Anilao, Philippines, 15-23 February 2026

Another GREAT week of diving... but just as importantly, spending time with the Friends there that have also become a 'second home' for me.   

A 2 hr flight to Manila, and a very efficient GRAB experience at the airport, impressive.  They are set up at most of the exits, and I didn't have to do anything except follow the signs and get in my Grab.    Dropped me off at PITX bus station, which is a massive 'mall' with bays for the cheap buses.   I got a Senior Discount and my 2hour, very comfortable A/C ride, cost me 195php = $3.    As opposed to a private driver which costs 5,000php = $86 !   The bus stops at Batangas Grand Terminal, where I would get a Jeepney (truck w/bench seats in back--packed in like sardines), for a 1+++hr trip to Mabini, where I would transfer to a tricycle to ASDC, another ++30min.  Instead Gina picked me up at Batangas Terminal,  for a 1+hr rush-hour stop and go traffic, (2 lane road through small towns).  She is so good to me !   

Only one VERY unfortunate event on the flight .. I left my little cloth, faded and worn American Airlines bag, (loaf of bread size, from 1990s, Upjohn travel days) that I've traveled with literally EVERYWHERE.    It contained my 'soft warm blanket' (I am always cold), pair of socks (my feet get cold too), my sarong scarf, and a nice recycleable cloth bag, (that I picked up somewhere that comes in handy).   I STILL am DEVASTATED !    I picked up my checked bag, in the Manila Terminal, I realized it was gone, and I immediately went to the Cebu Pacific AirLines 'luggage' department.   The plane had not left, and after some descriptions, they came back, certainly with my little bag, but instead with lots of things people left, (ipad, etc.) .. but NO little tattered bag :(  Someone STOLE it  :(    I have to go back through there again when I leave and will check again.   I'm still trying to figure out how to get another blanket before I fly 4 hrs to Indonesia which will likely be a cold flight !    I know, I know, it wasn't my phone/passport.   But Poor Me, I handle set backs pretty well, but this one .... not so much... it was a part of me!

 

At ASDC, Gina, Oliver, and Shala, have been running the place since I started going there in 2019.   They are very accommodating.   They are a bit away from the 'town', and would be really inconvenient to try to go somewhere for food. So they provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner: lots of food, and great soups, which are waiting for us when we return....perfect after being in the water diving.   It seems the water there is always colder than most places ... 76F.    Everyone is ready to end the dive after 50+min.  Then you  sit on the boat to 'off the nitrogen' in your body, +-1hr, hopefully in the sun and no wind.   Then back in the cold water again for another 50+min.    Then back in the boat for the 30min ride home.  Yes, cold!  You probably wonder why, since I am the first to be cold.   ... It's worth it for the relaxation and peace under the water seeing all the critters.    So, HOT soup is always on the menu.   I recognized the pumpkin and corn soups, but the rest are mysterious, but very good.

The Critter Highlights:   The first dive site, I'd been to before.  Lots of broken dead corals cover the sea floor .. (why don't I think to take a photo of these things?)    For whatever reason, the Critters LOVE to live among that 'ugly' mess.    Oliver and Gina are also Master Spotters of the very tiny.   I realize the problem ... not only are they the size of a grain of rice, but no wider than a piece of thread !  Always amazing!

 

 

My favorite are any brightly colored critters, this Favorinus tsuruganus qualifies.   It is also well documented that this particular Nudi eats other Nudis and their eggs !

 

We saw a lot of these Diversidoris crocea on our dives, also called Saffron Noumea

 

 

A rare sea slug - Brown-Linied Noalda sp.  5mm, another new one for me.   So very tiny, but with such amazing details.  That is a 'stick' about the size of a BBQ skewer... smaller than a pencil !  Consider the size difference!

 

 

I've seen this one before, but always happy to see it again.  Reminds me of little bunny ears, Two-Band Goniobranchus verrieri

 

 

This is a Sea Star Shrimp ... because it lives on a Sea Star.  They do mimic their host, this one was obviously blue.   So they come in other colors as well.

  

 

 

You don't want to mess with ScorpionFish, they are usually very well camouflaged, but generally colorful and non-aggressive.

