Anchorage· Tablas· Philippines

Looc Bay Anchorage (Tablas)

12° 14.4′ N · 122° 0.4′ E

The only good natural harbour on Tablas: a large bay on the south-west coast enclosing Looc town, its fishing fleet and a celebrated community marine sanctuary.

Practical

Position: Arnak (2012), 12°14.363'N 122°00.434'E in 15 m mud - their typhoon anchorage while sheltering from a tropical storm; excellent holding and shelter in NE. Small ships and ferries anchor at the south end of the large bay, which has good all-round protection; you can also anchor directly off the town (gradually shoaling) or in the NW corner off a small resort (watch for reefs). PGYC lists Looc Bay (entrance near 12°14.50'N 121°58'E) as a typhoon shelter. A ferry wreck lies on the reef on the northern side of the entrance, and the large reef in mid-bay is the marine park - buy a ticket at the end of the long town jetty to dive it, and do not anchor on it. Town has a good market but no real supermarket; motorbike hire about 400 PHP/day (2012, verify locally). Earlier notes: Wikipedia (from the old sailing directions) says there is no good natural harbour on Tablas except Looc Bay, and that sheltered anchorage may be found on either side of the island according to season. The bay opens west to the Tablas Strait, so it is best in the amihan (NE) and more exposed to the habagat (SW/W). Hazard: a lighthouse marks the Looc reef in the bay (OSM 'Looc Reef Lighthouse', 12.2456, 121.9819) and the 48 ha sanctuary lies in the middle of the bay: stay out of it. Depths not published in our sources; sound in. Ashore in Looc: port, Petron station (12.2585, 121.9952), bakeries, Don Modesto Formilleza Sr. Hospital, municipal hall.

Best for

Amihan shelter on the Tablas Strait side

Season

Best Nov–Apr (amihan)

Nearby