Caban Cove

A current-assisted drift dive along the steeply sloping western side of Caban Island, where tens of thousands of niger triggerfish fill the water column and giant anglerfish, blue ribbon eels, and more than a dozen moray eels inhabit the sea-whip- and soft-coral-covered slope.

Overview

Caban Cove is the only cove on Caban Island, located on the island’s western side approximately 4.5 km from Buceo Anilao Dive Resort. The dive is conducted as a current-assisted drift heading northeast then north along the slope, with a live boat following divers at the surface. The steep slope descends from around 10 meters at the top to 22 meters on the main reef slope, with the sandy bottom at approximately 30 meters. The slope is covered in sea whips and soft corals, creating dense habitat for both critters and schooling fish. The tens of thousands of niger (also called blue) triggerfish that habitually school here are the site’s defining spectacle.

Site Information

• Location: West side of Caban Island, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines (approx. 4.5 km west of Buceo Anilao Dive Resort; 15 minutes by boat)
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Drift dive
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters
• Typical Visibility: 12–15 meters
• Water Temperature: 29°C
• Current: Slight to moderate; current direction varies
• Best Time: November to June (dry season)

Marine Life

The tens of thousands of niger triggerfish schooling on the slope are the primary attraction — the sheer scale of the aggregation engulfs divers during the drift. Giant anglerfish are a regular highlight; on a single documented dive, four individuals were encountered (two pairs), suggesting the site holds multiple resident specimens. One blue ribbon eel was observed in a burrow on the slope. More than a dozen moray eels of at least three species were recorded on the same dive, inhabiting crevices throughout the slope. Spiny devilfish were also observed. Nudibranchs — including unusual species — inhabit the sea whips and soft corals. Additional species include Moorish idols, butterflyfish, pufferfish, dartfish, and rockcod.

Dive Profile

Enter by giant stride from the live boat and descend to the steeply sloping reef. The current carries you northeast then north along the site — let it do the work. Work the slope between 10 and 22 meters, scanning the bottom for anglerfish and checking burrows for ribbon eels and moray eels. The niger triggerfish school may be encountered at any depth on the slope. The boat tracks your surface marker throughout the drift.

Entry and Exit

Access by boat from Anilao-area resorts, approximately 15 minutes. Live boat follows divers during the drift. Deploy SMB before ascending so the boat crew can track your position for pickup.

Tips and Recommendations

• Carry an SMB — live boat pickup depends on your surface marker being visible
• The niger triggerfish school is best appreciated by hovering in mid-water and letting them surround you — wide-angle is the appropriate lens choice
• Look carefully along the bottom for anglerfish — multiple individuals may be present simultaneously
• Blue ribbon eels are skittish; approach slowly and they may extend from their burrows for a better view
• Moray eel diversity is exceptional here — spend time examining each crevice

Safety Considerations

Current-assisted drift diving requires experience with drift technique. Stay with your group and guide. The steep slope can lead to unintentional depth increases, so monitor depth continuously. Always carry SMB, whistle, and other signalling devices. Brief with the boat crew on pickup procedures before entering the water.

Photography

Wide-angle is the primary lens choice for the niger triggerfish schools — a fisheye or ultra-wide captures the scale of the aggregation. Giant anglerfish and blue ribbon eels are excellent macro subjects, though shooting macro while drifting requires practice. The sea whips and soft corals provide colourful reef-scape compositions. If you want to work both wide-angle and macro, prioritise the fish school first and switch to macro when the current eases.

Sources: Michael McFadyen’s Scuba Diving Web Site, AnilaoDiving.com – Dive Sites, Divescover – Caban Cove. Last updated 2026-06-25.