there’s a crack
full of sea life
and more of the
colorful anthias.
Look also for a
good selection
of nudibranchs,
juvenile batfish
and lots of
silvery baitfish
near the surface.
They are good
entertainment
and well-lit as
photo subjects
as divers explore
and decompress
from this dive.
- Sombrero Island
Icons:
Location: North of Maricaban
Depth: 20-90 ft. (6-27m)
Sombrero looks exactly like its
namesake. A sombrero is Tagalog
for a high-crowned hat with a wide
brim. Bancas like to pull up to the
white sand beach where divers,
snorkelers and beachgoers can get
off, eat lunch and have a surface
interval. Explore the beach and
snorkel the shallows and the rocks
here to see some nice table corals
and an occasional sea turtle.
The island has some impressive
drop-offs falling away from its edge
that further enhance the illusion. It’s
home to some great diving as well,
notably at adjacent Beatrice Rock.
Crevices, tunnels and piles of
large boulders are scattered off
Sombrero Island’s northern cliffs,
and the dropoff delves to 90ft.
(27m) on the island’s western side.
One should follow the guide as
currents are usually strong here and
a good guide can keep a diver out
of trouble and still allow for
viewing of pelagic action. Rainbow
runners and yellowtail fusiliers and
lots of anthias play in the currents
and blue water column. There are
some beautiful staghorn coral
gardens and lots of bright yellow
crinoids at shallower depths.Large claw lobster