THE PENINSULA SCHOOL ADVENTURE CLUB PHILIPPINES SCUBA EXPEDITIONS JULY 2-11 AND SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 3 2014: AIYANAR RESORT, ANILAO ON LUZON ISLAND I first became interested in Anilao when I started to notice it coming up in a lot of local posts about SCUBA diving in The Philippines. Well known to the locals, Anilao is usually overlooked by International Tourists and is a well-kept secret. It is located about 2.5 hours south of Manilla, across the strait from Puerto Galera and is regarded as the centre of biodiversity in The Coral Triangle. It has an amazing reputation for critter diving with abundant rarities such as Mimic Octopus; Flambouyant Cuttlefish; Bobbit Worms (look them up on youtube!) and more species of Nudibranchs than you can poke a strobe at. It is up there with Lembeh Strait for biodiversity and Scott Tuason‟s book “Anilao” is a testament to this. But what about the non-photographers and snorkellers in the group? I investigated further. Just thirty-five minutes from Aiyanar‟s superb infinity pool, is one the best fish dive sites in The Philippines – Verde Island. And nearby Sombrero and Maracaban Islands also offer coral reefs and walls with abundant fish life. What I found convinced me that Anilao offers the best of both kinds of diving – in some ways similar to the Dumaguete coastline with its incredible critters, but also with an array of wide angle dive sites with blue water; coral walls and teeming fish life. Words and pictures can‟t convey this – you must look at this clip of Verde Island, a dive site often referred to as „fish soup‟. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkc_I7Lu5yc And what follows is a post from www.scubaboard.com in answer to my inquiries giving some indication of what to expect at Anilao….
Aiyanar Resort, Anilao
I spent quite some time assuring myself of the quality of the resort and it‟s diving. A new resort built in late 2012, Aiyanar is as neat as a pin and is of superb quality. It is a purpose built dive resort with lots of nice touches – there is a 5 metre deep section in the pool for serious SCUBA training and a full on camera room for starters. Another big advantage in this destination is that is negates the need for any stopovers at either end (and now that Melb-Manilla flights arrive 4:30 pm – that is usually necessary). One drawback though….there is no beach…just a rocky shoreline. But the beautiful infinity pool is some compensation and they have a lovely sun deck area looking over the sea to the magical sunsets. There is good snorkelling on the resort house reef with great potential for shore and night dives (Mandarin Fish only 50m offshore!!). The resort will also run snorkel day trip to the nearby islands (which do have white sand beaches) with barbecue lunches.
Aiyanar Resort
I have contacted many divers and sought out opinions on Anilao diving. This one pretty much sums up what I seem to be finding out – that Anilao offers a lot to suit all levels of diving and all types of dive interests. For the photographers out there, Anilao is widely ranked in the top three macro dive sites on the planet, with Lembeh Straits and Mabul, Sipadan coming in first and second.
A listing of Dive sites follows – these links provide a lot of information.
Aiyanar Resort and Anilao diving Links http://telwanders.com/2013/07/anilaos-haven-aiyanar-beach-dive-and-resort/ http://theislandexplorer.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/aiyanar-beach-and-dive-resort.html http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/anilao-diving http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/anilao-underwater-photo-essay http://scubabro.com.ph/aqua-sports/diving/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_-lXmWEr7s or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkc_I7Lu5yc http://victoriadiving.awardspace.com/anilao.html (great wide angle gallery) https://picasaweb.google.com/111320263465674750249/AnilaoPhilippinesApril2012#5740202981886245234 (brilliant macro photo gallery) https://picasaweb.google.com/111320263465674750249/AnilaoPhilippinesMay2011#5613410574718621058 (brilliant macro photo gallery)
Accommodation type
Non diver
Deluxe Twin share (2 to a room) 2729 Deluxe Triple share (3 to a room) 2661 Child 2-11 sharing with parents 1707 Suite Twin share 3074 Suite Triple share 2844 Suite Quad share 2779 *N.B. Departure Tax of PHP550 (about $15 AUD) payable at Manilla airport.
