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 14 October 2024 02:53
Navigation
Home

General
About Me
My Diving
FAQ
Downloads
Web Links - Dive Clubs
St George Scuba Club
Some of my Best Photos
Contact Me

Dive Sites
Sydney Reef Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwrecks
Sydney Dive Visibility, Swell and Temps
Kelly Talking on ABC Sydney about Shipwrecks
NSW Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwreck Summary
NSW Shipwreck GPS/Marks
Australian Dive Sites
Overseas Dive Sites
Aircraft I have Dived
Old Bottles
Free Shipwreck Books

Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
DIY Oxygen Stick - Nitrox
GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
GPS and Diving
Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
Dive Book Reviews
Site Map
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.
  • Login
    Username

    Password



    Forgotten your password?
    Request a new one here.
    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
    "Grey nurse sharks can be seen at Magic Point"
    Udoc Island East (Faltaban Island)
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Udoc Island East

    The prime diving sites in the Ticao Island/Donsol area are around the San Miguel Island and the other islands near it. This island was called Udoc by the dive operation I used but on the charts it is called Faltaban Island. I have no idea why they call it by a different name. This dive site is, obviously, on the eastern side of the island but was really right on the north-eastern corner. It is a site that can be done when the currents on the eastern side of San Miguel Island are too strong.

    San Miguel IslandSan Miguel Island
    San Miguel Island is located at the top left of chart. Ticao Island Resort is near bottom right of island. An enlarged section of the chart at left. Udoc Island is called Faltaban Island on this chart. Dive site is to the right of the northern end.

    It is about 45 to 50 minutes run from Ticao Island Resort and probably an hour or so from Donsol in a large banca. To get here you pass between Marco Pass which is between Ticao Island and Bagababoy Island. There are some villages here, note the elementary school on Bagababoy Island. Looks like the kids come there from Ticao Island too.

    The reef here starts shallow next to the island and then drops away quite quickly at about 45 degrees. The bancas anchor in the shallows in about five metres. You head east and drop over the wall and head down to the depth you want to achieve. It does not seem to be not as deep here as on the other side of the island. We headed south.

    Udoc IslandUdoc Island
    A small gorgoniaTwo smaller firefish in a barrel sponge

    We gradually drop to about 22 metres. We see a largish moray eel, then two smallish firefish in a sort of barrel sponge. A bit further on we see some banded pipefish. There is one by itself and then two together. One of these latter two, the male, has eggs along its stomach.

    Udoc IslandUdoc Island
    An anglerfish in green hard coralBanded pipefish
    Udoc IslandUdoc Island
    A clownfish in an anemoneAn interesting worm

    As we go we see lots of different species of nudibranch. One of these is a species I have never seen before (see photo below). I think that it is called Ardeadoris angustolutea. I find a starfish shrimp under a big fat starfish. They are so small and move very quickly, but I get some photographs. Ron also finds a shrimp in a feathersat, but it is almost impossible to get photos and none of mine end up any good at all.

    San Miguel IslandSan Miguel Island
    A starfish shrimpArdeadoris angustolutea
    San Miguel IslandSan Miguel Island
    Phyllidia ocellataChromodoris willani

    After a few minutes we gradually ascend to about 17 minutes and stay roughly at that level for the next 15 minutes. In this area we see a very large black anglerfish which is almost invisible in a large green coral tree. It is difficult to take a photograph of it due to the colour.

    After 45 minutes we ascend to the top of the reef at seven metres and stay at this level or shallower till the end of the dive at just over an hour. The boat comes and collects us (the divemaster put up an SMB).

    Visibility on this dive was about 15 metres and water temperature 26.1⁰C. A really nice dive site.

    Click here to return to the Ticao Island dive list.

    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!