Plunge into the depths of several favorite dive spots and discover the mystique of our rich undersea world.For scuba diving buffs, Talikud and Liguid Islands are excellent dive spots with dazzling coral gardens. A dive into the depths will reveal colorful underwater vistas with jaw-dropping tropical marine life. Unique to the diving sites are beckoning coral reefs considered as one of the best in the world. A "must-see" for divers is the 150-hectare Coral Garden and Marine Reservation Park at Talikud Island.
The Ligid Caves: This site is located in the northeast tip of Samal Island lies Big Ligid Island. The caves reveals the marvelous underwater marine life. Fine golden sea cucumbers are densely littering the reef amid a rainbow of soft corals, hydroids and basket stars. The slender reef top, covered with leather corals, drops sharply at about 15m. In the caves, divers will see small tropical small reefs black corals, soft corals and sponge crabs. Outside the caves, you will encounter several marine life such as crabs, tunicates, scorpion and lionfishes, sleeping parrot and rabbit fishes, morays and razorfishes hovering vertically in a harp gorgonian.
Pinnancle Point: This site is located in the southeastern tip of Big Ligid. The wall has a marvelous outcropping of gorgonians, many with crinoids clinging to them, we encountered morays and an octopus hiding in a few of the many small holes, and many big eyes and cardinalfishes in the larger ones. Divers will also encounter Schools of pennant butterflyfishes and schools of unicorn surgeonfishes, emperorfishes and jacks. Vaiety of corals with different colors can be found here such as pink soft corals. In the protected areas of this site, large gorgonians, black corals, lots of anthias and tubastrea, angelfishes, scorpionfishes, lionfishes and many invertebrates can be found.
The Ligid Caves and Pinnancle Point are located in the northeast of the island. The caves have beautiful and marvelous coral gardens and gorgonians. Exotic tropical fishes can be found here with the occasional sighting of sharks. Currents in this dive site can be fierce but the pinnacle offers some exciting diving. Divers will also encounter octopus, morays, travally, surgeonfish and jacks.
Pindawon Wall: This is the most beautiful and spectacular site in Samal Island. This dive site is located off the east coast of the island. Wide variety of tropical marine can be found in this site. Gorgonians and black corals with fish life including snapper, grouper and sea snakes can be found in the overhangs. Pindawon Wall is a marine sanctuary.
Aundanao: is a marine sanctuary where you can sometimes she turtles. This dive site is located slightly to the north. Beautiful variety of underwater life can be seen in here.
Mushroom Rock: This is the name of the dive site because of the shape of the underwater rock formations. This dive site is found in the south-eastern tip of the island. Divers can see large pelagics here, together with the occasional dolphin.
Marissa 1,2 and 3: These dive sites are shallow reefs that descend to 30m and offer good coral formations. This sites are located in the west coasts. Snorkeling is best in these sites. Variety of marine life can be found in here such as Hawksbill turtles are regular visitors, together with pelagics and lobsters.