Underwater Wonders:
A Guide to Rare Marine Life in the Philippines

Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy seahorses are tiny seahorses that are known for their ability to camouflage themselves in the hard corals surrounding them, which makes them difficult to spot. Unlike other seahorses, they have a single gill and can be as small as 13 millimetres long. You can mainly spot these creatures around the Philippines, where there is a coral ecosystem.

Whale Shark

Spot the largest fish in the ocean, the Whale Shark, on your visit to the Philippines. Many divers dream of spotting this stunning sea creature. This fish mainly feeds upon the plankton, and unlike other sharks, they do not pose a threat to humans. The shark is characterised by a large mouth, a flat head and distinct spots covering their bluish-grey body. This fish can grow up to a length of 40 feet.

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Known for their unique look and high camouflage ability, ornate ghost fish are difficult to find. This fish can be found in subtropical and tropical waters. One can find this species in small groups that adapt to their surroundings and change their colours accordingly to survive from marine predators. Its unique body makes it difficult to be considered a fish at first glance, instead, you may think it to be floating algae or seaweed.

Thresher Shark

The thresher shark is yet another member of the Philippines' marine life that you can spot while exploring the aquatic ecosystem. These sharks are known for their long, whip-like tail, which they use to stun their prey, however, they are not aggressive to humans. These sharks can mostly be spotted during the early morning in deep waters where they come for feeding and cleaning. They generally grow up to 20 feet in length, and their tails are similarly proportioned, helping their torpedo-like bodies streamline through the water currents.

Flamboyant Cuttlefish

Be amazed to see the flamboyant cuttlefish that are known for their striking, ever-changing colours and their ability to walk over the seafloor with their arms. This species uses colour shifting to communicate with other cuttlefish as well as to camouflage to help them save themselves from the predators. These marine creatures can be found in the tropical waters near reefs or sandy substrates. They can grow up to a size of 6 cm to 8 cm. However, they are poisonous and must not be eaten or handled.

Mandarinfish

The mandarinfish is a beautiful fish found in the Philippines and is also known as the Psychedelic fish or Mandarin goby. They are very friendly in nature with a peaceful temperament. The vibrant colour of this fish and its unique mating ritual attract many divers and underwater photographers. One can spot them in vibrant colours like orange, green, and electric blue with striped patterns on their body. The male fish displays brighter colours than the females. Their neon-like colours make them easy to spot and can be seen during dusk or at night, near coral reefs.

Hawksbill and Green Turtles

Two main turtle species that can be found in the Philippines are the Hawksbill and Green turtle. Hawksbill turtles are an endangered species, as they are vulnerable to climate change, habitat loss, and poaching for their shells and meat. Similarly, Green turtles are also an endangered species and are seen grazing on algae or seagrass, which helps maintain a clean environment. Green turtles can be identified by their large and round bodies. On the other hand, Hawksbill turtles can be identified by their amazing, sharp-edged shell.

Manta Ray

Dive into the marine environment of the Philippines to witness manta rays, gracefully moving with their diamond-shaped body and large fins. You can encounter two types of manta rays around the Philippines, namely reef manta rays and oceanic manta rays. These creatures are black in colour with their eyes located on the sides of their head. They are harmless to humans, which allows you to swim by the Manta Rays. They are mainly seen to survive on plankton and can be spotted at various sites around the country.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Another fascinating creature in the Philippines' water is the blue-ringed octopus, which can be encountered during scuba diving. The blue-ringed octopus is small in size of about 5 to 8 inches, and has blue stripes that light up when it feels threatened. They are also infamous for their venom, which makes it unfriendly to humans, and thus it is best to maintain a safe distance when encountering them.

Harlequin Shrimp

Spot the beautiful shrimp, the harlequin shrimp is an attractive species of shrimp with white, bright blue and orange patterns in its body. They are generally seen in pairs and are known for having a unique hunting behaviour. They are rare sea creatures, and underwater photographers are drawn to capturing their pictures. One can find these creatures on any reef.