 

 

 

This is a Durban Dancing Shrimp, because they are always moving around quickly and usually in large groups, and usually way back in a crevice somewhere inaccessible.   They are fun to watch.   Love the green eye!

 

 

Another VERY tiny white Nudi, Trapania vitta ?  or yellow-Margin Goniodorid 

 

 

A boldly colored  Goniobranchus fidelis

 

 

 

Another point of reference, that is Gina's gloved finger next to this Nudi, I think is a Spotted Hypselodoris, but I am not sure, because so many of these look alike

 

 

 

The second day of diving, we went to a different site.   This one was all sandy bottom, with small blades of 'grass' and algae.   There were hundreds of these!   Even I could see them.  They have been identified as Benthoplana meteoris - Comb Jelly.   They were very gelatinous and strange.   I still don't know what end is the front.

About the size of your thumb nail ... very interesting !

 

 

 

There were a few Shaun the Sheep.   I was totally frustrated because I could not hold my body still to hold the camera still to get a better photo.  Oliver finally realized that we needed to tighten up my BCD, so I wasn't flopping around in it!    The dives after that were better, but something I need to keep in mind.

 

 

 

This is a Tenellia nakapila ... can you see it's little eye ?

 

 

 

These Armina occulta are very striking with the colors and stripes.

 

 

 

 

It's always fun to find these tiny Anemone Shrimps with the white eyes.   I've never seen one that was this brilliant blue/purple before.

 

 

This Sea Cucumber Swimming Crab lives on a Sea Cucumber, duh.    Again, I wish I would think to take a photo of the HUGE Sea Cucumber that it lives on.   It was gigantic, like 2' long and about 5" around.  They are pretty gross. If you have help, and look VERY closely, you will see the Swimming Crab, but they are tiny and blend in with the Sea Cucumber's skin.

 

 

Another example of how tiny these Favorinus mirabilis are.   They have such pretty little pink dots.

 

 

We saw these Lined Nembrotha's mating in Dauin.   But in this photo, it looks like there is a transparent 'shrimp' looking on.  Not sure if it is 'friend or foe'.  I need to send this into the 'experts' to find out what it is. 

 

 

What an AMAZING color for this Loch's Chromodoris lochi

 

 

There was as young guy diving with us that had really good eyes, although he was not familiar with this whole Muck Diving thing.   However, after a couple of days, I think we got him excited about it.   He saw this tiny 2" Octopus go in a hole and waited until I caught up with him and then we waited for it to come out again.   Very cute !    Until this year, I didn't realize there were so many small Octopus.

 

 

I was very excited in Siquijor to be able to take a photo of the Psychodelic BatWing, and had another chance here.   But this one was much smaller !!!!!!    He is on a small stick, BBQ size, smaller than a pencil !

 

 

My 'normal' is to do 2 dives a day for 2 days, then take a day off.    On my 'day' off, Gina and I went on a Night Dive.   We walked in the water right in front of the Dive Shop.   She was poking around in all the algae covered rocks, and I was trying to keep up.  I took a photo of this rather 'ordinary' Goniobranchus geometricus - Geometric Chromodoris

 

 

And also, always happy to see this Cadinella ornatissima

 

 

Then she got my attention to see this beautiful Starry Night Octopus.   It was about 30" and AMAZING.  It's been awhile since I've seen a 'large' octopus.   It was mesmerizing to watch it glide slowly over the rocks.   

 

And 'fan' itself out over the rocks, like an umbrella.  So Cool !   It wasn't in a hurry nor trying to get away, just moving fluidly.  Beautiful bright colors,... yes, like a Starry Night sky ...

 

I took a lot of videos, and Shala 'somehow' put it together, .... with music.   haha, I just had to contact her to find out how to put it on here  ... i'm hopeless !  

 

Lots of fun things on a Night Dive that you will not see during the day.    This is a very cool shrimp.    A Green Marble Shrimp, aka EyeSpot Shrimp (Saron neglectus)..... 1-2" long.     Another new one for me.

 

 

Another new one, Retitculated Chromodoris.  You will notice a  'blurring' on the top.  That is a shrimp or worm that got in front of the camera lens.

