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 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.

A small gorgonia	Two 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.

An anglerfish in green hard coral	Banded pipefish
A clownfish in an anemone	An 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.

A starfish shrimp	Ardeadoris angustolutea
Phyllidia ocellata	Chromodoris 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 26.1�C. A really nice dive site.

Click here to return to the Ticao Island dive list.