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GENSAN DIVE SITES

Tampuan/Tinoto Wall Complex (The Wall)
The Tampuan/Tinoto Wall runs for about 10kms with a reported depth of around 200m. It is situated about 50km from GenSan in the vicinity of Tinoto Village. It is easy to reach via the US Aid funded road so the journey takes only 45 minutes. In some areas, the coral gardens here have been viewed as equal to any in the world by Jack Jackson, the Author of "The Dive SItes of the Philippines."

Amadora's Diving Resort
This is just a single cottage at the edge of the road but is situated in probably the best place for diving on the Wall and is therefore well used.

Partridge Point
Just 300 meters along the wall, Partridge Point has the same features but unfortunately, blast fishing caused damage to some areas of the Coral Garden. The shore land is owned by an American who has a very comfortable weekender set up and is very receptive to careful divers.

Lau-Tengco Point/Barracuda Point
Just after Partridge Point, the Wall does an "S" bend, whcih creates a totally different environment. Again, at the top of the wall is a Coral Garden, which is recovering from blast damage. The reef fish congregate in large numbers and can be very spectacular. Large barracuda are seen but usually at depth. The currents are very washing machine like at times and throw you in any directionand can be very strong but they usually give a few minutes warning before gaining strength giving divers time to get out of the water.

Tinoto Village
This is set in a small bay and does not get many problems with currents but visibility can drop off especially after rain. There has been damage to corals in some areas but it's still worth a dive.

Cesma Cliff
As the name suggests, this is a small resort on top of a cliff. The view is excellent but the path to the dive site is more for a mountain goat rather than a diver in full gear! The dive is good but it is better to make this a boat dive.

Marabueno Point
From the shore, you are on the wall, there is no more than a few meters of shallow water before you go over the edge. The cliffs usually shade this wall area so the dive is darker than other areas but still good. Tunicates, sponges, hydroids and nudibranchs are abundant. Again, because of access difficulties, this dive is better from a boat.

Veteran's Beach (Sulifman Diving Site)
This is situated at the very end of the wall. At the entry point, the seabed slopes off gently but as you go further into the dive, you are on the wall but not as deep. There are a few pinnacles here and a lot to see but unfortunately, there has been the odd piece of blast damage in the upper areas. This site is the guaranteed no current site but the visibility can drop off at times. This is always an interesting dive especially the 20 or so uneven steps leading down to the dive sites.

All the above locations have very cheap day cottages for rent, Php 150.00 is average.

4ML Strand Resort
This is the first dive spot off the wall. Access is easy, as the area has been developed into a small resort with sandy beaches. The diving is simple and shallow, 15m.

Palalisan Resort Areas
This is a new Reserve area and has been designated as such by the local village peole. The dive is nothing special really but for a huge coral outcrop in one area. The principle of the Reserve is good and shows that the local population is interested in preservation.

London Beach Resort
This is probably the best-laid out Resort in the area with good accomodation. There is a bamboo safety boom enclosing the swimming area. Over the years, this boom has been replaced as the old ones have sunk forming an artificial reef, which is home to many creatures which like a place to hide. Moray eels, lion and scorpion fish along with juvenile sweetlips are abundant. Shoals of mackerel are seen on most dives along with many other species.

T'Boli BEach Resort
A good location with a small reef but watch for the current. Cheap accomodation is available here.

Rajah Beach Resort
ANother good location with a sand and small coral outcrop type of U/W environment.

Maharlika Beach Resort
This is by far the best site in the local GenSan area. The site is the biggest resort in the area and has a natural fresh water swimming pool on shore.
     There are large staghorn corals in the area that are home to a huge verity of fish including: sweetlips, roupers, snappers, parrotfish, wrasse, emperors, moorish idols and many more. A resident shoal of yellowtail barracuda patrols the area and shoals of mackerel and jacks are regular visitors. Cow fish, turretfish and filefish are seen and large congregations of shripfish are not uncommon. In June/July, large squids come by the hundreds to lay eggs on the staghorn corals and do not seem to mind divers too much. Turtles are also regular visitors. This is a good ploace to dive especially for the new diver as it gives a really good insight into a busy marine community.

Tropicana Beach Resort
Another quality resort with accomodation. The diving is OK with a sandy bottom and small coral outcrops. It is also 50m from Maharlika Resort.

Petron Pier
This is a new pier, only 2 years old but is interesting to some who want to see the development of marine life growing on the legs.

Bawing Offshore Pinnacle
About 500m offshore, there is a large pinnacle which is only 5m below the surface at low tide. The top has been blasted flat by local fishermen but below 12m there are large sea fans and sponges, etc.

All the above Dive Sites are on the West side of the Bay. Entrance to the resorts is around Php10.00 per person plus a table/cottage charge of around Php150.00 per group. The west side of the bay does not get too much rain so the water conditions are usually better than the Eastern Sides.