Masaplod Norte
Dumaguete · Philippines
Masaplod Norte is a celebrated muck site just south of Dauin where the black volcanic sand gives way to a more complex rubble and coral garden habitat that concentrates an extraordinary variety of rare macro critters within a relatively small area. Hairy frogfish in impossible colour variants — canary yellow, fire-engine red, chocolate brown — crouch beside garden eels swaying in the mild current, while ornate ghost pipefish and robust ghost pipefish drift side by side in the same hydroids. The gentle slope from 5 to 18 metres makes it equally rewarding for beginner and advanced macro hunters.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
6 to 15 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Blacksaddle Toby
Last confirmed May 4, 2026 · 121 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Dusky Nembrotha
Last confirmed Jun 27, 2026 · 64 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Banded Coral Shrimp
Last confirmed Apr 27, 2026 · 63 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Tomato Clownfish
Last confirmed Jun 1, 2026 · 44 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Anna'S Chromodoris
Last confirmed Jun 12, 2026 · 50 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Last confirmed May 4, 2026 · 76 records
Very likely
Most dives
Robust Ghost Pipefish
Last confirmed Jun 21, 2026 · 18 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Hairy Frogfish
Last confirmed Mar 27, 2026 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear