News

In recent years, the sardine run off the coast of South Africa has garnered significant attention in the diving and underwater photography communities; but now, a new sardine run in the Philippines is attracting a whole new audience.

Virtually unheard of even three years ago, the sardine run in the Philippines brings millions of undulating sardines to the surface much like the run in South Africa. It was first reported by Michael AW swelling around the island of Pescador, near Cebu; and in a new article featured in the Daily Mail, DPG member Alexey Stoyda shares his own experience with the phenomenon.

“As our boat approached the island I suddenly saw an enormous shoal in an area of water no more than one meter deep,” Stoyda recalls in an interview with the Daily Mail. “As we began to descend deeper, the shoal seemed like a living, moving wall. At a depth of 30m, the ball of sardines was so dense there was no visible sun.”

The event repeated itself the next two years, and reports indicate that the shoal increased in size following the initial encounter. By July of the last several years, the movement of the sardines has attracted large predators seen scarcely hunting in large bait balls- whale sharks and thresher sharks. Check out the article in the Daily Mail to see some of Stoyda’s amazing photos taken during the experience.

“It was an unforgettable experience, which I’m not sure any photograph can fully convey.”