Fauna of the Sibuyan Sea

Inter-island sea of the Philippine archipelago, between the islands of Panay, Tablas, Marinduque, Luzon and Masbate. Depth up to 1700 meters. In the central part of the sea is the island of Sibuyan. Between the islands of Mindoro and Luzon there is the Verde Strait, which connects the body of water with the South China Sea. In the southern part, the sea borders with the inter-island seas of Samar and Visayan. It has a tropical climate. It receives up to 3000 mm of rainfall per year. Typhoons are common in the Sibuyan Sea. The water temperature is 23-28°C. Salinity is 32.0-32.5 ‰. The tides are irregular semidiurnal, their magnitude is more than 2 m. 

Sibuyan Sea Inhabitants

The Sibuyan Sea is characterized by rich marine life. Among the inhabitants, Pinctada margaritifera and Pinctada maxima are particularly attractive. Crinoid, soft and hard coral formations can be seen here. The reefs are covered with giant barrel sponges, sprawling Venus sea fans and hydrozoans. Mollusks and colorful fish are abundant in the coastal waters. The waters abound with numerous species of tropical pelagic fish such as barracuda, sebastes, trevally, grouper, jack. The most commonly seen fish are dark-banded fusilier, pennant coral, moorish idol, yellowface angelfish, ocellaris clownfish, giant hawkfish. Among the underwater wildlife you can find large sea creatures - undulated moray, green humphead parrotfish, sixgill stingray. Nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, Achelata, Ascidiacea, Sabellidae and starfish can also be observed. 

Sibuyan Sea Sharks

The Sibuyan Sea is a cozy home for dangerous predators such as the whitetip reef shark, nurse shark. The largest fish in the world, the whale shark, breeds here. You can dive and swim with the common guitarfish, hammerhead shark and thresher shark.

Mammals of the Sibuyan Sea

The Sibuyan Sea is home to endangered species of sea turtles and sea cow. And the endangered dugong can be found in the seaweed-covered coastal grasslands. 

Diving in the Sibuyan Sea

Sibuyan Sea is a great dive site that hides colorful nudibranchs, several species of rare shrimp and crab. Lionfish, frogfish, western scorpionfish and whitespotted conger eels are common. Other notable species include sea anemones and octopuses. Larger species include lutjanus and wrasse. Divers can see huge gorgonaria, sea cucumbers, colorful sponges and a wide variety of reef fish, including schools of acanthurus, tetraodontidae, rainbow runners, triggerfish, ocellaris clownfish, red lionfish and other underwater dwellers.

Fishing in the Sibuyan Sea

Indo-Pacific blue marlin, Indo-Pacific sailfish, several species of tuna, mackerel and others are caught in the waters of the Sibuyan Sea. Yellowfin tuna, Indian oil sardine, skipjack tuna, narrow-barred Spanish mackerel are the main fish products in the markets.