FREEDIVE+ Freediving Playground - Dumaguete
The FREEDIVE+ Freediving Playground, just off Dumaguete, is a smart spot if you're looking to get comfortable with deeper freediving. We appreciate a site designed with training in mind, and this one hits the mark. It's set up to a maximum depth of 21 metres, which is ideal for working on those deeper equalizations or extending your bottom time without pushing into advanced territory. What you’ll find here is a mostly sandy bottom, giving you a clear visual reference as you descend, and a few small structures that act as good targets for line work or just a visual break. It’s pretty sheltered, so conditions are often calm, making it a good choice for beginners or those dialling in their technique.
- Location
- Dumaguete, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.632100, 123.810700
- Maximum Depth
- 21m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Island of Panglao; Mangrove areas from the west of Loboc River to the municipality of Laya Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve
Best Time to Dive in Dumaguete
The warmest water temperatures in Dumaguete occur in January, averaging 26.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.8°C (air: 26.7°C)
- February: 26.8°C (air: 26.6°C)
- March: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
- April: 26.8°C (air: 28.1°C)
- May: 26.8°C (air: 28.5°C)
- June: 26.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
- July: 26.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
- August: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
- October: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
- November: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
- December: 26.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Dumaguete
- Apo Island Sanctuary (drift)
- Apo Island Sanctuary (reef)
- Arco Point - 20m
- Atlantis Reef (reef)
- Atmosphere House Reef (reef)
- Baha reef - 19m (reef)
- Bahura
- Balicasag
- Banca Wreck (wreck)
- Basak - 19m
- Basak South
- BIGBOSS Bohol House reef - 14m (wreck)
- Black Forest - 22m
- Blue House - 20m
- Bohol Beach club - 19m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to FREEDIVE+ Freediving Playground
- Almira Diving Resort
- Amola Diver - ["PADI"]
- Apo scuba
- Aquaventure White Tip Dive Supply
- Atmosphere Resorts - ["PADI"]
- Bahura Dive Siquijor - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Dumaguete
Home to 522 recorded species including 440 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 15 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 9 seagrass & algae, 9 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Blackspine Unicornfish (Naso minor) - Reef Fish
- Barred Unicornfish (Naso thynnoides) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-scaled wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) - Reef Fish
- Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Blenny (Istiblennius dussumieri) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Horned Squirrelfish (Sargocentron cornutum) - Reef Fish
- Blue-ribbon wrasse (Stethojulis trilineata) - Reef Fish
- Bloodspot pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for FREEDIVE+ Freediving Playground
Based on average water temperature of 26.8°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