The Oceans Of Pujada Bay, Mindanao Island, The Philippines
- The Persaud Catalog
- Sep 20, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2025
Today's article shall be discussing the oceans of Pujada Bay, Philippines. Pujada Bay is a bay located in the Southern Philippines, on the island of Mindanao. Mindanao is approximately 946.86 Nautical Miles (1,753.58472 kilometers or 1,089.62703 miles) away from mainland Asia.
On November 17th of 2019, the Bay was put on the Most Beautiful Bays in the World List. For this reason, the bay is well known for being one of the most beautiful, as well as most biodiverse, bays on earth.
The bay is confirmed to have at least 25 genera of both hard & soft coral, & it has at least 2,000 acres worth of mangrove along its coast. In addition to all of this, the bay is known to have at least 19 different species of seagrass. Since the bay is considered to be an international treasure, it is in a protected area. This area covers both the bay itself, & the landscape surrounding it.
In addition to the landscapes surrounding the bay, the islands in the bay are also protected. The bay currently has 4 islands, known as: Pujada Island, Uanivan Island, Oak Island, & Ivy Island.
In addition to absolutely magnificent plant life, the island is rich with marine animals. The largest of these marine animals is known as the Whale Shark. We published an article on this animal on September 10th, for those who are particularly interested.
Apart from being the largest, the whale shark just so happens to be one of the most profitable animals around the island. Many tourists come each year to swim with these sharks, & to get a close look at them. Aside from the whale shark, the island is home to magnificent & illustrious marine life, such as the dugong, sea turtles, & dolphins. Along with the traditional marine fauna, there is plenty of diversity of coral in the bay. Coral from the Montipora, Acropora, & Porites genera can be found plentifully in the bay.
In this article, we will discuss the Salinity, Tides, Marine Geography, & Depth of the waters in the bay, the most prominent marine ecosystems of the bay, the marine flora & fauna of the bay, & how oceanic rising temperatures as well as oceanic acidification have affected the bay. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans in Pujada Bay.
The Salinity, Temperatures, Tides, Marine Geography, & Depth of Pujada Bay
Unfortunately, we cannot find an exact salinity statistic for Pujada Bay. Since the average salinity of the water in the southwestern Pacific is 35 parts per thousand at any given time, it can be assumed that the salinity level falls around that number.
Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This number is called parts per thousand, or practical salinity units. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. Since Pujada Bay is located in the Pacific Ocean, it has a lower salinity than the Atlantic. Salt deposits or brine pools have not been proven to be found around the island in higher concentrations than in other areas.
The oceanic tides of Pujada Bay can be found on a very small number of websites, the most common of which is https://www.tideschart.com. The tides around the island rarely get over 2.1 meters (6.88976 feet) tall, & tend to be quite mild. The temperatures can be found on similar websites, the most common being https://tides4fishing.com. Unfortunately, this website does not give the monthly or yearly averages of the oceanic temperatures of Pujada Bay, so we are unable to provide wetsuit guidance.
Pujada Bay is not currently known to have riptides that are strong enough to cause issues for swimmers. The bay is safe for swimmers, as well as other oceanic activities. The pollution levels of the bay are very mild, & are not harmful to humans. Overall, the bay remains pristine.
Unfortunately, we were unable to find an estimate of the depth of the bay.
The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Pujada Bay
Ecosystem Type No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs
Pujada Bay is known for its beautiful & biodiverse Coral Reefs. Coral reefs are massive structures of coral polyps, typically located along the ocean floor. These coral reefs are a massive hub for marine life, & act as a breeding ground, hunting ground, spawning ground, & shelter. There are various kinds of coral reefs, the most important of which are atoll, barrier, & fringing. The coral reefs in the bay are of the fringing kind, meaning that they grow directly against the shoreline, without any kind of barrier. Currently, there are known to be 25 different genera of coral in the bay, both hard & soft species. The most plentiful genera found in the bay are Montipora, Acropora, & Porites. These coral reefs are usually in shallow areas, & currently there are no known deep-sea coral reefs in the bay.
Ecosystem Type No. 2: Intertidal Zones
Intertidal zones are defined as areas of the shoreline that are exposed to air at low tide, & are submerged at high tide. These intertidal zones often have crustaceans, & bivalves, as well as small fish during high tide. These zones are biodiverse, & are only located directly along the shoreline. Areas such as these are the most vulnerable to human activity as they are the closest to the shoreline.
Ecosystem Type No. 3: Mangrove Forests
Pujada Bay is currently known to have 2,100 acres (3.28125 square miles, or 8.498398 square kilometers) of Mangrove Forest. Mangrove forests are groups of trees that grow in the coastal zone. Pujada Bay has very thick, dense mangrove forests, filled with magnificent marine & terrestrial life. These forests often have very shallow waters around them. Mangrove forests are found in all areas around Pujada Bay, as well as on the majority of the islands in the bay.
The bay has 5 prominent species of mangrove tree, which are: Rhizophora Mucronata (Loop-Root Mangrove), Rhizophora Apiculata (Tall Stilt Mangrove), Sonneratia Alba (Mangrove Apple), Avicennia Marina (White Mangrove), & Bruguiera Gymnorhiza (Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove).
