Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
Home · Contact Me · Sydney Reef Dive Sites · Sydney Shipwrecks · NSW Dive Sites · Australian Dive Sites · Overseas Dive Sites · Dive Accidents and Incidents · My Yachting Adventures · 4WD Trips · Weather · Search 08 November 2024 02:37
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Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
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    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "Pygmy pipehorses can be seen at Bare Island at various places"
    Twin Rocks
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Twin Rocks, Philippines

    In August 2023 I did a three week long dive trip to the Philippines with my friend John. We spent the first week at Anilao staying at Buceo Anilao Dive Resort.

    There are dozens of dive sites located within 20 minutes run from the resort.

    Unfortunately we had a Super Typhoon hit the northern Philippines when we were there, so the Coast Guard banned all boats and diving later in the week. This dive site was one we visited on the second day.

    Twin Rocks is located only 500 metres from the resort. A GPS mark for the dive spot is 13° 41' 24.950" N 120° 53' 22.146" E (using WGS84 as the datum).

    Satellite Photo
    A satellite photo from Google Earth that shows the location of the dive site at top and Buceo Anilao Resort at bottom

    The dive boat anchors a short distance off the beach to the south-east of the actual site. The site consists of two coral bommies that come up from 12 metres to near the surface. The bottom is many sand except for the bommies and some outcrops of coral. The bottom has sea whips, soft corals, and many featherstars and some sponges.

    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    A sea whip shrimpAnother sea whip shrimp

    We dropped to the bottom and went straight to 18 metres and then headed north-west towards the bommies. We went a bit deeper to 21 and then 23 metres. As we go along there are plenty of nudibranchs, seawhip gobies and shrimp, mantis shrimps, octopus and more.

    Further on there is a large light pink gorgonia. When we check it out, the guide finds a larger pygmy sea horse and I then find another one. Luckily I get good photos of these ones! There are also saw some acoel flatworms on a blue sea star. I had never seen them before.

    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    One of the pygmy sea horsesThe other pygmy sea horses

    From the gorgonia we gradually ascend to 15 metres and then eventually to 5 meters. We go past the bommies. before returning back towards the boat. There is a juvenile ribbon eel near the boat. A really nice dive. Water temperature was 30C in August and the visibility about 15 metres.

    MORE PHOTOS

    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    A squat lobster on a sea whipA very colourful nudibranch
    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    A starfish with the acoel flatworm on itThe acoel flatworm
    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    A nudibranchAnother nudibranch
    Twin RocksTwin Rocks
    Some of the featherstarsA tiny goby that was very hard to photograph

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!