Oceanic Sunfish

Get amazed to witness the world's heaviest bony fish, Oceanic Sunfish, also called Mola. Its massive size has a flat body shape that can be encountered while diving underwater. This fish can grow up to 10 feet in size, which makes the swimming pace of the fish slow. You can spot them in temperate and tropical waters, and they can be spotted rarely.

Elegant Firefish

One of the most spectacular fish found in the Philippines is the Elegant fish, which can be found in the reef areas as well as in deep coastal areas. This beautiful fish can be spotted at a depth of 82 to 230 feet and can be seen hiding in holes to avoid predators. This fish can grow up to a length of 3.54 inches and can be identified by a violet head, red fins, and a yellow or white body.

Ribbon Eel

Ribbon Eel, also called ribbon moray, is yet another spectacular fish that is found in the Philippines. One can find them in shallow reefs and lagoons, which create burrows to stay safe from their predators. The fish grows upto a length of about 4 feet and shows a distinct, vibrant blue and ribbon-like body and has long anal and dorsal fins. These eels can be seen to swim at a depth of 220 feet.

Flaming Prawn Goby

Another example of marine wildlife in the Philippines is the flaming prawn goby, also called spikefin goby, which is renowned for flame-like colours and vibrant fins. One can find them in coral, sand and rubble areas and can be found around a depth of 6.5 to 148 feet. These fish are small in size and can grow up to a length of approximately 1.18 inches, and its body is painted in white with orange stripes.

Sardinella Tawilis

Sardinella Tawilis is a small freshwater sardine, which is an endemic species and is found only in Taal Lake in the Philippines. A forked caudal fin characterises this fish, a single dorsal fin and a laterally compressed body, which can reach up to a length of 15 centimetres.

Tubbataha Reef

One of the popular scuba diving destinations in the Philippines is Tubbataha Reef, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts divers mostly in the peak seasons to enjoy the vibrant marine life and stunning biodiversity. One can spot dynamic underwater terrains and marine lifeforms like manta rays, pygmy seahorse, sea turtles, different species of sharks and many more.

Anilao

Visit the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines, Anilao, boasting varied marine life. This place also houses a sunken floating casino along with colourful reefs and coral formations, where you can find schools of fish moving around. You can spot marine creatures like harlequin shrimp, mandarinfish and many more.

Malapascua Island

Travel to Malapascua Island, which serves as an ideal destination for recreational divers. In this destination, you can find the thresher shark. Surrounded by lush green palm trees and sandy beaches, this island attracts divers and allows them to spend time at the depths of the waters amidst the marine dwellers.

Donsol Bay

Donsol Bay is a popular site for spotting whale sharks and is referred to as "Whale Shark Capital of the World". Located in the Bicol region of the Philippines, this site is renowned for having a good diving experience. You can swim with the manta rays while taking an underwater dive and also encounter the whale sharks.

Palawan

Spend time amidst the unspoiled beaches and hidden lagoons or take a dive underwater. Indulge in activities like snorkelling and scuba diving to explore the beautiful marine environment. Spot marine animals like whale sharks, sea turtles, seahorses and a wide variety of fish.

Bakunawa:- One of the popular scuba diving destinations in the Philippines is Tubbataha Reef, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts divers mostly in the peak seasons to enjoy the vibrant marine life and stunning biodiversity. One can spot dynamic underwater terrains and marine lifeforms like manta rays, pygmy seahorse, sea turtles, different species of sharks and many more.

Sirena:- Another mythical creature lurking in the depths of water surrounding the Philippines archipelago is the Sirena, often confused with mermaids; however, they are portrayed as vicious mermaid-like creatures. These creatures have the upper body of a woman and lower body of a fish, which lures people with their beauty and sweet voice and drown them.

Kataw:- Kataw is yet another merfolk from the Philippine folklore, which is mostly spotted in the Visayan region. As per the legends, these sea creatures are considered the highest ranking amongst the merfolk. They usually disguise themselves as fishermen and lure people towards them and then drown them in the ocean depths.

Siyokoy:- Siyokoy is a merfolk, a mythological figure with a grim reputation and has similarities with human features. Some also mistake them for mermaids, and some consider them water ghosts. These mythical creatures have terrified people, especially fishermen and sailors. It is also believed to summon sea creatures like octopuses and eels while attacking.