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A scuba diver silhouetted against the deep blue ocean, exploring coral reefs in the Maldives.
📷 Charlotte Youlten · Pexels

Mamsa point

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 22 contributors

Mamsa Point offers year-round diving off Apo Island, Philippines, with healthy coral and consistent marine life sightings.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlyMacroFocusPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Green sea turtle

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Mamsa point location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
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Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
1.8 kn
Wave
0.5 m
Water
29.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SW (41%)
Now: W (273°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.26m

Next: High at 02:00 (+1.28m)

+1.3 m0 m+0.0 m
▲ 02:00 · +1.28m ▼ 11:00 · +0.25m ▲ 02:00 · +1.21m ▼ 14:00 · +0.19m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.15 · very high Air PM2.521 · moderate 05:36 17:45
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 8.6 0.64 9 0mm
09-20 6.3 0.56 8 2mm
09-21 5.9 0.5 7 7mm
09-22 5.2 0.36 5 20mm
09-23 3.5 0.18 2 26mm
09-24 4.7 0.1 8 43mm
09-25 5.9 0.24 8 5mm

About this spot

Mamsa Point is a dive site near Apo Island in the Philippines, accessible to divers throughout the year. The site sits outside a marine protected area but maintains healthy coral conditions with no bleaching stress reported. Twelve species observations recorded at the site confirm consistent marine biodiversity, making it a reliable destination for divers seeking stable conditions and marine encounters. The area benefits from Apo Island's reputation as a diving hub. Community video documentation—three clips available—shows what visitors can expect underwater. These resources help divers plan their dives and understand site conditions before arrival. The lack of active bleaching stress indicates the reef remains in good health, a positive sign for coral-dependent marine life. Year-round access means you can plan a dive trip to Mamsa Point whenever your schedule allows. Local conditions and seasonal patterns may affect visibility or comfort, so checking recent reports from the diving community helps. The documented species presence suggests typical reef ecology with healthy predator-prey relationships and diverse fauna. Divers interested in Philippine reef systems will find Mamsa Point a solid option with established monitoring data and community feedback to guide their experience.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Philippines: 119 Sites, Wrecks & Walls Worth the Flight

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Green sea turtle

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B/C · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11409km · ~2624kg · €47

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 11h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

Can I dive Mamsa Point year-round?

Yes. Mamsa Point is accessible to divers throughout the year. Seasonal patterns may affect water conditions, so checking current reports before your trip helps you prepare appropriately.

What marine life can I see there?

Twelve species observations have been recorded at Mamsa Point, confirming diverse reef life. Community videos provide visual documentation of what you're likely to encounter underwater.

Is the coral healthy?

Yes. Mamsa Point shows no coral bleaching stress, indicating the reef remains in good condition. This supports thriving marine populations.

Do I need special permits?

Mamsa Point is not inside a marine protected area, so standard diving regulations apply. Check current local requirements and dive operator guidelines before your trip.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Paul's Dive Shop

0.8 km
4.8 (16 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Beach Cafe & Dream Diving Resort

8.5 km
Dive centre

Wellbeach Dive Resort

8.6 km
4.4 (68 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Ex Bahura Dive Resort

9.9 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

52 records · 49 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Glossodoris

Gastropoda · Chromodorididae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–30 m

Toxopneustes pileolus

Echinoidea · Toxopneustidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Apr 2016
×2records
Depth:
0–3 m

Ophiuroidea

Ophiuroidea
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–26 m

Nereididae

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
23 m

Comanthus parvicirrus

Crinoidea · Comatulidae
OBIS
Last seen:
4 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–28 m

Lovenia elongata

Echinoidea · Loveniidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
11 m

Babakina indopacifica

Gastropoda · Babakinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
3–14 m

Chrysopetalidae

Polychaeta · Chrysopetalidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
30 m

Ophiotrichidae

Ophiuroidea · Ophiotrichidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–21 m

Munididae

Malacostraca · Munididae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
30 m

Metalia sternalis

Echinoidea · Brissidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
0–11 m

Discodoris boholiensis

ヒラツヅレウミウシ
Gastropoda · Discodorididae
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Feb 2016
×1records
Depth:
8 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving with the mamsa in Apo Island

Reef Wanderers Dive Club

Apo Island - Mamsa Dive Site - by: Ernest Damaso

Davao MTB Trails & Scuba Diving Videos 😊

‪Superhuman Filipino diver from the Badjao tribe ;BBC

Panda Classic TV
💬 3 top comments
  • Imagine being a diver with all the gear and this chaps suddenly appears walking on the bottom of the sea waving like he's on a morning stroll LOL😁

    @sean.5468 · 👍 3500
  • 2.5 mins inside water. Not still but moving, running, working! Amazing. A different person really.

    @Photogrammetrist1 · 👍 1600
  • Others called him superhuman. For him, it's just his way of living 😎

    @jaypeefernandez4462 · 👍 1100

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "Bahura Dive Resort seems to be not existing anymore 2023-11-23"

    Totor · 2023-11-23
  • ""Dive shop run trip on Dauin and Zambonguita coastal, Apo island(min.2divers) and Sumilon(min.6divers). Dive courses available. Dive rate start from 1,500php. Dive equipment provided without extra charge. Marine park fee, dive guide and towel are included. Offer secluded beach front accommodation for divers. Small swimming pool and a boutique café on site. Room rate start from 500php/bed in dorm room, breakfast are included. All types room with private hot shower/toilet and air-conditioning." P"

    Dives Visaya · 2020-01-12
wind peaks Feb-Jan-Mar, calmest Aug-Oct-Jun, dry Jan-Apr.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jun (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (94/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

Kan Uran Philippines Diving
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Kan Uran

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Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Cogon Philippines Diving
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Cogon

Cogon is a year-round dive site near Apo Island in the Philippines, within a protected marine landscape with healthy coral and abundant marine life.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+

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