved
Best Time to Dive in Donsol & Sorsogon
The warmest water temperatures in Donsol & Sorsogon occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
- February: 27.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
- March: 27.1°C (air: 26.4°C)
- April: 27.1°C (air: 27.2°C)
- May: 27.1°C (air: 28.0°C)
- June: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
- July: 27.1°C (air: 27.4°C)
- August: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
- October: 27.1°C (air: 27.1°C)
- November: 27.1°C (air: 26.9°C)
- December: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Donsol & Sorsogon
- Bicol
- Bobby’s Wall - 24m (wall)
- Bunga Reef (reef)
- CAMFAIR - 11m (wreck)
- DONA LOURDES - 40m (wreck)
- LAGOS HURON (POSSIBLY) - 12m (wreck)
- MV PRINCESS OF THE STARS - 12m (wreck)
- NORTHERN SAMAR - 38m (wreck)
- Parola/Lighthouse - 22m
- R.A.C. Point - 20m
- Red Buoy
- SAN MARTIN DE PORRES - 13m (wreck)
- SWEET SAIL - 0m (wreck)
- Toms Reef (reef)
- Tuna Alley - 23m
Marine Life in Donsol & Sorsogon
Home to 139 recorded species including 119 reef fish, 14 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 seagrass & algae, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Anchor trunkfish (Choerodon anchorago) - Reef Fish
- Banded-Tail Glassy Perchlet (Ambassis urotaenia) - Reef Fish
- Golden-Yellow Cone (Conus flavidus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Peacock wrasse (Halichoeres argus) - Reef Fish
- Flea Cone (Conus pulicarius) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Frigid Cone (Conus frigidus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Fig cone (Conus figulinus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Brownbanded wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) - Reef Fish
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Blenny (Salarias fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Checkered Seaperch (Lutjanus decussatus) - Reef Fish
- Marbled Parrotfish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
- Sponsal Cone (Conus sponsalis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Black-tipped Silver-biddy (Gerres oyena) - Reef Fish
- Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
- False Virgin Cone (Conus emaciatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Recommended Packing List for CHEN YOW NO.1
Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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