Top Dive Spots in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Capitancillo Island. This small islet is located at the northern part of Cebu, particularly in Bogo City. It can be reached by two- to three-hour travel by bus from Cebu City, and then by an estimated 20- minute boat ride from the Marangog Cove in Bogo. The diving site in Capitancillo has a maximum depth of around 50 feet and a normal visibility of 20 to 30 meters. The underwater features colorful corals, small and large shoals of pelagic species, various kinds of reef fish, and white tip and grey reef sharks.

Mactan Island. Located just a few kilometers away from Cebu City, the small island is separated from the Cebu mainland by the Mactan Channel. It can be reached through two bridges, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. Several diving spots are found at Mactan Island itself as well as on the neighboring islets of Olango, Nalusuan, Amboucuan, and the others. The common maximum depth of the dive spots here is around 180 feet and maximum visibility is 100 meters. Underwater caves and several astonishing drop-offs can be found in the area. Colorful sea creatures also abound in these areas, like tuna, barracuda, surgeon fish, dendrophyllia hard tree corals, tubastrea cup corals, batfish, squirrelfish, Moorish idols, lionfish, and a lot more.

Pescador Island. This islet is located in the Tañon Strait, in the western coast of Cebu. It is part of the municipality of Moalboal. Its surrounding waters are extremely deep, reaching 600 meters down, with maximum visibility of around 30 to 40 meters. Diving in this spot is said to be every diver’s dream, and really quite adventure. The area is home to huge schools of sardines, as well as wide variety of beautiful corals, anemones, lionfish, turtles, frogfish, sweet lips, and more.

Malapascua Island. This small island is located in the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. It is about a four-hour bus ride from the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City to barangay Maya in Daanbantayan town, from where it takes another 45 minutes by boat to the Malapascua. This world-class diving site attracts divers from around the world. It is a scenic island with lots of diving attractions, the most famous of which are the thresher sharks. These sharks gather by dawn in the Monad Shoal, to be cleaned by a group of wrasses. There can also be sightings of the huge Manta Rays at Malapascua. Devil Rays and Marble Rays are seen occasionally, as well, are turtles and whale sharks. On a nearby Gato Island an abundant variety of sea creatures like sea snakes, frogfish, nudibranchs, black-tip sharks, bobtail squid, blue ring octopus, harlequin shrimp, ghost shrimp, xenon crabs, sea hares, sea stars, and many more are common sights. (www.cebucitytour.com)

Kansantik. This dive spot is an underwater mountain located at the center of Olango Channel. Only the most experienced divers are encouraged to dive here and should come in only small groups because the current is quite strong. It has a maximum depth of more than 165 feet and the visibility is up to 130 feet. Stony, soft, and whip corals can be seen in this dive spot as well as other sea creatures like Moorish fish, huge sponges, snappers, and schools of fishes. (FREEMAN)