Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Central Visayas

Municipality of Dauin, Negros Oriental Island. Easy shore entry, medium sized reef in relatively shallow water (top part of reef is in 30ft of water, bottom part of reef is in 75 to 80ft. of water). Lot's of marine life, large snappers, rock cod, sweetlips, trumpetfish, schooling jacks, barracuda, batfish, garden eels, a very large resident turtle with remoras, and tons of reef tropicals. This is a must dive for the area.

Soong, Mactan island.

I dove the site twice and was moved by the grandeur of the coral formations. Entering from the nearby site, Kang-Oran, is especially impressive since you move from a very impressive wall to a sloping mass of coral structures that are on the scale of California's Redwoods. They make most other coral reefs look like second or third growth forests in comparison. I've been diving in the best that Indonesia, Palau and Fiji have to offer but nowhere have I seen hard coral structures to match these. You can't drive to this location. There are no roads and no cars on the small island, but there are coral gardens older and more majestic than Wakatobi's.

Black forest is the main attraction of Balicasag island. A nice slope full of small fishes, and deeper, the black forest. Except the black coral, you also can see large schools of silver jacks / surgeon fish, and turtles. SW of Balicasag island. S from the school. Black forest is also known as Northeast slope.

Dauin Sanctury is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Monad Shoal is a Thresher Shark Paradise. Monad Shoal, also known as Shark Point, has now become a World famous dive site. It is the best place in the world and in the Philippines to see the rare and timid Thresher Sharks! This is actually the place that made diving in Malapascua Island famous, with a sunken coral plateau about 20m deep! Here you have the chance of spotting Thresher Sharks which use Monad Shoal as a cleaning station. These sharks normally live in deep water but come here early in the morning to the cleaning station. It is important to stay as quiet as possible when diving there as the Thresher Sharks are very shy creatures. Sightings are not guaranteed but if you dive there for a few days, you have quite high chances to encounter them several times! If there are no Thresher Sharks in sight, you could also keep your eyes out for the the superb Manta Rays gliding around the reef. Or you could always keep your eyes out for Monad Shoal. It is also a great location for Underwater Macro Photography and for critter lovers! Pygmy Seahorses, various species of Nudibranchs, Mantis Shrimps and so much more! The conditions are generally pretty good with 10m to 15m visibility, however with a maximum depth of 24m and occasionally quite strong currents, Padi Open Water Advanced divers will fully enjoy this wonderful dive! It takes about 30min by boat to reach Monad Shoal from Malapascua Island. This is a dawn dive around 6am!

The dive site is located in front of the Dolphin Resort, NW of Moalboal peninsula.

20 min fron marine Station by banker boat Cordova White Sand is also known as Cordova.

N side of Panglao island.

Bahura is a 3.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Dive site in in front of the two warfs and the jetty. The dive site is just in front of Sumisid Loadge Panagsama beach.

Suba Basbas, Mactan Island. 22min from Kon-Tiki.

SW of Moalboal peninsula.

W of Moalboal peninsula. The dive site is in front of two appartments (one white and the other yellow).

clownfish, lionfish and altheas. Off Cebu Island of the Visayas group, next to the shore diving resorts.

S of Panglao Island, Danao. W side of Alona Beach (approx 100m).

Habagat wreck is S from the great wall, at 36m deep. This banca was sunk by the Seaquest Dive Center in 2000. SW of Panglao Island.

S of Balicasag Island.

Libaong. 4km E from Alona Beach.

San Juan, W of Siquijor Island.

W side of Siquijor, S of Paliton Staghorn dive site

San Juan, just in front of the dive shop, W Siquijor Island.

Nice coral structures. W side of Siquijor Island (Just S of West Point)

W of Balicasag Island.

San Juan, W of Siquijor Island.

San Juan near Coco Grove, W of Siquijor Island.

West point of Siquijor Island (Paliton).

Gradual slope from large semi-submerged rocks. Lots of invertebrates such as butifull corals, soft corals and also staghorns, pipes, tunicates and sometime blue spotted rays and turtles. West from Maria city.

This dive site is normally calm but there can be very strong curents sometimes... There is a gentle slope down to 12m that leads to a huge drop-off that goes more than 65m ! Many beautifull corals (including leather corals, soft-corals), fansand sponges and lots of colorful fire hydroids. Pelagic fishs can be seen deeper... Tonga point is located at the northern end of the southwest arm of Siquijor Island. Tonga Point is also known as Tongo Point.