Diver (12 dive package) 3095 3029 n/a 3440 3210 3145
The Resort tumbles down the slope and is superbly landscaped. It is a little „differentâ€&#x; to our normal style of accommodation, but the rooms are well appointed with all modern facilities.
A feature of the resort is the pool and sun deck. The pool has a 5 metre deep section and is specifically designed for SCUBA training. The sun deck is the perfect place to watch the sunset.
The dive centre gives some indication of how well organised this operation is.
The facilities and services provided by Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort ensure a pleasant stay for guests. Top features of the hotel include car park, coffee shop, Wi-Fi in public areas, smoking area, bar/pub. Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort http://aiyanar.com - Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort Looc, Bagalangit Anilao, Batangas, Philippines (+63) 917-814-3800 (+63) 999-999-7452
Re: Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort by AiyanarAnilao Âť Fri Sep 27, 2013 3:44 amAiyanar Beach and Dive Resort - Anilao Batangas Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort is the newest modern Dive Resort in Anilao Batangas today, it is geared more towards the Underwater Imaging Segment of the industry. Anilao has long been a local Dive Destination in the Philippines, its good mix of reefs, sandy slopes, caves and piers make for a really interesting Dive vacation. Just a boat ride away from Puerto Galera and Verde Island; Anilao makes for the perfect staging area to access all these well known Philippine Dive Destinations. In recent years with the boom of UW Macro Photography and the
influx of foreign divers Anilao has gained a following among those looking for a place to photograph great underwater subjects and seascapes. With the influx of foreign influence the knowledge and skill set has grown and now; critters like the Rhinopias, and Sea Dragons thought to have only been in Lembeh are being Spotted regularly in these waters. Being avid divers who've seen and experienced dive operations elsewhere in the world, the partners of Aiyanar envisioned an Anilao facility whose standards would not only pass, but exceed the expectations of the ever increasing Diver Base from the west. What they have come up with is a modern Dive Resort well laid out over 4 hectares of land right in the heart of this up and coming Macro Mecca. Aiyanar has every tool to make Diver's and Specially Under Water Photographer's stay a pleasant and highly efficient experience. The Dive Center well stocked with gear and tools to suit all needs, sits on more than 120sqm of well designed space that assists in the efficient flow of Divers departing and arriving at the resort during peak operations. To augment all these, there is the camera room with space for 18 Photographers actively working on their cameras; and provisions for double that number if needed, it is hands down one of the best equipped Camera Rooms in Anilao. Details such as air hoses are in place, ready for blasting and drying wet cameras. Camera Tables are covered in a non-slip rubber material helps keep all your parts and what nots in place while you prepare for the days diving. The Aiyanar Camera Room is truly a space designed by Underwater Photographers to service Photographers. Enduro 27 foot dive boat : 8 divers plus 2 guides can access Verde Island in 35 minutes. A 70 foot banca is also available for larger group dives – with a barbecue on board for day trips.
Softening all this functionality and efficiency is a living area chic and modern, with an open air dining room that over looks the whole property and the sea. The dining room is highlighted by Aiyanar's open kitchen where all the sumptuous buffet meals are prepared and guests are free to watch the magic happen. The rooms which are well equipped with all the amenities you would expect from a modern hotel are lighted perfectly for any mood you may want. Each room is also adorned with its own balcony area offering sea views over the sprawling well manicured lawn below. The Infinity Pool at the end of the lawn is the best place to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Whether it be to catch some sun or just to wind down after an activity filled day. Enjoying a fruit smoothie or even an ice cold cocktail; while watching the sun setting on the Anilao coastline is the perfect way to end an Aiyanar day. As a whole Aiyanar, is a well planned out mix of everything Divers and their Families would want from a vacation resort; and as each day passes the management is constantly striving to think of ways to make it better.
