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Physical & Geographic Characteristics

Nature Festival Eco-Tourism Adventure

Bakhawan (Mangrovetum)

IGaCoS Mangrovetum is considered as Mindanao’s first Magrovetum, it serves as a laboratory for dendrological, educational, eco-tourism and phonological and other scientific studies in the mangrove ecosystem.

Gasangan (Corals)

Samal Island is a distant away from the shores of Davao and is located located in the Davao gulf and east of Davao City. Samal Island is famous because it is the Coral Reef City. Now, Samal Island is called Island Garden City of Samal. This beautiful virgin island has been protected from commercialization to preserve ecotourism. This island has a multitude of dive sites to suit all tastes. The crystal blue waters that surrounds this island paradise is good for scuba diving because the coastline is rich with underwater wildlife.

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.

Pinnacle 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. Variety 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

        Aundanao

        Mushroom Rock

        Marissa 1,2, and 3

        Baybayon (Beaches)

                            

 

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