our sites

Menu

Travel Stories

Diving the Philippines? Discover a jewel of marine biodiversity photo by Cami Sarmiento

Diving the Philippines? Discover a jewel of marine biodiversity

by : Nicole Brown posted :

There's a reason why a diving trip in the Philippines is on every diver's bucket list. Although there are many dive sites around the world that offer breathtaking marine life, diving in the Philippines elevates the underwater experience to a whole new level. The Philippines is part of the coveted Coral Triangle which also includes the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands.

Within this global center of marine biodiversity, six of the world's seven sea turtle populations call this stretch of Pacific Ocean their home along with over 500 species of coral and 2,500 species of fish. And with new species being found every moment, diving the Philippines is impossible to ignore for the true diving enthusiast.

Below, we list five species that are endemic to the Philippines making this biodiversity hotspot a non-negotiable must-do experience.

  1. Long-limb threadfin photo by Hiroyuki Motomura (via Fishbase)
    Long-limb threadfin

    Long-limb threadfin

    First on our list is the long-limb threadfin. This threadfin is greyish-black in color and has vomerine teeth, like a frog, that allows them to grab prey and keep a firm hold. The long-limb threadfin, unlike the other threadfins, have six pectoral filaments with two stretching beyond the midpoint of the caudal peduncle, a pectoral fin with 13 unbranched rays and a maxilla covered with scales.


  2. Azure damsel photo by G. Bernardi (via Creative Commons)
    Azure damsel

    Azure damsel

    Second on our list of endemic species in the Filipino waters is the azure damsel. This beautiful fish can be found swimming in live, rich corals in pairs or in groups. They eat plankton and are oviparous. During breeding, they keep in their distinct pairs and the males guard and aerate the eggs. Once hatched, the young stay with their parents during the early stages of life.


  3. Blue-spotted angelfish photo by Citron / CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Creative Commons)
    Blue-spotted angelfish

    Blue-spotted angelfish

    Next on our list is the popular aquarium fish, the blue-spotted angelfish. Although coveted in the home saltwater aquarium market, this is a rare species and little is actually known about the ecology of this fish and whether or not populations are stable. If you want to see this beautiful blue and yellow fish in its natural habitat on your next dive, be sure to check out the reefs as this little guy feeds on sponges and tunicates and can be found peeping in and out of the coral.


  4. Kurt’s coral blenny photo by Andrey Ryanskiy (via Fishbase)
    Kurt’s coral blenny

    Kurt's coral blenny

    Forth on our list is Kurt's coral blenny. This combtooth blenny is found in reef habitats in very shallow water. Their diet includes benthic algae and weeds. And, like the blue-spotted angelfish, this cute blenny has been targeted by the at-home saltwater aquarium trade. If you wish to spot one in its natural habitat, be sure to check out the coastal fringing reefs and lagoons.


  5. Picturesque dragonet photo by Daiju Azuma (via Creative Commons)
    Picturesque dragonet

    Picturesque dragonet

    Last on our list is the picturesque dragonet. These stunning reef fish can be found in shallow water near the sandy bottom of sheltered reefs. They feed on small benthic invertebrates and live in small loose groups. In addition to being endemic to the Philippines, there have been sightings in the waters of eastern Indonesia and northwestern Australia.


These are just a few endemic species native to the Philippines in a long list. And in addition to seeing these creatures during your diving adventures, you will also see many other species including sea turtles, sharks and everything in-between. For more information, contact us at Uncharted Philippines and we'll be happy to help you plan your next diving adventure.

Back to stories list

Hello !