Dive Centre storage and bathroom (below)
Diving Anilao for Underwater Photography http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/anilao-diving If you ever get to dive Anilao, you will find incredible diversity, rich reefs, a great variety of small fish, and unexpected critters & nudibranchs turning up around every corner. If you love underwater photography, or if you love marine life, Anilao is a dream spot.
Anilao diving - Macro and Nudibranch diving at its best Anilao is just a 2 – 21/2 hour drive south of Manila, Philippines - just past Batangas, and it has some of the best scuba diving for underwater photography in the world, particularly for photographing macro subjects, nudibranchs, rare underwater critters, and finding new species of fish. The reefs of anilao are extremely healthy, at shallow depths and at very deep depths. Reef fish are plentiful at every dive site, although larger fish and pelagics are not common. Anilao is an underwater photographer's paradise.
Anilao Marine Life Every reef and juvenile fish imaginable can be found in Anilao. Shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, small squid and cuttlefish, are all more plentiful than almost anywhere else I've dove. Frogfish, pipefish, seahorse are also fairly common at some sites. I've seen Rhinopias and Hairy Frogfish. Wonderpus, Mimic and Blue-ringed octopus can be seen. Most species on the muck and macro diving critter list can be found in Anilao. Anilao is also a great place to find Bobbit worms. Anilao has a large number of species of hard and soft corals, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world.
You can even see bigger stuff an Anilao, like large schools of Jacks and giant seahorses. At Mainit point, which has strong currents I've seen 3-4 great barracuda hunting, and blue trevally. Reef sharks are seen down deep at dive sites with stronger currents. On rare occasions people have seen small whale sharks.
Juvenile comet fish, Ligpo, Anilao
Best dive sites in Anilao Twin Rocks, Basura, Mainit Muck (Secret Bay), Kirby's, and Bethlehem are consistently target rich environments for underwater photographers. Beatrice has some great wide-angle opportunities of schooling anthias. For very advanced divers wanting a dive with strong currents, healthy current and pelagics, try Mainit point early in the morning. I saw trevally's there, a shark and several great barracuda hunting. Devil's point is well known for prolific soft coral.
Secret Bay, Anilao - aka Mainit Muck "Secret Bay", also known as "Mainit Muck" -is one of the most famous, yet "secretive" muck-diving dive sites in Anilao. This dive site is one of the most productive dive sites I've ever been to for muck diving. Secret Bay (Mainit Muck) is excellent at any time of the day, but especially at night. the best diving is between 10ft and 70ft deep (3-21 meters).
Marine life at Secret Bay, Mainit Muck Mantis shrimp, gobies, wonderpus octopus and nudibranchs are prolific during the day. Squid and cuttlefish are easily found at night. Seahorses, ghost pipefish, ambon scorpionfish, tiny frogfish, colemani shrimp, and bobbit worms are all readily found.
Colemani shrimp at Mainet muck
Underwater Photos from Anilao
schooling jacks at Twin Rocks
More schooling jacks
Rhinopia eschmeyeri
This article from Sport Diver UK‌July 2012 compares Puerto Galera; Dumaguete and Anilao. It assesses Verde Island (35 minutes from Aiyanar Resort as
Phyllodesmium rudmani, Xenia mimic nudibranch. Mimics Xenia coral, almost to perfection. Photo from Sombrero
Rhinopia frondosa
Tiny juvenile frogfish, Mainet muck
Dueling gobies on wire coral, Ligpo
Hairy squat lobster, Bethlehem. 60mm lens + 1.4x tele
Giant seahorse, underwater in Anilao, philippines, taken with tokina 10-17mm fisheye
Healthy underwater reef in anilao, philippin es. backside of Sombrero island
