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Calauit sea meadows might be one of the best spots in the world to snorkel with dugongs. This activity is tightly regulated and paying for it does not mean you will necessarily spot them, but it is worth the cost if swimming with those legendary marine mammals is a dream to you, and that you’re staying in Coron.

How to get to Calauit for snorkeling?

Dugong watching is tightly regulated in Calauit: only 40 persons are allowed to swim with them each day off the island’s coasts. If you want to be one of them, you must book a boat tour in advance. Trying to get close to dugongs in any other way is strictly forbidden.

Numerous licensed operators offer authorized tours in Coron. The price (from 4000 pesos per person) includes delivery of the special permit required for dugong observation. Excursions may include transfer to Calauit and/or lunch meal, ask for details when booking.

Calauit snorkeling map

Entering the water in Calauit

You will enter the water from your boat, as soon as your guide spots the dugongs from the water surface.

Calauit snorkeling tips

About 30 to 40 dugongs dwell off Calauit island’s coasts all year long. The small bay located off the north-east shores of Calauit, close to the Simlayan Waterfalls (see map above) is the main observation spot. However, dugongs often move and the boats can take snorkelers to other surrounding spots depending on their localization.

Dugong watching in Calauit Island
A dugong taking its breath at the surface of the sea in Calauit.

In order not to disturb the animals, the observation time in the water is limited to 15 minutes and strict rules have to be followed: keeping a distance of at least 5 meters from them, never facing them (snorkelers observe them from one side) and not following them if they swim away.

A ranger remaining on the boat will carefully see to it. In any case, you’d better remain silent and avoid sudden movements if you want dugongs to accept your presence for enough time to enjoy your experience and take pictures.

Dugongs like the sandy meadow areas surrounding the island, where they come to feed. This marine environment does not attract many other notable species, except green sea turtles that sometimes come graze on the seabed.

Dugong in Calauit's seagrass beds
A dugong feeding in the bay seagrass meadows.

Good to know: Calauit is one of the best places in the World to observe dugongs since they are present off the coasts all year long. Nevertheless, you are not 100% sure to meet them if you book a tour.

It is estimated that about 6 to 7 excursions out of 10 lead to actual dugong observation. These animals are sometimes simply too hard to find or flee as soon as snorkelers enter the water.

Restaurants and accommodation in Calauit

Some tours include meals and beverages. Make sure of what is included in yours when booking.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth25ft/8m
  • Water entranceFrom a boat
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsSnorkeling tour price (from 4000 pesos pp.)
  • Restaurants nearbyNo
  • Public toilets & showersNo

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.