Spending a week scuba diving with Bongo Bongo Divers in Dauin was an absolute dream for macro and muck diving lovers. Known as one of the premier critter-diving destinations in the Philippines, Dauin completely lived up to the hype as we packed in 18 dives over the week – 15 incredible muck dives along the volcanic black sand slopes and 3 beautiful dives at nearby Apo Island. Every single dive felt like an underwater treasure hunt, with an astonishing variety of marine life hiding in plain sight: mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, bobtail squid, mantis shrimp, Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs, snake eels, seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp, squat lobsters, spiny tiger shrimp, pufferfish, and more nudibranch species than we could possibly keep track of. Our dive masters, Tito and Jong, were phenomenal, somehow spotting the tiniest and most camouflaged critters with what seemed like superhuman eyesight. One of the biggest highlights was getting to reconnect underwater with our friends Jody and Mike, owners of nearby Salaya Beach Houses Resort – and after seeing their beautiful property and hospitality firsthand, we already know where we’ll be staying the next time we return to Dauin!
Flying into Dumaguete, the gateway to Dauin (considered a premier destination for muck diving and macro)
A pair of flamboyant cuttlefish
Coconut octopus (known for using discarded items for shelter)
Outdoor restroom at Bongo Bongo Divers
Dive master Tito unloading supplies
View of Mount Talinis (also known as the "Horns of Negros")
Orange-edged sapsucking slug
Green sea turtle at Apo Island
Tropical coastline of Apo Island
Volcanic Apo Island is famous for its protected marine sanctuary, offering some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the Philippines
Cruising back to Dauin from Apo Island
Taking a break from Filipino food with creamy chicken steak
Bungalow at Bongo Bongo Divers
Juvenile starry pufferfish
Mantis shrimp hiding in a glass bottle
Mount Talinis is a dormant volcano looming in the background of the coastal town of Dauin
A boy using a fridge door as an improvised float
Robby taking our dirty laundry to a local laundromat
San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church is a historic stone church in Dauin
2 story bungalow at Salaya Beach Houses Resort in Dauin
A vibrant cluster of orchids at Salaya Beach Houses
Becky sitting in a heart shaped chair at Salaya Beach Houses Resort
Swimming pool at Salaya Beach Houses
Giant Frogfish (also known as Commerson's frogfish). It is a master of camouflage, capable of changing its color and texture over several weeks to perfectly mimic surrounding sponges, coral or rocks
Nembrotha kubaryana nudibranch (also known as a variable neon slug)
A golden trevally pilotfish on a white-spotted puffer resting on the sea floor
Narrow-lined pufferfish and butterflyfish
Nembrotha chamberlaini nudibranch
Actinodendron alcyonoideum (Globular hell's fire anemone). It is a highly venomous sea anemone
Juvenile painted frogfish
Salaya Beach Houses' customized bamboo tumbler with laser engraved marine life illustrations
Turon is a popular Filipino dessert - sliced bananas and jackfruit wrapped in a spring roll wrapper and deep fried until crispy
Such a great reunion with our friends Jody and Mike - owners of the stunning Salaya Beach Houses Resort
View from a bungalow at the Salaya Beach Houses Resort
Artwork on display at Salaya Beach Houses Resort
Restaurant decor at Salaya Beach Houses Resort
Becky happy that we have clean clothes again!
Swimming pool at Bongo Bongo Divers
Warty frogfish (also called clown frogfish)
Shaun the Sheep nudibranch
Swedish Shaun the Sheep nudibranch
Painted frogfish hoping to get a tasty meal
Phyllodesmium briareum (also known as the yellow tipped nudibranch)
Butterfly cyerce nudibranch
Takeout container of lechon kawali, a Filipino dish featuring crispy deep fried pork belly
Trapania miltabrancha nudibranch
German shepherd at Bongo Bongo Divers
Juvenile starry pufferfish
The "Leaf Sheep" (Costasiella kuroshimae) is a tiny, solar powered sea slug
Caloria indica nudibranch
We loved diving with Teresa and Jane this past week at Bongo Bongo Divers
A small, family owned convenience store commonly found in the Philippines
Getting ready to fly from Dumaguete to Manila on Cebu Pacific