The Documented Marine Flora Of Pujada Bay
Pujada Bay is extremely biodiverse when it comes to Marine Flora. The bay has 9 of the 16 seagrass species found in the Philippines, that we are aware of. No seagrass species found in the bay are known to be endemic; however, this may change. In addition to seagrasses, 5 species of mangrove trees grow alongside the bay. These species of mangrove have evolved to tolerate high salinity levels, which gives them the ability to grow directly in the bay water. Below, we will list, & provide information about each of these species.
No. 1: Rhizophora Mucronata (Loop-Root Mangrove)
Rhizophora Mucronata is a species of Mangrove found alongside the coasts of eastern Africa, & the eastern areas of Asia. They grow to be an average of 37.5 feet (11.43 meters) tall, & are listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List.
No. 2: Rhizophora Apiculata (Tall Stilt Mangrove)
Rhizophora Apiculata is a species of mangrove native to Micronesia, & Southeast Asia. They are able to grow to an approximate maximum of 20 meters (65.6168 feet) tall, & have been categorized under Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
No. 3: Sonneratia Alba (Mangrove Apple)
Sonneratia Alba is a species of mangrove native to Australia, East Africa, India, Southeast Asia, & the Western Pacific Regions. They can grow to an approximate maximum of 30 meters tall. The IUCN has examined them, & has categorized them under Least Concern.
No. 4: Avicennia Marina (White / Grey Mangrove)
Avicennia Marina is a species of mangrove native to Southeast Asia, India, Eastern Africa, Australia, & various Pacific Islands. They can grow to an approximate maximum of 30 meters tall. They are most commonly found in tidal mudflats. The IUCN has examined them, & has categorized them under Least Concern.
No. 5: Bruguiera Gymnorhiza (Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove)
Bruguiera Gymnorhiza is a species of mangrove native to Oceania, Australia, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Southwest Asia, & Western Africa. They can grow to an approximate maximum of 20 meters. It has been examined by the IUCN, & has been categorized under Least Concern.
The Documented Marine Fauna Of Pujada Bay
Pujada Bay is extremely biodiverse when it comes to marine animals. Dugongs, Whale Sharks, fish, & turtles are just a few of the many animals that reside in the bay. Despite being extremely biodiverse, there is not a large amount of information on what exact species reside in the bay. For this reason, we cannot provide any more information for this section.
How Ocean Acidification & Rising Oceanic Temperatures Are Affecting Pujada Bay, & Their Future Effects
Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years, post-industrial revolution. When carbon dioxide contacts seawater, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive hydrogen ions, which causes increased oceanic positively-charged hydrogen ion concentrations & decreased oceanic pH. This off-balance pH can cause the coral in the bay to become stressed out, & possibly bleach. These coral reefs are vital to the marine life, so once they bleach, the ecosystem around them collapses along with it. In addition to the marine life, these coral reefs are extremely important to the local fishing industry, meaning that economic loss will also occur.
Currently, only 2% of coral reefs in the Philippines as a whole are considered to be in excellent condition, which shows that the effects of ocean acidification, & global warming are actively taking hold. If conservation efforts do not begin, then a catastrophe is soon to occur. Thankfully, there is at least 1 organization that is attempting to restore damaged coral reefs in the bay, using 3D-printed clay bricks. This organization is known as RRReefs, & their website is as follows: https://www.rrreefs.com.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Rappler’s ‘Virtual cesspool’ story on Pujada Bay debunked by DENR“, Written By Unknown, & Published on July 8th, 2022. Published by Edge Davao. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) in Mangrove Forests of Pujada Bay, Davao Oriental, Philippines”, Written by Neil Angelo S. Abreo, Stefenie Katrin V. Siblos, & Edison D. Macusi, & Published on April 13th, 2020. Published by the Journal Of Marine & Island Culture. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “Loop-Root Mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Garden Association. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 4: “Rhizophora Apiculata”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 5: “Rhizophora Apiculata”, Written by Unclear & Last Updated on March 7th, 2008. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 6: “Sonneratia Alba”, Written by Unknown, Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 7: “Sonneratia Alba”, Written By Unknown, & Last Updated on March 7th, 2008. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 8: “Avicennia Marina”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The Tropical Plants Database. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 9: “Avicennia Marina”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 10: “Bruguiera Gymnorhiza”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Mangrove. AT. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 11: “Bruguiera Gymnorhiza” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 12: “Bruguiera Gymnorhiza”, Written By Unknown, & Last Updated March 7th, 2008. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
Citation No. 13: “Pujada Bay, Philippines”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by RRReefs. Retrieval Date: January 6th, 2024.
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P. R. Ochoa
What an insightful and beautifully detailed article about Pujada Bay, Mindanao! 🌊 The depth of information on the region’s biodiversity, coral species, and marine life such as whale sharks and dugongs truly highlights why it’s considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It’s refreshing to see content that blends scientific accuracy with appreciation for natural beauty — something every nature lover and environmental enthusiast would enjoy.
I especially appreciate the section discussing the salinity and tidal patterns, which adds an educational touch for readers interested in marine geography. Protecting places like Pujada Bay is essential for preserving not only their ecological balance but also the livelihoods of communities that depend on eco-tourism.
By the way, your structured…