Sun-scored fine white sand, a turquoise sea and a background of swaying palm trees set against an azure sky – this is Boracay Island, which lies just north of Panay Island. If you are looking for a place for just lazing around, Boracay is a great place to do exactly that. The region of all the Islands between Luzon and Mindanao are referred to as the Visayas with their own dialect. Boracay Island is in midst of Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Panay and Samar, plus innumerable smaller islands, straits and channels. Well-established dive operators have extensively explored the reefs, finding many top dive sites. Boasting with a good dozen of different dive sites, Boracay Island offers something for all levels. A smaller selection of must-see sites around Boracay Island include: Yapak 1, Camia and Crocodile Island.
The site that all the divemasters head for when they have a strong enough group, is
Yapak 1. The most exciting diving off Boracay is a rich wall, rising to 30 m (100 ft) that runs for most of the part from north to south. At the southern end there is a chimney to descent and exit at 40 m (131 ft). This dive requires a fast descent to the shelter of the wall, regardless of surface conditions. The wall itself is covered with large barrel sponges, Linckia starfish, soft corals and gorgonians, and is home to a vast quantity of reef and pelagic fish; but the main object of the dive is to look out into the blue. There Grey Reef Sharks and White-tip Reef Sharks are common, and Hammerhead Sharks, Manta Rays and Eagle Rays have been seen. There are large shoals of surgeonfish, pennant fish, banner fish, barracuda, jacks, tuna, snappers, sweet lips and Rainbow Runners, as well as the occasional large grouper and Napoleon Wrasse. Please keep in mind that Yapak is only for the experienced.
Camia starts at a depth of 18 m (59 ft) and descends to a maximum depth of 40 m (131 ft). The Camia is Boracay’s house wreck. It is a 30 m long cargo boat that was scuttled as a Fish Attraction Device in January 2001. It has since developed very nicely as an artificial reef. The residents now include a couple of huge red bass, some bluefin trevallies, scorpion fish and a school of batfish.
Crocodile Island resembles a crocodile, hence its name. The shallow reef-top is good for snorkelling, although snorkellers should be careful of the currents. On the south side a 60 m (197 ft) long drop-off goes down from 7 m (23 ft) to 25 m (80 ft); covered with soft corals and leathery corals, and gorgonians. The top of the drop-off is a gentle slope from 2 m (7 ft) to 3 m (10 ft) with several small canyons containing lots of soldierfish, cardinalfish, squirrelfish, parrotfish, rainbow wrasse and bird wrasse. At 14 m (45 ft) you will find good-sized whip corals and gorgonians, black coral and anemones with clownfish. There is an abundant fish life, with parrotfish, angelfish, bannerfish, pennantfish, butterflyfish, titan and redtooth triggerfish, lined sweetlips, anthias, chromis, moorish idols, damselfish, snappers, fusiliers, surgeonfish, groupers, goatfish, trumpetfish, cornetfish, pipefish, hawkfish, moray eels, sea stars, sea cucumbers and many nudibranchs.