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Fue en esta isla donde Fernando de Magallanes puso por primera vez pie en tierras Filipinas
en 1521. Incluso antes de su llegada, los comerciantes de China ya abundaban en esta
provincia. Su prosperidad ha continuado hasta convertir a Cebu en la Reina del Sur, con su
capital igual o mas desarrollada que la capital Manila.
Cebu se encuentra a 365 millas de Manila y dispone de aeropuerto internacional. A pocos
minutos de la ciudad y del aeropuerto se encuentran playas de arena blanca y aguas azules
cristalinas con abundantes corales y fauna marina. Sus principales zonas de buceo se
encuentran en las islas coralinas de Mactan donde se encuentra el aeropuerto de Cebu,
Olango frente a la isla de Mactan, Malapascua a unas 3 horas al norte de Cebu famosa por
los tiburones “zorro marino” y Moalboal a unas 2 horas al suroeste de Cebu, aunque muchos
buceadores que salen de Mactan llegan hasta Cabilao, islote perteneciente a Bohol.
Dive Sites de Mactan
MACTAN ISLAND
Is nearest dive site in Cebu. Minutes away from an international airport, you could be in the
water in less than 30 minutes. Mactan is a long stretch of dive sites from Punta Engaño to
Cordova. There are two feeding areas ranging from an 80ft/27m wall in Tambuli and 15ft/5m
in Costabella. Aside from a long stretch of wall diving, Mactan has a huge underwater cave a
short walk away from Plantation Bay Hotel, Marigondon. The current is very strong and the top
most part of the cave mouth starts at 100ft/33m up to 150ft/50m.
OLANGO ISLAND
Is sometimes mistaken for Santa Rosa, has one of the deepest wall dives around. Baring dive
site is along the North-Western side of the Island and the wall starts at 60ft/20m and ends
down to about 220ft/73m before disappearing on a gradual slope. This area is known for
strong currents and big pelagic. There are two large resident sharks (hammerhead &
thresher) that have been spotted on and off for the last 10 years.
NALUSU-AN ISLAND
Is another adjacent small Island that shares the same wall as Baring but is located at the most
Southern tip of the Olango reef. A fish sanctuary was established years ago and this is a very
popular place for divers and non-divers. The wall starts at 20ft/7m and drops as deep as
160ft/53m. The current is mild with great visibility. Corals, fish and pelagic are a common site.
SULPA
Like Nalusu-an, is another small island that is very popular for non-divers as well as divers.
Sharing the same wall of Olango Island, divers would not be able to tell the difference between
Sulpa and Nalusu-An Island underwater.
Dive Sites de Moalboal
A unos 4 kilómetros a las afuera del pueblo se encuentra la famosa playa de Panagsama,
lugar donde se popularizó el submarinismo en Filipinas en los años 80. La isla de Pescador
es un santuario marino de gran prestigio en el mundo.
COPTION POINT (75ft/25m)
Location: West Point of the northern end of the Coption Peninsula.
Attraction:Napoleon Wrasse,Banded Sea Snakes, Spot Tail Sand Perch, Fire Gobies and
colorful corals.Coption Point is a steep sandy slope that is rich in healthy soft, leathery and
stony colorful corals.As the current rises to futher north the wall rises to 4m (13ft).This is very
much of a drift dive.
SAAVEDRA(White Beach) (75ft/25m)
LOcation: Off the beach, just south of the Coption Point
Attraction: nudibranchs, feather duster Worms and colorful corals
Saavedra is much like the Coption Point but with more slope and less wall.
BAS DIOT (45ft/15m)
Location: Drop-Off by the Moalboal Reef Club
Attraction: Plentiful of butterflyfish and Bubble Coral
Bas Diot is a drop off with a reef-top that exhibits typhoon damage with variety of scorpionfish,
sea cucumbers, sea urchins,goatfish,small shoals of catfish, colorful soft corals, gorgonian
sea fans,crinoids, smaller angelfish, butterflyfish and Bubble Coral.
TONGO POINT (75ft/25m)
Location: The southern point of Coption Peninsula
Attraction:Invertebrates and coral life
Tongo Point is shallow, with lots of small holes and crevices. To reach the Underwater Island or
Lambug, you have to drop at 80 ft.This site is not very good of fish but has plenty of
invertebrates and coral life, with large gorgonian sea fans.
