Wildlife· Busuanga· Philippines
Dugong Watching (Calamian Group)
12° 14.4′ N · 119° 57.0′ E · approximate
One of the last places in the Philippines to meet a wild dugong: about 30 animals graze the seagrass beds along Busuanga's north coast and around Calauit, including a famously tolerant scarred bull called Aban.
Practical
Coordinate approx: a point in the water between Calauit and Dimakya marking the general north-coast feeding area named by sources; the exact grounds are not published. Dugong Dive Center runs a full-day 'Dugong Watching' trip to several feeding grounds plus two turtle islands, reporting an 80%+ sighting rate; animals surface every 4 to 5 minutes, are watched from the boat first and then approached snorkelling (Tagbanwa spotters guide). Rappler (2018): keep at least 5 m away; about 30 dugongs in the area. Dugongs are critically endangered in the Philippines and protected by law (Wikipedia): no touching, no chasing, slow down in seagrass areas, keep props off the beds. Calauit's seagrass beds are feeding grounds for dugongs and turtles (Wikipedia, Busuanga).
Best for
A rare, regulated wildlife encounter
Nearby
- Calauit Cut Anchorage4.2 NM away
- Calauit Safari Park4.5 NM away
- Babac Island Anchorage (Gutob Bay)6 NM away
- Salvacion Anchorage (Gutob Bay)6.4 NM away
- Salvacion Public Market and Stores (Busuanga Poblacion)6.5 NM away
- Tarahomonan Festival (Salvacion, Busuanga)6.5 NM away
- Dimakya Island Marine Sanctuary8.1 NM away
- Discovery Coron (formerly Club Paradise), Dimakya Island8.1 NM away