W

hen divers say they are going
to Dumaguette they are most
likely referring to a week or two of
diving in Dauin. Only 30-60
minutes from the Dumaguette
airport, this is the longtime macro
hotspot rivaling Anilao for the odd,
rare and wonderful. While still
retaining it’s beachy charm, this
area is
becoming a
rather trendy
place with a
mixture of laid-
back hotels and
now more
upscale dive
boutique hotels,
condos and
residences.
Some people

buy beautiful penthouses and use

them for their personal getaways

while others buy to rent to visitors,

using their income properties as

their accommodation when diving

in Dauin.

No matter what way a diver

chooses to go, the dive experience

here is bound to be pleasant. Most

of the dives here are sandy or rocky

bottoms sloping into the deep. Most

sites are considered marine

preserves and a fee is charged per

day for use. This money is supposed

to go to the patrolling and care of

the preserve.

As a result, one doesn’t see the

big bamboo fish traps across the sea

floor that are retrieved using large

belts of rubber that drag across the

corals. Fish life is plentiful. It seems

fish, turtles and inverts somehow

know they are safe in the confines

of these various coastal MPAs and

can been seen contentedly living

Dauin/Dumaguette

Dauin coast

74

76

71

70

72

73

78

69

75

68

77

Dumaguette

Dauin