Dive-site story
Manta Bowl is an expansive underwater plateau in the Ticao Pass, situated between Masbate and the Bicol Peninsula. The submerged shoal sits directly in the path of sweeping tidal flows that funnel plankton-rich water across the seabed, creating a cleaning and feeding hub for pelagic megafauna. Divers typically descend quickly onto the sandy-rocky flat and hook into rubble to observe cleaning stations without disturbing the passing rays and sharks.
Reliable cleaning stations for giant oceanic manta rays and reef mantas
Periodic encounters with pelagic thresher sharks, whale sharks, and hammerheads
High-energy drift diving across open-ocean submerged flats
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The northeast monsoon brings optimal pelagic activity and plankton blooms, though surface swell can pick up during peak tidal phases.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanic manta rayMobula birostris | Common | ||||||||||||
| Pelagic thresher sharkAlopias pelagicus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Whale sharkRhincodon typus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Reef manta rayMobula alfredi | Common | ||||||||||||
| Scalloped hammerhead sharkSphyrna lewini | Rare |
Marine forecast
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