Donsol
Philippines · Southeast Asia
Donsol in Sorsogon province hosts the largest known aggregation of whale sharks on earth, drawing hundreds of the gentle giants from November through June. Beyond whale shark encounters, the surrounding waters of Ticao Island and Bulan offer manta rays, thresher sharks, and vibrant reef ecosystems.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
29 species across the dive sites here
Chestnut Munia
Seen 28 days ago
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Least concern
Guaiabero
Seen 4 months ago
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Least concern
Black-Naped Oriole
Seen 7 months ago
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Least concern
Brown-Breasted Kingfisher
Seen 10 months ago
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Least concern
Willan'S Chromodoris
Seen May 2025
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Philippine Trogon
Seen Apr 2024
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Least concern
Scale-Feathered Malkoha
Seen Apr 2024
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Spotted Kingfisher
Seen Apr 2024
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Least concern
Luzon Boobook
Seen Jan 2024
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Least concern
Blacktip Reef Shark
Seen year round
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Vulnerable
Dogtooth Tuna
Seen year round
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Least concern
Green Sea Turtle
Seen year round
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Least concern
Manta Ray
Seen year round
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Vulnerable
Pelagic Thresher Shark
Seen year round
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Endangered
Reef Manta Ray
Seen year round
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Vulnerable
Spanish Dancer Nudibranch
Seen year round
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Whitetip Reef Shark
Seen year round
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Vulnerable
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Vulnerable
Butanding (Whale Shark)
Seasonal visitor
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Endangered
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Seasonal visitor
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Critically endangered
Whale Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
Endangered
Conus amplus
Rare sighting
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Luzon Bleeding-Heart
Rare sighting
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Near threatened
Luzon Hornbill
Rare sighting
at San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
Least concern
Sharpnose Sandperch
Rare sighting
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Least concern
Slender Roboastra
Rare sighting
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Striped Eel Catfish
Rare sighting
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
Least concern
Tyrannodoris luteolineata
Rare sighting
at Ticao Island Manta Bowl
White-Breasted Woodswallow
Rare sighting
at Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
Dive sites
Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone
whale shark · manta ray · butanding (whale shark) · philippine trogon
Ticao Island Manta Bowl
reef manta ray · pelagic thresher shark · whitetip reef shark · willan's chromodoris
Bulan Reef Turtle Garden
green sea turtle · blacktip reef shark · bumphead parrotfish · striped eel catfish
San Miguel Bay Drop-Off
scalloped hammerhead shark · dogtooth tuna · spanish dancer nudibranch · luzon hornbill