 

 

I really like this one, Goniobranchus kunei, about the size of a nickel.

 

 

This was interesting.   I think there are 2  Retitculated Chromodoris here.  I watched them for awhile, as they moved and morphed around each other.   Not sure what was going on ?

At the end of the Night Dive ... I, me, spotted a tiny Reef Squid, about 4" and so cute.  They are very wiggly and never stop moving.

 

I took a short video

 

 

 

 

When you are Night Diving, there are a lot of fish, worms, shrimp attracted to your flashlight.   They get really annoying, b/c they are EVERYWHERE.   You can turn your light off, and they move away ... but then it's pitch black and you can't see anything.  (I realized that Gina did that once during the dive, and it was DARK).   As we were getting out of the water, we were getting swarmed by thousands of somethings.   It was gross.

 

And the next day Oliver gave me this, and said this what was swarming you.... CREEPY !

 

 

Back to Day Dives ...  This is a cute little Favorinus tsuruganus - Egg Eater ....

 

And a brightly colored Aegires

 

There are so many Hypselodoris, and many of them look the same, but this one is a bit different, and I can't match it.

 

 

This is a Desirable Flabellina -- Coryphellina exoptata

 

 

 

I think this is a Favorinus miribillis ?   So very tiny !

 

 

Another very rare one, Noalda sp.    Again on a stick like a BBQ stick size !

 

 

And I still don't know what this one is ... but very very tiny.  I'm submitting it ... ANSWER is ...   It is a Pelagella longicornis !

 

 

 

And I got another shot at one of my favorites, the Elysia marginata

 

 

Orangutan Crabs are difficult to photograph, especially if they are moving, and this one was.   It finally settled down... upside down.   But I could switch the photo around :)

 

When I see the video, it confirms that they not only look like an orangutan, but they move like one too, ...as if this one was climbing from branch to branch

 

 

 

And that ends my visit at Anilao Scuba Dive Center, ASDC, with Gina, Oliver, and Shala. A HUGE thanks to all, and the rest of the Staff for everything !

 

Continue to follow me south to the island of Romblon and more adventures !

 

 

 

 

 

dp 

 

Dauin, Philippines - 4Feb-14Feb

Dauin is just south of Dumaguete, the big city on Negros Oriental.   It is just an easy 1hr Ferry ride from Siquijor.   

Aivy Maes, another second home for me.   I came here the first time in 2019, and this is where I became addicted to 'Muck Diving'.    From the very first dive, I screamed out of the water, 'YES, that was so cool' and I was hooked.   I have returned here every year since (except Covid, and happy to be welcomed by familiar faces that make me feel at home.  If I couldn't dive, I would be happy staying here.   It is very quiet and comfortable.  'My' bungalo does not have Air Conditioning, nor my own BathRoom.    Two of the things that never used to bother me, but now, are a necessity when booking.  However, I still LOVE this place.  The fan in my room works, and the Bathroom/Shower is big and clean.  It is a small place, so I've never had to wait in line.    Compare my room here,...enough room for a bed,  with my room in Siquijor, (last post).  I always put up my mosquito net here, there are mosquitos here at dusk, and I don't want them sleeping with me.   A HUGE difference, huh?

 

But I am right on the beach ... that counts for a lot !   My Bungalo is the one with the orange hammock.  The beach is out front.

 

 

 

First, I had to get something to eat, and I knew exactly where and what.    The Dive Cafe has been my regular place since I started.   I saw on FaceBook that they had moved and changed their name to D-Dive Restobar.   I was happy to see that they didn't move too far, thankfully!   My favorite item on their menu is the Spaghetti Bolognese.    So here I am.  This photo was posted on their web page on FaceBook !  I walked in, and they recognized me... amazing!   OMG, such a wonderful sauce, and so unexpected in the Philippines, (or anywhere I've traveled), ...made from scratch, there was even a Bay Leaf in it.

 

Also, good news, the Dive Light that Kevin ordered for me and had shipped here, had arrived!   Again, I charged it, .... held my breath, and ... it works !    It will be fun trying to figure out how to use it. 