PESCADOR ISLAND (150ft/50m)
Location:southwest of Tongo Point in the Tanon Strait
Attraction: Pescador Cathedral
This is the best diving area of Cebu.Pescador Island is an open top funnel that bottoms out.
It also has a wall that overhangs, cracks and crevices with gorgonian sea fans, black coral,
large barrel and tube sponges.The fish life includes just about everything: sweetlips, jacks,
barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse,Moorish idols, parrotfish, Whitetip and Grey Reef Shark, lionfish,
Zebra Lionfish,scorpionfish, stonefish, moray eels, sea snakes, Hammerhead sharks, Manta
Rays and Spanish Dancer nudibranchs.
BADIAN ISLAND (75ft/25m)
Location: North Badian Point
Attraction: Whalesharks, Gorgonian sea fans
A drop-off expect to see some big gorgonians sea fans, colorful soft coral, sponges,
nudibranchs, angelfish and butterflyfish.
SUNKEN ISLAND (75ft/25m)
Location: Southwest of Badian Point
Attraction: Large shoals, Big barrel sponges, large soft corals and huge gorgonian sea fans.
It is an open water dive where you have to get down to 25m quickly, it not a novices. The main
reason for the dive is the chance of seeing large shoals of fish, big barrrel sponges, large soft
corals and huge gorgonian sea fans.
Dive Sites de Malapascua
MALAPASCUA ISLAND
“North Point” is used as our house reef, although it takes a short boat ride. The rock formation
and small canyons on the northern part of Malapascua are covered with beautiful hard and
soft corals. A wide variety of reef fish, different kinds of rays, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, shell can
be found here as well as huge crabs. This place is also known for its beautiful night dive
possibilities (max depth 69ft/23m.
GATO ISLAND
The name of the Island was derived from the Spanish term “Gato” meaning cat. This is
because the Island is shaped like a sitting cat. The Island is a protected marine sanctuary. It
has become famous as a breeding place for the "black & white banded" sea snakes and also
for his sleeping sharks. The Island has spectacular caves & rock formations, and steep walls
and rocks are covered by beautifully coloured gorgonian sea fans. On the different dive spots
around the Island you can find lots of nudibranchs as well as sea horses, shells, shrimps, sea
snakes, scorpion fish, frogfish, big cuttlefish, stingrays, whitetip sharks, reef sharks, bamboo
sharks, schools of squids, tuna and snappers. It is an underwater haven for macro
photographers. Besides 3 underwater caves there is a tunnel system, which runs under the
northern part of the Island starting at 15ft/5m with a large exit at 42ft/14m. It contains all kinds
of interesting sea life like lobsters, crabs and even sleeping whitetips. Only the more
experienced divers can enter the tunnel and a torch is always needed (max depth 81ft/27m
with an average depth 48ft/16m).
MONAD SHOAL
This dive spot is big sunken Island rising up from the ocean floor. The flat reef top is around
45ft/15m and the steep drop off is going down to approximately 600ft/200m. It has spectacular
overhangs and walls, disappearing into the endless deep blue ocean. Big schools of tuna,
jacks and barracudas can be seen here. Sharks are common in this area and more
occasionally even hammerheads. Visibility can reach up to 100ft/30m. But one of the real
special events in this area is the close encounter with the breathtaking THRESHER SHARKS
that circle in front of you acting like cats with their long tails waving around. Other highlights
are the Manta Rays you can see from May until January. Another comparable shoal South of
Monad although much smaller is Kimot.
CALANGGAMAN ISLAND
On your way to this real little bounty Island the boat is often escorted by shoals of dolphins. It
is a little paradise Island with only few inhabitants, which makes a perfect stop between two
dives. It is also a perfect place for non-divers who can just stroll around, explore or sunbathe.
Apart from this Island there are two nearby shoals with similar profiles: Ormoc and Nunez
Shoal. All sites have shallow reef tops at 30ft/10m leading to drop-off, descending to more
than 600ft/200m, caves and overhangs with nice sponges, corals and gorgonians all varieties
of reef fish, eagle rays, sharks and occasional turtle. Visibility can reach 100ft/30m.
DONA MARILYN WRECK
This is a big Manila/Cebu ferry that went down 1984 in a typhoon and is known as " The most
beautiful wreck in the Visayas". The area is around 300ft/100m long ferry, lying on its portside
and it can be entered safe in some areas. The wreck is partly overgrown with hard and
beautiful colored soft corals. Scorpionfish, Lionfish and other tropical fish find already a place
here. Big black spotted stingrays are usually around. The stern is bottoming at around
48ft/16m (max depth 105ft/35m).
