Cathedral

The Cathedral is a twin-granite-pinnacle reef forming a roofless cavern and dramatic swim-through, located within the Mabini Marine Sanctuary. The site is noted for dense coral heads, sponges and anemones and an unusually rich assemblage of reef fish; schooling tropical species commonly seen include angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses and clownfish. Access is typically from the nearby Eagle Point resort by a short swim from the pier or a brief boat ride. The reef lies primarily between about 20 and 30 m and drops off to roughly 50–60 m, with coral cover and fish life thinning below about 24 m. Water is warm (around 27–28 °C) and visibility often exceeds 20 m in good conditions. Tidal currents from the Maricaban Strait can be moderate to strong so dives are usually planned around slack (neap) tide, and strong surge is reported as the site’s main hazard; dives commonly proceed as drifts along the reef slope.