I had been messaging Mark, my Dive Guide and Eyes from last year when I was at Siquijor.  He is now 'Free-lancing' in Dauin, and I wanted to dive with him again.  He has amazing eyes, like Rocky, and I knew that.  Unfortunately, a lot of other people now know that too, and he is in high demand.  Several months ago, he tried to get me on his schedule.   But, me, not wanting to plan, made no commitment.    But he made contact with them the day I arrived asking if he could Guide me.   They agreed!    So I messaged him and asked to set up a schedule.  HA, he is booked into JUNE !   No time for me, only the day I arrived.  WTF ?   A couple hours later he arrived, with his little son, and sister.  We had a nice visit, and he said he could do Night Dives with me any night while I'm here.   

 

 

I like Night Dives, they are exciting and you see things you won't see during the day.   But .... I don't like the fact that at 5pm, when I'm thinking about dinner and bed, I have to get dressed and get in the water.  After the dive, getting out, clothes and equipment rinsed, showered...and now it's 8pm.   But I really don't want to dive with anyone else, so, we planned a Night Dive the next evening.  He knows where the critters live, and sees the smallest things, like Rocky.   I really don't know how they do it, it is a talent that very few others have.   

I know I've shown a photo of Nemo and their eggs, and we saw another one on this dive.   

I took a photo of the eggs again.   Compared to the first photo, these eggs must have been laid recently.  There are no eyes showing. 

 

 

Not a Nudi, but a little 'pea' of a baby fish, so cute !

 

 

Mark points to this... so very tiny, and, it's dark.    I didn't know what it was, another new one for me.  It is a Doto, and I've seen a Dotos before, but this one was very different.   I'll know next time, it's a Doto sp6, which means 'they' haven't decided on an exact identification and name.

 

 

I've shown lots of photos of those tiny FrogFish that mostly are so cute.   This is a Giant FrogFish, and I can't say they are cute.   This 'guy' was as big as a soccor/foot ball, and didn't move a muscle.   It just sits there, and when an unsuspecting meal comes along, it gets sucked into his very wide open mouth.   He was sitting pretty much right out in the open, beside 'stuff'.

 

 

These Spiny Tiger Shrimp are about 1/2" and difficult to see when they are traveling along the sandy bottom.

Easier if you can catch them moving across a black background at night.

 

 

I've shown you many photos of a Hairy Shrimp, this one needs to shave her legs !

 

 

Mark shines his light on this.   I'm thinking it's that purple-ish thing....

No he wants me to see that little tiny thing on the top of that blade of grass !    Turns out is is something like this.  According to the book, this is another Stilger sp 

 

 

I think this is a Pipe Horse, cousin to a Sea Horse ...  

 

 

I met MaryAnn on Roatan, Honduras around 2015.  We met again for a week of diving in Costa Rica in 2023.   We realized we were both going to be in Dauin at the same time.  We got to catch up one very rainy afternoon and evening, before she started her LiveAboard Cruise.   So wonderful meeting up with friends and keeping in touch.

 

 

I've shown you many different kinds of shrimp, Hairy, Spiny Tiger, Cryptic Sponge, etc.   This is just a Shrimp, I think, the kind we like to eat.

 

 

I never really got a good photo of this Crab, don't even know it's name.   But it was tiny and constantly moving, ....and I was concentrating on the painting by Edvard Munch, The Scream.....

which is actually the 'butt' end of the crab.  His eyes are white and at the top of this photo.   Can you blame me?

 

 

 Then there was this ...

 

 

And I think this is Squat Lobster 

Ok, so, not everything I see is pretty or cute.     Some are just creepy. 

This is a White Eye Eel, rather common.   But I saw it myself, and positioned my light myself and took this photo.  

 

 

I did get to do a Day Dive with Mark, b/c he had a cancellation.   And it was a good one!  Ok, so now back to the pretty, and cool Nudis.    I've shown you several different colors and shapes of Shaun the Sheep.    I've just recently been aware of the Banana Nudi.    

Just as tiny as the other ones.  This one was living on the same quarter-size shape leaf... but it was yellow rather than green.  Love this one too !