DON MACARIO WRECK
A 90ft/30m long cargo vessel that was sunk by a typhoon. Now it is resting upside down with
corals growing on and around it. It is a good wreck for novices. Point of interest angel and
butterfly fish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, sea snakes etc. (max depth 57ft/19m)
CHOCOLATE ISLAND
A little rocky island between Malapascua and the north point of Cebu mainland. Along its
gently sloping sides you can find coral heads and beautiful soft corals. There are many small
reef fish and occasionally eagle rays (max depth 54ft/18m).
TAPILON JAPANESE WRECK
This is a heavily torpedoed World War II Cargo vessel broken into 3 major pieces and is
resting in a depth between 60ft/20m to 90ft/30m with lots of wreck debris scattered all around.
It is possible to see tiles on the wreck wall, steel cable, ladders and more, also lot of moray
eels, scorpion fish, flatworms and occasional huge frogfish.
PIONEER JAPANESE WRECK
This is a surprisingly intact Japanese World War II vessel about 180ft/60m long is standing up
right with the bow bottoming at 162ft/54m and the stern bottoming at around 120ft/40m. The
wreck is overgrown with beautiful corals and even the propeller and anchors are still there.
The wreck has an excellent fish life; massive scorpionfish, eagle rays, large groupers and
shoals of barracuda, tuna and snappers are found it. This is a very spooky but excellent
wreck dive and strictly limited to experienced and qualified divers only.
MARAPIPI
A real frontiers dive destination to the reefs around this beautiful volcanic island. This dive trip
is offered as a little overnight safari, Very good corals and all kinds of reef fish. On the coral
rubble sloping, blacktip, reef sharks are common. An occasional manta and eagle rays are
present. Dolphins are also around this island.
CAPITANCILLO ISLET
This six-hectare low, flat coralline islet, which is located between Cebu and Leyte. The Islet
offers excellent opportunities especially at the deeper portions for it exhibits a dense
population of pelagic such as jacks and tuna. A rare black coral formation is also present.
en 1521. Incluso antes de su llegada, los comerciantes de China ya abundaban en esta
provincia. Su prosperidad ha continuado hasta convertir a Cebu en la Reina del Sur, con su
capital igual o mas desarrollada que la capital Manila.
Cebu se encuentra a 365 millas de Manila y dispone de aeropuerto internacional. A pocos
minutos de la ciudad y del aeropuerto se encuentran playas de arena blanca y aguas azules
cristalinas con abundantes corales y fauna marina. Sus principales zonas de buceo se
encuentran en las islas coralinas de Mactan donde se encuentra el aeropuerto de Cebu,
Olango frente a la isla de Mactan, Malapascua a unas 3 horas al norte de Cebu famosa por
los tiburones “zorro marino” y Moalboal a unas 2 horas al suroeste de Cebu, aunque muchos
buceadores que salen de Mactan llegan hasta Cabilao, islote perteneciente a Bohol.
Dive Sites de Mactan
MACTAN ISLAND
Is nearest dive site in Cebu. Minutes away from an international airport, you could be in the
water in less than 30 minutes. Mactan is a long stretch of dive sites from Punta Engaño to
Cordova. There are two feeding areas ranging from an 80ft/27m wall in Tambuli and 15ft/5m
in Costabella. Aside from a long stretch of wall diving, Mactan has a huge underwater cave a
short walk away from Plantation Bay Hotel, Marigondon. The current is very strong and the top
most part of the cave mouth starts at 100ft/33m up to 150ft/50m.
OLANGO ISLAND
Is sometimes mistaken for Santa Rosa, has one of the deepest wall dives around. Baring dive
site is along the North-Western side of the Island and the wall starts at 60ft/20m and ends
down to about 220ft/73m before disappearing on a gradual slope. This area is known for
strong currents and big pelagic. There are two large resident sharks (hammerhead &
thresher) that have been spotted on and off for the last 10 years.
NALUSU-AN ISLAND
Is another adjacent small Island that shares the same wall as Baring but is located at the most
Southern tip of the Olango reef. A fish sanctuary was established years ago and this is a very
popular place for divers and non-divers. The wall starts at 20ft/7m and drops as deep as
160ft/53m. The current is mild with great visibility. Corals, fish and pelagic are a common site.
