Bahura

Bahura dive site in Dauin is characterized by a diverse underwater topography, featuring a combination of sandy slopes and vibrant hard coral reefs. It is considered a house reef, easily accessible from the shore, and known for both wide-angle photography and critter hunting. The site undergoes a transformation from day to night diving, offering different experiences for divers. Bahura translates to "reef" in Filipino, living up to its name with extensive and healthy coral formations, including brain corals, staghorn corals, and mushroom corals. These coral gardens are interspersed with dark sandy areas, short walls, and white sandy expanses where volcanic bubbles can sometimes be observed rising from the seabed. The reef starts shallow and gradually slopes down to deeper areas, making it suitable for various experience levels.

The dive site is particularly famous for its macro life and is a prime spot for encountering the vibrant Mandarin fish, especially during their mating behavior at dusk. Divers often witness these colorful creatures emerging from their coral hiding spots to perform their courtship dance just before sunset. Beyond Mandarin fish, Bahura hosts a rich diversity of marine life, including various small tropical fish, crustaceans, nudibranchs, and octopuses. Sea turtles are occasional visitors to the area, and a variety of reef fish swim among the colorful coral formations. Other common sightings include frogfish, ghost pipefish, seahorses, scorpionfish, boxfish, pufferfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, pipefish, clownfish, sweetlips, snappers, groupers, lionfish, cuttlefish, comet fish, and shrimps. Mantis shrimp, leaffish, and small lionfish have also been noted. The mix of sandy slopes and hard coral reefs provides a diverse habitat, allowing divers to explore different underwater environments within a single dive. The site is also popular for night dives, offering a different perspective on its inhabitants. Overall, Bahura is considered an exciting destination for diving enthusiasts, especially given its excellent visibility conditions and convenient accessibility.