UNEXPECTED ASIA
By various contributors
Asia’s top dive destinations can still surprise and delight. Jump into unexpected “worlds within worlds” in this revealing expose
TOPOGRAPHY CANYONS
A dramatic set of three canyons on the northeast side of Puerto Galera, right at the tip of the Island, on the Verde Island passage. This dive site is like “Snakes and Ladders” for divers – the canyons are 20 to 28 metres deep, and staged one after the other, from the shallower to the deeper. Jump in and swim over the top of the first canyon, then through a narrow drop down and rise up again.
Being located on the passage exposes this site to strong currents, which means it is rich in nutrients, and draws in schools of fish, like giant trevallies, sweetlips and snappers.
Located an hour’s boat ride from Puerto Galera, Verde Island offers great topography diving in one of the Philippines’ most diverse marine environments.
PINNACLES
“If Yosemite National Park were a reef, it would look like this,” said the editor of Undercurrent magazine. “Pinnacles” dive site takes its name from the rocky pinnacles that rise from over 100 metres deep to kiss the surface on the east side of Verde Island. Hard and soft corals have grown all over the rocks, shaping a vertical reef with massive gorgonian fans and sponges. Butterflyfish, juvenile angelfish, schools of the small, dark red tooth trigger fish, sea snakes, frogfish and some large pelagic schools can be easily spotted here.