Northern Mindanao - Siargao
Diving the northern waters of Mindanao, especially around Camiguin Island, means getting to know black sand. Forget the picture-perfect reefs, this is about the weird and wonderful macro critters that thrive on volcanic seabeds. Old Volcano, for instance, isn't just a name; it shapes the landscape, with volcanic blocks scattered across sandy flats and small coral patches. We’ve found pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, and various nudibranchs here, often with no other dive boats in sight. It's a quiet, uncrowded experience, best suited for those who appreciate the smaller stuff and don't mind foregoing dramatic wide-angle views for a more intimate hunt.
- Location
- Siargao, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.250000, 124.700000
Best Time to Dive in Siargao
The warmest water temperatures in Siargao occur in September, averaging 30.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C
- February: 27.7°C
- March: 27.9°C
- April: 28.4°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 29.3°C
- July: 29.6°C
- August: 30.1°C
- September: 30.2°C
- October: 30.0°C
- November: 30.0°C
- December: 29.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Siargao
- Adrian's Cove (reef)
- ALKENE - 2m (wreck)
- Angel's Cove (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- ATLANTIC - 55m (wreck)
- Balbagon Port - 28m
- BASCO - 55m (wreck)
- Blue Cathedral - 34m (cave)
- Blue Lagoon - 20m (reef)
- Bonnie's place
- Bujong Shoal (pinnacle)
- Bulias Shoal - 5-30m (pinnacle)
- Burias Shoal - 22m (pinnacle)
- Cabuan - 19m
- Canyons
Nearest Dive Centres to Northern Mindanao
Marine Life in Siargao
Home to 87 recorded species including 62 reef fish, 7 sharks & rays, 5 seagrass & algae, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Bentfin Devil Ray (Mobula thurstoni) - Sharks & Rays
- Devil fish (Mobula mobular) - Sharks & Rays
- Devil Ray (Mobula tarapacana) - Sharks & Rays
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Snakefish (Trachinocephalus myops) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blackbelly Lanternshark (Etmopterus lucifer) - Sharks & Rays
- Arrowhead Dogfish (Deania profundorum) - Sharks & Rays
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Bar Eyed Goby (Glossogobius giuris) - Reef Fish
- Compressed Toby (Canthigaster compressa) - Reef Fish
- Brown Spinecheek Gudgeon (Eleotris fusca) - Reef Fish
- China Lobster (Metanephrops sinensis) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei) - Hard Corals
- Celebes Goby (Glossogobius celebius) - Reef Fish
- royal red prawn (Haliporoides sibogae) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Silver Flagtail (Kuhlia marginata) - Reef Fish
- Fluted clam (Tridacna squamosa) - Clams & Mussels
- Two-toned Pygmy Squid (Idiosepius pygmaeus) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for Northern Mindanao
Based on average water temperature of 29.2°C, currents 2 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