Malatapay - Dumaguete
Malatapay is a simple muck dive in Dumaguete, good for shaking off the travel rust or testing new camera gear. It's a shallow site, topping out at 17m, making it easy for newer divers. Expect to spend your time scanning the sandy bottom and scattered rubble for critters like nudibranchs, pipefish, and small crabs. We often find it a relaxing way to spend an hour, particularly if you appreciate the small stuff.
- Location
- Dumaguete, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.121300, 123.213700
- Maximum Depth
- 17m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape
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 Malatapay
- 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 Malatapay
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