Diving Daku Hills in Siargao, Philippines

In September of 2026, I dove Daku Hills with Palaka Dive Center, by boat out of General Luna, Siargao, Philippines.

This was the first dive I did in Siargao.

Daku Hills is two underwater mounds very close to Daku Island, a short boat ride from General Luna.

The Dive

The mounds start at around 65 ft (20 m) at the bottom and rise all the way up to around 26 ft (8 m) at the top.

Compared to the rest of the Philippines, the reefs here are not as thriving, colorful and biodiverse. It's still a great place to get some fun dives or certification dives in.

I think the main reason is the waves. Siargao's east coast faces the open Pacific, and that swell is what makes it a surf destination and not a diving one.

It gives you shallow reefs and constant surge that breaks up the coral. What's left is a lot of low, tough encrusting coral and bare rock, so the reef looks flatter and less colorful than other places in the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Odette also made a direct hit on Siargao in December 2021, which is part of why the reefs look the way they do.

Daku Hills was the first of two dives that morning. The second was Dona Dolores.

The Dive & Conditions

I didn't notice any current on this dive.

The water was warm enough that I dove in just a rash guard and shorts.

Visibility wasn't as good as other places I dove in the Philippines.

Two fun dives with Palaka Dive Center cost 4,800 PHP (around $80), including gear, water and the boat captain. The two dives went out in the morning starting at 8:30.

The sites change every day depending on requests and the weather, so you don't always get to pick where you go unless you're in a larger group and the conditions allow it.

Palaka charges around 25,800 PHP (around $450) for the Open Water course. That includes four open water dives, a pool session, an instructor and your certification card.

Daku Arch is very close to Daku Hills. It's covered in coral and has some swim throughs. I didn't have time to dive it on this trip.