DA-West

Archived accounts describe an offshore coral reef reached by a negative entry, at about 34 metres. That figure describes the reported reef depth rather than a surveyed minimum or maximum. Present currents and entry procedures are unknown.

This is a partial site guide based on retained dive listings. Conditions, access, seasonal suitability and current operating arrangements have not been checked by a local diver. The map position comes from a published dive-site dataset and should be confirmed with a local operator before planning a visit.

Source trail (not independent corroboration): Archived operator account; Archived operator account; Directory map record.

Historical route and deeper seabed

Artistic Diving’s archived 2019 page distinguishes diving around 34–38 m from a reef bottom reported at 45 m, and describes large gorgonians on the reef. These are different parts of that historical account, not newly surveyed site limits or a recommended dive profile. Confirm the intended route, present conditions and appropriate experience with the operator.

Big-fish reports from four sources

Easy Diving's archived 2014 and 2025 lists describe Da-West as a negative entry down to a coral reef with hundreds of big fish such as barracuda and tuna, down to 34 metres, with stingrays and sharks passing by, and call it perfect for underwater video and photography; the same lists add that it is just in front of your cottage and give an overall figure of up to 45 metres. The version Easy Diving supplied to PADI Travel repeats the 34-metre reef and the rays and sharks, states that the site is only for experienced divers, lists drift and reef as dive types, and records a maximum depth of 38 metres. Artistic Diving's archived 2019 page says the site is ten minutes from Punta Ballo and reports barracudas, tunas, sharks, and schools of triggerfish and butterflyfish, and its introduction recounts a whale shark that stayed with the group for over an hour at Da West, without a date. A taucher.net review of Easy Diving dated 23 January 2005 groups Da-West with Mystery Wall as adrenaline dives for experienced divers at 30-plus metres, with huge gorgonians and schools of tuna, jacks and mackerel, and sharks with some luck.

A 2023 visit

Diving Squad's Sipalay guide, written after the author's 2023 trip, describes Da West as a deep dive on a healthy coral reef that starts at 34 metres and drops to 45 metres, and calls it perhaps the best Sipalay site for hundreds of big fish such as tuna, barracuda and jacks, with a chance of reef sharks and stingrays that it describes as fairly skittish. It says there can sometimes be a current, that the site is for experienced divers only, and that local guides named it among their favourite dives. On the author's own dive the guide saw a whitetip reef shark pass but the author did not; the author also notes the dive was very short and ended with a lot of air remaining. These are one visitor's observations on one dated trip, not a sighting rate.