Gato Island

Gato Island is a small rocky island famous for a roughly 30 m submerged tunnel that creates an overhead cavern covered in soft corals and sponges. The reef slopes from shallow coral gardens at about 5–10 m to sandy patches around 25–30 m, and the site is noted for abundant macro life and frequent sightings of sea snakes and whitetip reef sharks around the tunnel and rock surfaces. Dives are boat-access only (typically reached from Malapascua) and begin from a boat mooring. The main tunnel dive is around 12–15 m at its deepest, with maximum depths of about 25–30 m in deeper sand areas; visibility is typically 10–20 m and water temperatures are warm (mid-20s to 30 °C). Moderate to strong currents are common and drift profiles can occur; because of the overhead environment a dive light, solid buoyancy control, and experience with currents and caves are essential. The island is a protected marine sanctuary and divers must follow local regulations and often pay a small fee.