SULPA
Like Nalusu-an, is another small island that is very popular for non-divers as well as divers.
Sharing the same wall of Olango Island, divers would not be able to tell the difference between
Sulpa and Nalusu-An Island underwater.
Dive Sites de Moalboal
A unos 4 kilómetros a las afuera del pueblo se encuentra la famosa playa de Panagsama,
lugar donde se popularizó el submarinismo en Filipinas en los años 80. La isla de Pescador
es un santuario marino de gran prestigio en el mundo.
COPTION POINT (75ft/25m)
Location: West Point of the northern end of the Coption Peninsula.
Attraction:Napoleon Wrasse,Banded Sea Snakes, Spot Tail Sand Perch, Fire Gobies and
colorful corals.Coption Point is a steep sandy slope that is rich in healthy soft, leathery and
stony colorful corals.As the current rises to futher north the wall rises to 4m (13ft).This is very
much of a drift dive.
SAAVEDRA(White Beach) (75ft/25m)
LOcation: Off the beach, just south of the Coption Point
Attraction: nudibranchs, feather duster Worms and colorful corals
Saavedra is much like the Coption Point but with more slope and less wall.
BAS DIOT (45ft/15m)
Location: Drop-Off by the Moalboal Reef Club
Attraction: Plentiful of butterflyfish and Bubble Coral
Bas Diot is a drop off with a reef-top that exhibits typhoon damage with variety of scorpionfish,
sea cucumbers, sea urchins,goatfish,small shoals of catfish, colorful soft corals, gorgonian
sea fans,crinoids, smaller angelfish, butterflyfish and Bubble Coral.
TONGO POINT (75ft/25m)
Location: The southern point of Coption Peninsula
Attraction:Invertebrates and coral life
Tongo Point is shallow, with lots of small holes and crevices. To reach the Underwater Island or
Lambug, you have to drop at 80 ft.This site is not very good of fish but has plenty of
invertebrates and coral life, with large gorgonian sea fans.
PESCADOR ISLAND (150ft/50m)
Location:southwest of Tongo Point in the Tanon Strait
Attraction: Pescador Cathedral
This is the best diving area of Cebu.Pescador Island is an open top funnel that bottoms out.
It also has a wall that overhangs, cracks and crevices with gorgonian sea fans, black coral,
large barrel and tube sponges.The fish life includes just about everything: sweetlips, jacks,
barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse,Moorish idols, parrotfish, Whitetip and Grey Reef Shark, lionfish,
Zebra Lionfish,scorpionfish, stonefish, moray eels, sea snakes, Hammerhead sharks, Manta
Rays and Spanish Dancer nudibranchs.
BADIAN ISLAND (75ft/25m)
Location: North Badian Point
Attraction: Whalesharks, Gorgonian sea fans
A drop-off expect to see some big gorgonians sea fans, colorful soft coral, sponges,
nudibranchs, angelfish and butterflyfish.
SUNKEN ISLAND (75ft/25m)
Location: Southwest of Badian Point
Attraction: Large shoals, Big barrel sponges, large soft corals and huge gorgonian sea fans.
It is an open water dive where you have to get down to 25m quickly, it not a novices. The main
reason for the dive is the chance of seeing large shoals of fish, big barrrel sponges, large soft
corals and huge gorgonian sea fans.
Dive Sites de Malapascua
MALAPASCUA ISLAND
“North Point” is used as our house reef, although it takes a short boat ride. The rock formation
and small canyons on the northern part of Malapascua are covered with beautiful hard and
soft corals. A wide variety of reef fish, different kinds of rays, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, shell can
be found here as well as huge crabs. This place is also known for its beautiful night dive
possibilities (max depth 69ft/23m.
