If you’re specifically looking to dive Ticao Pass / Manta Bowl, the on-island operator is Ticao Island Resort & Dive Center, which runs daily boat dives to Manta Bowl Shoal and nearby reefs when conditions allow. You can also base in Donsol (Sorsogon) and arrange day-trip dives to Manta Bowl with local operators when seas are favorable.
Who dives Ticao Pass?
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Ticao Island Resort & Dive Center (PADI Resort) – the classic base on Ticao Island for Manta Bowl. Expect drift/negative-entry dives and reef options when current/vis is strong.
Website: https://www.ticao-island-resort.com (PADI listing & contacts also here: https://www.padi.com/dive-center/philippines/ticao-island-dive-camp-resort/) PADI -
Donsol-based dive outfits (day trips when seas permit) – e.g., Bicol Dive Center (Donsol); some arrange boats to Manta Bowl in season (ask locally about schedules and sea state).
Example page: https://www.facebook.com/bicoldivecenter/ Facebook
Why Ticao Island Resort is popular: it sits closest to Manta Bowl Shoal (a cluster of cleaning/feeding zones on the shoal) and is widely referenced by dive travel companies for year-round manta encounters when conditions cooperate. Dive Worldwide
Where to stay (with pool/comfort picks)
- Stay on Ticao Island (for the shortest run-outs):
Ticao Island Resort – beach cottages, in-house dive center, boat access to Manta Bowl and local reefs. - Stay in Donsol (pair mantas with whale sharks in season):
Base at a Donsol resort/guesthouse and coordinate dives via local centers (ask Bicol Dive Center about current Manta Bowl runs). Whale-shark snorkeling (a separate activity) is typically arranged from Donsol proper. Facebook
How to get there (most practical routes)
Fastest gateways: Legazpi (Bicol) or Masbate City, then boat transfer to Ticao.
- Via Legazpi (most common): Fly Manila → Legazpi (LGP), drive to Donsol or a nearby port, then resort boat to Ticao Island. Many itineraries combine Donsol whale-shark snorkeling with Ticao diving. (Typical sample route described by dive travel blogs and resort info pages.) EXPAT GETAWAYS+1
- Via Masbate City: Fly Manila → Masbate (MBT), then overland/boat to Ticao Island (shorter sea crossing to the resort). Check flight frequency before committing. Facebook
- Resort transfer notes: Ticao Island Resort details multiple options (commercial flights + van/boat, or RORO bus from Cebu to Bicol/ports). They can pre-arrange the last-mile boat for you. liquiddivingadventures.com
What the diving is like (quick brief)
- Headline site: Manta Bowl Shoal (on Ticao Pass) – a sunken, current-swept seamount that functions as a manta cleaning/feeding station; also visited by whale sharks and pelagics in season. Expect strong currents, negative entries, reef hooks, and sometimes limited visibility—it’s big-animal diving, not a macro muck. Diving SSI+2divezone.net+2
- Seasonality: Manta sightings are reported year-round, with many sources highlighting roughly December–May as a prime window (calmer seas; overlap with Donsol whale-shark season). Weather/sea state governs whether boats can safely cross and moor. divezone.net
- Backup sites: When Manta Bowl is blown out or between pelagic passes, boats switch to reef dives around Ticao for corals, schooling fish, and occasional turtles. Tripadvisor
Ballpark prices (so you can set expectations)
Indicative only—always check the latest direct with the operator.
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Boat fun dives (Ticao/Donsol area): commonly in the ₱2,500–₱3,800 per dive band with tank/weights/boat/guide; full-day 2- or 3-dive packages are typical. (Public pages vary and frequently change; use the resort/center links above to confirm.)
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Private boat surcharges / special trips: apply when running the longer hop out to Manta Bowl or when minimum numbers aren’t met.
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Gear rental/Nitrox: extra, as usual.
Ticao Island Resort & Dive Center is your best one-stop reference for current package rates and dive plans: https://www.ticao-island-resort.com (PADI center listing with contact: https://www.padi.com/dive-center/philippines/ticao-island-dive-camp-resort/). PADI
Sample 3–5 day “Ticao + Donsol” plan
- Day 1: Fly to Legazpi, transfer to Ticao Island Resort (or overnight Donsol depending on arrival). Sundowner check-dive/reef. EXPAT GETAWAYS
- Day 2–3: Manta Bowl windows in the morning; backup reef dives in the afternoon if currents get sporty.
- Day 4: Transfer to Donsol; whale-shark snorkeling (separate activity from scuba; strictly regulated), sunset chill.
- Day 5: Buffer/weather day, then travel out via Legazpi.
Bonus: a few fun & historical notes
- “Manta Bowl” as a site name dates to the early 2000s. Local divers formalized it as a manta hotspot after fishermen had long noted the animals gathering there; manta researchers have been visiting since.
- Masbate Province (which includes Ticao Island) became a distinct province in 1920, after earlier administrative ties with Sorsogon—handy context if you’re writing long-form destination content.
Practical tips (safety & comfort)
- Experience level: Because of current/entries, Advanced Open Water (or equivalent experience) is recommended for Manta Bowl. Bring/learn to use a reef hook and follow briefings closely. (Many trip reports emphasize the “hook in & wait” manta style.)
- Best pairing: Combine Ticao mantas with Donsol whale-shark encounters in the same week for the classic Bicol megafauna double. The Legazpi gateway makes this logistically easy. EXPAT GETAWAYS
Quick links (planning & contacts)
- Ticao Island Resort & Dive Center: https://www.ticao-island-resort.com (PADI listing/contacts: https://www.padi.com/dive-center/philippines/ticao-island-dive-camp-resort/) PADI
- Dive-travel overview mentioning Manta Bowl Shoal & access: https://www.diveworldwide.com/accommodation/ticao-island-resort Dive Worldwide
- Donsol operator example (enquire about Manta Bowl day trips): https://www.facebook.com/bicoldivecenter/ Facebook
- Season snapshot for Donsol/Ticao mantas: https://divezone.net/diving/donsol divezone.net
Booking
You can use the above information to book your own tour, or you can let us organize for you a diving cruise of this beautiful area. Feel free to send us a note.
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FAQ
Who dives Ticao Pass?
Primarily Ticao Island Resort & Dive Center (on Ticao Island); some Donsol dive shops run day trips in season.
How to get there?
Fly to Legazpi or Masbate, then boat across.
Why go?
Manta Bowl Shoal—a current-swept seamount where mantas clean and feed, with a real chance of big-animal encounters when conditions align.
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