 

Another new and exciting Octopus for me .... exciting after I knew what it was.   It is a Mototi (Mo TOE Tee) Octopus.   I didn't know what I was looking at, it was hiding into a rock crevice, where they normally hide.   I took the photos and then saw one tentacle come out, OH, it's an Octopus!    I learned later that this is the 'one-ring' octopus (actually it has one on each side).   You can see the blue ring in the middle of the photo.   It is about the size of the Blue Ring Octopus (4"), and is also poisonous.  It also is very rare to see one.    Mark is amazing to see these things !

 

 

The Elysia is one of my favorite Sea Slugs.  I desperately want to get a photo of one that I am proud of.  Not there yet, but I'll keep trying.    It's not that small, 1/2", but....

 

 

Next up on the Day Dive is the Marionia.   It looks like a soft coral.   They are large enough to easily see, ...once Mark showed me.  We were in the current, and it was swaying.

 

 

We did several more night dives.   One especially exciting, and we saw lots of Nudi's seeming to want to mate.   This one is proof.  They line up head to tail and their sex organs come from the middle of their bodies.  You can see the connection here.   Nembrotha linolata is their name.

 

On the weekends a man walks the beach with a cooler and wonderful ice cream.  I hear his little bells and I grab my 30 pesos (.50) and go running.   Mango is my always my choice, with pieces of fresh mango inside.

 

 

I saw the Peach-color Cryptic Sponge Shrimp on Siquijor ... this one was white... on white sponge coral of course.

 

 

 

And a BobTail Squid, that was a bit more cooperative than the last one.   Maybe because it was night.

 

 

Love was in the air for 2 Nembrothas

 

 

 'Let's give them something to talk about' .... said 2 Hypselodoris tryoni 

 

'My place or Yours' ....Dark Margin Glossodoris

 

 

This is a Girdled Glossodoris ... big and fat, beautiful colors, and easy to see.

  

A Candy Crab, a 'Pretty in Pink' crab

This one was very tiny ...  it was on the move ....   I'm going with Phyllodesmium ???

 

 

My last dive with Mark at Aivy Maes, Dauin, was a Night Dive with friends.  Right away in the water Mark spotted a CuttleFish.   I wasn't ready, and I don't know why it shows up Blue??   I like it.  It was a more neutral color.   Lights and angles can make a difference.

 

 

Actually I didn't feel like I was ready the entire dive.   This is a Coconut Octopus, not very large.  And he was not coming out of his coconut shell, that's why it's called a Coconut Octopus.

 

And I really wasn't ready for the next one.  Mark showed me a small orangey fish-like critter that was swimming around, actually 2 of them.   I didn't know what they were.  Probably about 2-3" long, with lots of frilly appendages.   I am now told it was an Ambon ScorpionFish.   I saw one once here in Dauin, but I have never seen one so small, nor one swimming like a fish.   Lots of sand in the water and poor photos, but you might get the idea.  I don't knowingly post photos that I, personally, did not take.  Mark occasionally used my camera, ...and he may have taken this photo..... 

 

Next I saw this pretty red Sea Star

 

Many of our friends were in the distance, with their lights pointed.   Usually that means something special, so we headed that way.  I've always seen Flamboyant CuttleFish while in Dauin, but I had not seen any this year.  Solved that problem.    These are so special, their colors radiate across their bodies in a fluid movement, it's mesmerizing.  They walk on 2 front paddle-like feet.

This one had a lot of yellow and bright pink.  You could watch them forever,... or until you ran out of air :)

 

  

Check out this short video on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/dWu-n-dLb1E 

 

 

The last thing we saw in the shallows before exiting was a Bobbit Worm (remember Lorena Bobbitt ?  Yes, it was named after that 1993 news story.)  This is one scary worm.  It buries itself in the sand, with only it's head showing.   It has sensors, and when an unsuspecting prey sets them off, it projects itself out of the water and grabs it with it's jaws.  This is a photo of it, but I didn't get too close.

If you are interested, check out the video on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV2pu2jTyp4

 

 

That's a gruesome way to end a Blog ... so I'll just say, hang on, like this Candy Crab, until my next Blog.  I'll be fly to Manila, and take a bus to Anilao Scuba Dive Center.  For more Muck Diving and finding some new critters.

 

dp