GATO ISLAND
The name of the Island was derived from the Spanish term “Gato” meaning cat. This is
because the Island is shaped like a sitting cat. The Island is a protected marine sanctuary. It
has become famous as a breeding place for the "black & white banded" sea snakes and also
for his sleeping sharks. The Island has spectacular caves & rock formations, and steep walls
and rocks are covered by beautifully coloured gorgonian sea fans. On the different dive spots
around the Island you can find lots of nudibranchs as well as sea horses, shells, shrimps, sea
snakes, scorpion fish, frogfish, big cuttlefish, stingrays, whitetip sharks, reef sharks, bamboo
sharks, schools of squids, tuna and snappers. It is an underwater haven for macro
photographers. Besides 3 underwater caves there is a tunnel system, which runs under the
northern part of the Island starting at 15ft/5m with a large exit at 42ft/14m. It contains all kinds
of interesting sea life like lobsters, crabs and even sleeping whitetips. Only the more
experienced divers can enter the tunnel and a torch is always needed (max depth 81ft/27m
with an average depth 48ft/16m).
MONAD SHOAL
This dive spot is big sunken Island rising up from the ocean floor. The flat reef top is around
45ft/15m and the steep drop off is going down to approximately 600ft/200m. It has spectacular
overhangs and walls, disappearing into the endless deep blue ocean. Big schools of tuna,
jacks and barracudas can be seen here. Sharks are common in this area and more
occasionally even hammerheads. Visibility can reach up to 100ft/30m. But one of the real
special events in this area is the close encounter with the breathtaking THRESHER SHARKS
that circle in front of you acting like cats with their long tails waving around. Other highlights
are the Manta Rays you can see from May until January. Another comparable shoal South of
Monad although much smaller is Kimot.
CALANGGAMAN ISLAND
On your way to this real little bounty Island the boat is often escorted by shoals of dolphins. It
is a little paradise Island with only few inhabitants, which makes a perfect stop between two
dives. It is also a perfect place for non-divers who can just stroll around, explore or sunbathe.
Apart from this Island there are two nearby shoals with similar profiles: Ormoc and Nunez
Shoal. All sites have shallow reef tops at 30ft/10m leading to drop-off, descending to more
than 600ft/200m, caves and overhangs with nice sponges, corals and gorgonians all varieties
of reef fish, eagle rays, sharks and occasional turtle. Visibility can reach 100ft/30m.
DONA MARILYN WRECK
This is a big Manila/Cebu ferry that went down 1984 in a typhoon and is known as " The most
beautiful wreck in the Visayas". The area is around 300ft/100m long ferry, lying on its portside
and it can be entered safe in some areas. The wreck is partly overgrown with hard and
beautiful colored soft corals. Scorpionfish, Lionfish and other tropical fish find already a place
here. Big black spotted stingrays are usually around. The stern is bottoming at around
48ft/16m (max depth 105ft/35m).
DON MACARIO WRECK
A 90ft/30m long cargo vessel that was sunk by a typhoon. Now it is resting upside down with
corals growing on and around it. It is a good wreck for novices. Point of interest angel and
butterfly fish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, sea snakes etc. (max depth 57ft/19m)
CHOCOLATE ISLAND
A little rocky island between Malapascua and the north point of Cebu mainland. Along its
gently sloping sides you can find coral heads and beautiful soft corals. There are many small
reef fish and occasionally eagle rays (max depth 54ft/18m).
TAPILON JAPANESE WRECK
This is a heavily torpedoed World War II Cargo vessel broken into 3 major pieces and is
resting in a depth between 60ft/20m to 90ft/30m with lots of wreck debris scattered all around.
It is possible to see tiles on the wreck wall, steel cable, ladders and more, also lot of moray
eels, scorpion fish, flatworms and occasional huge frogfish.
PIONEER JAPANESE WRECK
This is a surprisingly intact Japanese World War II vessel about 180ft/60m long is standing up
right with the bow bottoming at 162ft/54m and the stern bottoming at around 120ft/40m. The
wreck is overgrown with beautiful corals and even the propeller and anchors are still there.
The wreck has an excellent fish life; massive scorpionfish, eagle rays, large groupers and
shoals of barracuda, tuna and snappers are found it. This is a very spooky but excellent
wreck dive and strictly limited to experienced and qualified divers only.
MARAPIPI
A real frontiers dive destination to the reefs around this beautiful volcanic island. This dive trip
is offered as a little overnight safari, Very good corals and all kinds of reef fish. On the coral
rubble sloping, blacktip, reef sharks are common. An occasional manta and eagle rays are
present. Dolphins are also around this island.
CAPITANCILLO ISLET
This six-hectare low, flat coralline islet, which is located between Cebu and Leyte. The Islet
offers excellent opportunities especially at the deeper portions for it exhibits a dense
population of pelagic such as jacks and tuna. A rare black coral formation is also present.