Verde Island (from http://blueribbondivers.com/verde-island/) Verde Island is a one hour boat trip away from Puerto Galera (or 35 minutes from Aiyanar Resort). There are a few dive sites around the Island, all offering amazing visibility (normally 30m+), and an abundance of marine life. Verde Island is not for the beginner. Strong up and down currents are common, so Verde is usually visited when the currents are small. The Sites Verde Island Drop Off The only sign that there is a world class dive site just meters below, are two pinnacles piercing the surface of the water. These pinnacles drop down deep, offering an amazing wall dive that can be dived again and again, without the fear of getting bored. You drop in at the top of the pinnacles, at around 5m. Negative entry might be a requirement if the currents are playing up, as the wall protects you from the current. Here is when you will gasp at the crystal clear waters and the abundance of fish. As you follow the wall down, you will see thousands of Red Tooth Triggerfish, Anthias and Butterfly Fish. Whip corals and Gorgonian fans scatter the wall, with there macro inhabitants, Whip Coral Shrimp and Pigmy Seahorse, thinking they can hide from our guides. Verde Island is often referred to as „Fish Soupâ€&#x; due to the huge numbers of fish that swim in its waters. Verde Island also holds a huge amount of Nudibranch that rivals Anilao. Thousands of species can be found everywhere here, including the Spanish Dancer. Also beware of touching the reef, as there are some of the
largest Scorpionfish you can find, lying, waiting for an unaware fish to swim into its sights. As you reach the edge of the pinnacle, there is a ledge at 18m. Here is where you will find the larger inhabitants of Verde Island. Here the wall ends, so the current soars. Not to worry, as you can just hold on to the ledge and look above you at the schools of Barracuda, Giant Trevally and Tuna play in the current. Here you can also find mating Jacks, pairing up and swimming in unison together in the current at certain times of the year. Often we do two dives on the Drop Off. One dive on the wall side, and the other on the other side. Here is a sloping reef, rich in volcanic activity, with volcanic bubbles, streaming from the sea floor. This side of the Drop Off is where the larger fish are, where you will find sweetlips, Bannerfish and Sargent Majors swimming in the currents above. Make sure you stay behind and pay close attention to your guide, as the current picks up on this dive. You start a slow drift, normally at a giant Gorgonian Fan located at 27m, and slowly go with the current. As you get closer to the end of the wall, the current starts racing, and you have to make sure that at the right time you nip back behind the Wall. Otherwise you are in the blue, and its time for your accent. The Washing Machine Not for the feint hearted, the Washing Machine is a high octane adrenaline dive. On slack tide it is a very beautiful series of canyons at 15m. Yet, when the current is running, the current shoots over the canyons causing a „washing machine‟ effect. You‟ll get thrown up, down, left and right. Gloves are very useful on this dive as you can use them to hold onto some dead coral or a rock if needed. Reef Hooks can be used also, but make sure you don‟t attach them to any live coral.
Accommodation type
Non diver
Deluxe Twin share (2 to a room) 2729 Deluxe Triple share (3 to a room) 2661 Child 2-11 sharing with parents 1707 Suite Twin share 3074 Suite Triple share 2844 Suite Quad share 2779 *N.B. Departure Tax of PHP550 (about $15 AUD) payable at Manilla airport.
Diver (12 dive package) 3095 3029 n/a 3440 3210 3145
Free travel insurance to Peninsula School staff and students Dive package includes 12 boat dives with tank; air fill; weight belt; dive guide services Free use of Peninsula School SCUBA equipment (BCD and Regulator - subject to availability – with students being priority.) N.B. To book onto this trip you must complete the correct booking form overleaf (one is provided for each trip) and return to me, Alan Wiggs, (awiggs@tps.vic.edu.au) at The Peninsula School. Deposits ($440 per person) for the July trip should be in no later than December 17 2013. Please direct any inquiries to Mr. A. Wiggs at school 9788-7777 (or A.H. on 9787-1613) or e-mail me at awiggs@tps.vic.edu.au . The resort only holds around 40 guests maximum, so make sure you don’t miss out and deposit early. You can either mail your deposit to me at – Alan Wiggs Peninsula School Private Bag 3 Mt. Eliza 3930. Or pay via direct debit as below; or call Ian Lockwood at Allways Dive Expeditions to pay by Credit Card (9885-8863)