Reef · Muck · Drop-off

Tucked against the southern end of Caban Island where a narrow channel squeezes between Caban and Maricaban, Bethlehem is one of Anilao's consistently target-rich macro reefs. Coral gardens, sand patches and small rocky crevices slope to about 20 m, swept by a channel current that keeps the filter feeders fat and the photographers kicking. Fire urchins carrying Coleman shrimp and zebra crabs are the calling card, backed by mantis shrimp, spotted snake eels, hairy squat lobsters and squid hovering in crinoids on afternoon dives. A resident turtle rounds out a site that rewards repeat visits.
Typical current strength at this dive site
Noticeable current requiring some effort to swim against. Good buoyancy control recommended.
Strength Scale
None
Mild
Moderate
Strong
Monthly conditions and seasonal highlights — tap a month
Shoulder season with generally good conditions. Some variability in weather and visibility.
9 species recorded at this site
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Coleman Shrimp
Periclimenes colemani
Fire Urchin
Asthenosoma varium
Nudibranch (assorted)
Nudibranchia spp.
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
Bigfin Reef Squid
Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Zebra Crab
Zebrida adamsii
Hairy Squat Lobster
Lauriea siagiani
Spotted Snake Eel
Myrichthys maculosus
Be aware of these potential hazards at this dive site
Current
MediumModerate channel flow between Caban and Maricaban; can run stronger on spring tides
Dangerous marine life
LowVenomous fire urchins prevalent throughout the macro circuit; do not touch reef
Boat traffic
LowBanca dive traffic on the Caban Island circuit
Certification Required
A minimum of Open Water certification is required to dive this site.
Immersive panoramic view of this dive site
360° panorama coming soon
Immersive underwater views will be available when panoramic imagery is uploaded
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Vertical range at this site
Minimum Depth
16 ft
Shallowest point
Average Depth
49 ft
Typical dive depth
Maximum Depth
72 ft
Deepest point
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