Dumaguete
Philippines · Visayas
Dumaguete, on the south coast of Negros Oriental, is one of the Philippines' premier muck diving destinations, with the volcanic black-sand slopes of Dauin Marine Sanctuary sheltering an astounding density of macro critters. The surrounding waters also hold dramatic reef walls and schooling pelagics at nearby Sumilon Island, making this an outstanding multi-style dive region.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live coral covers 27% of this reef.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · MERMAID and the survey teams · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 4 survey years from 2017 to 2024, live coral cover here has fallen from 39% to 27%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 39% |
| 2021 | 34% |
| 2023 | 23% |
| 2024 | 27% |
What you will see
35 species across the dive sites here
Mimic Octopus
Seen 29 days ago
at Poblacion Muck
Least concern
Dusky Nembrotha
Seen 1 month ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Sumilon Island
Least concern
Robust Ghost Pipefish
Seen 1 month ago
at Masaplod Norte
Least concern
Anna'S Chromodoris
Seen 1 month ago
at Masaplod Norte
Tomato Clownfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Masaplod Norte
Least concern
Flamboyant Cuttlefish
Seen 2 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Blacksaddle Toby
Seen 2 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Least concern
Ornate Ghostpipefish
Seen 2 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Least concern
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Seen 2 months ago
at Masaplod Norte
Least concern
Banded Coral Shrimp
Seen 3 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Miller'S Nembrotha
Seen 3 months ago
at Basak Muck
Dwarf Lionfish
Seen 3 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Shortfin Lionfish
Seen 3 months ago
at Basak Muck
Least concern
Tiger Mantis Shrimp
Seen 3 months ago
at Poblacion Muck
Ambon Scorpionfish
Seen 3 months ago
at Bonnet Reef
Least concern
Hairy Frogfish
Seen 4 months ago
at Masaplod Norte
Least concern
Mandarinfish
Seen 4 months ago
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Least concern
Coconut Octopus
Seen 6 months ago
at San Miguel Slope
Least concern
Blue Ribbon Eel
Seen 6 months ago
at Basak Muck
Least concern
Wonderpus Octopus
Seen 6 months ago
at Mainit Muck
Least concern
Thresher Shark
Seen 9 months ago
at Sumilon Island
Endangered
Pegasus Seamoth
Seen 10 months ago
at Basak Muck
Least concern
Rainbow Runner
Seen Jul 2025
at San Miguel Slope
Least concern
Anthias
Seen year round
at Bonnet Reef
Bargibant's Pygmy Seahorse
Seen year round
at Mainit Muck
Least concern
Cone Snail
Seen year round
at Poblacion Muck
Fusilier
Seen year round
at Bonnet Reef
Longnose Hawkfish
Seen year round
at San Miguel Slope
Least concern
Parrotfish
Seen year round
at Poblacion Muck
Pygmy Seahorse
Seen year round
at Dauin Marine Sanctuary
Least concern
Sardine
Seen year round
at Sumilon Island
Near threatened
Sargassum Ghost Pipefish
Seen year round
at Mainit Muck
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Sumilon Island
Vulnerable
Spanish Dancer Nudibranch
Seasonal visitor
at Poblacion Muck
Dive sites
Dauin Marine Sanctuary
pygmy seahorse · flamboyant cuttlefish · mandarinfish · ornate ghostpipefish
Masaplod Norte
hairy frogfish · ornate ghost pipefish · robust ghost pipefish · blacksaddle toby
Sumilon Island
sardine · thresher shark · bumphead parrotfish · ornate ghostpipefish
Basak Muck
blue ribbon eel · pegasus seamoth · shortfin lionfish · ornate ghostpipefish
Poblacion Muck
mimic octopus · ornate ghost pipefish · robust ghost pipefish · tiger mantis shrimp
Bonnet Reef
hairy frogfish · ambon scorpionfish · ornate ghost pipefish · bumphead parrotfish