Dive· Dilumacad (Helicopter Island)· Philippines
Helicopter Island Coral Gardens (Dilumacad)
11° 11.7′ N · 119° 20.3′ E · approximate
The shallow coral gardens and seagrass around Dilumacad - the easy counterpart to the tunnel on the north side - known as a turtle hangout and the only place in Bacuit Bay with all seven anemonefish species.
Practical
Approx: plotted off the south end of Dilumacad by the OpenStreetMap 'Helicopter Island' point (node 5944124319, 11.1963, 119.3385); the gardens wrap the island. Depth 5-20 m, occasional current, suitable for beginners, students and experienced divers; part of the Open Water course is taught here (Palawan Divers); about 15-30 minutes by boat. Submariner describes gentle slopes with sandy patches between bommies - good for macro (frogfish, nudibranchs). Hawksbill and green turtles, long-nose pipefish, blue-spotted stingrays, cuttlefish, ribbon eels, schooling yellowtail barracuda; eagle rays possible. For the advanced tunnel on the north side see 'Dilumacad Tunnel Dive Site (Helicopter Island)'. The north side gets swell in strong north winds.
Best for
Turtles and anemonefish for all levels
Season
Best Nov-May
Nearby
- Helicopter Island Moorings & Anchorage (Dilumacad)0.2 NM away
- Helicopter Island Beach (Dilumacad)0.3 NM away
- Dilumacad Tunnel Dive Site (Helicopter Island)0.5 NM away
- Cadlao Lagoon1.1 NM away
- Cadlao Lagoon Moorings1.1 NM away
- Pasandigan Cove Anchorage (Cadlao)1.3 NM away
- Nat-Nat Dive Site (Cadlao)1.5 NM away
- Cadlao West Anchorage (Balinaod Bay)1.8 NM away