Drop Off

Verde Island sits in the Verde Island Passage off the coast of Batangas in Luzon, a stretch of water known for very high marine biodiversity. The Drop Off site takes its name from a wall that falls away from shallower reef into deeper water along the island's edge, reaching a maximum depth of around 40 metres. It's rated an advanced dive due to strong currents that run along the wall. Tuna are a regular sighting here, and divers have also reported bumphead parrotfish, grouper, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, mantis shrimp, lionfish, scorpionfish, snapper, sweetlips, and triggerfish along the drop off. Boats to sites around Verde Island typically run from Anilao or Puerto Galera on either side of the passage.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• ScorpionfishScorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• SweetlipsSweetlipsReported here · unconfirmed
• GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
• Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• TunaTunaConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• TriggerfishTriggerfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Chamberlain's NembrothaNembrotha chamberlainiReported here · unconfirmed
• Neon Pygmy-gobyEviota atriventrisReported here · unconfirmed
• Barred-fin MorayGymnothorax zonipectisReported here · unconfirmed
• Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus nigerReported here · unconfirmed
• Miller's NembrothaNembrotha milleriReported here · unconfirmed
• Bumphead parrotfishBumphead parrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
• LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Mantis shrimpMantis shrimpReported here · unconfirmed