Bethlehem

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.