Turtles are often seen at Tongo point S point of the Copton Peninsula

NE of Siquijor island (NE from Villanueva). Tulapus is also known as Tulapus Sanctuary.

750m N of Badian point

Off white beach, just south of Copton Point and Airport point. White beach is also known as Saavedra.

Nice dive site for second dive. There is small caves at 27-30m deep. S of Dolphin house

This site is well known for its large fish shoals, sponges and gorgonians. Lot of Lion Fishes are on the S side. A must! This is the site where the 1st underwater wedding ceremony in Asia was officiated by a Catholic parish priest in Sangi Sunken island, Badian, Cebu, Philippines. Underwater plateau located S of Copton peninsula, SW of Badian Point. Sunken island is also known as Sunken Island Cebu.

Impressive wall ! There is a larger cave at about 30m... Gentle slope with sandy channels on the E side of the dive site. Just in front of the village of Cambakis, NE of Cabilao island.Start on the S side of Cambaquiz beach. Cambaquiz is also known as Cambakis Point.

This is a protected marine site, with large jack shoals. W part of Balicasag island, starting just S of the BIDR resort. Fish Sanctuary is also known as Marine Sanctuary.

NNE of Balicasag island.

Great wall with big Gorgonians. Small caves and overhangings. NW of Cabilao island, just S of shark point view.

Nice wall and sandy plateau. Numerous varieties of hard and soft corals, invertebrates... In front of Looc village, N of Cabilao island. Looc is also known as Talisay Wall.

Rock point borders a protected underwater area. W side of Cabilao island.

Nice sandy slope. Many small invertebrates to look for. E side of Cabilao island

Don't miss the large schools of barracudas! SW side of Cabilao island

Nicely populated steep wall with a panoramic view into the open water. 29 min from Flower Beach Resort

The top of the shoal is about 12m deep. W from San Juan, Siquijor Island.

W side of Apo island (Near Paul's Diving).

A classic dive of Mactan island. Ghost pipefish can be seen there. Only 5km from Kon-Tiki. NE of Mactan island.

Start in front of the guard house, then dive along Gato to the south. There are large rocks covered of gorgonians. A nice dive. Located N from Cebu, Gato Island is a small deserted island. The houseguard is located on the northeast side of Gato island.

Sharks may be seen in deeper water. E point of Apo island.

Maribago. 3min from Kon-Tiki.

Similar as Agus dive site. Agus, Mactan island. 5min from Kon-Tiki.

The Dona Marilyn sunk in 1984. It lays on its starboard. Top of the wreck is 17m, bottom is 35m. SW of Manoc-Manoc island Doña Marilyn Wreck is also known as Manoc Manoc.

This is the best dive of Mactan area. Don't miss it! 7km S of Mactan Island, 20min from Kon-Tiki. Hiltongan Island is also known as Hilutungan Island.

Two dives are possible at Rock Point: The E side and the W side of the cape. The E side goes deeper... Extreme S of Apo Island.

As far as I know, this dive site is still FORBIDDEN ! Extreme N of Moalboal penninsula.

Maribago, Mactan island. 3min from Kon-Tiki. Dive the NE part of the rocks. Whale Rock is also known as Dakit Dakit.

Suba Basbas, Mactan island. The dive site is a litle bit after Marigondon Public Beach. 15min from Kon-Tiki.

E point of Apo island, just S of Mamsa Point.

Torch is strongly recommended, as well as a serious deep dive experience! N from Malapascua Island

The current may be very strong in this area. Take care! Only for diver with current experience. Extreme N of Apo Island.

NW side of Apo Island

Danao. SW of Panglao Island.

NW side of Panglao Island. 15km from Alona Beach.

Look for garden eels at the 20m sandy floor. Near Marine Village. Entry point is S of a nice white cimetery bow-chapel. Santa Maria is also known as Garden Eels.

NE side of Apo island, E from the lighthouse.

Great dive site. Well known for 'Clownfish city' (only 5m deep). SE side of Apo island. Marine Sanctuary is also known as Clownfish city.

NE of Oslob. 1h+ from Marine Village. Luisan Shoal is also known as Caceres Reef.

There are many chances to see Thresher Sharks in the morning. Extreme N of Olango Island. 25min from Kon-Tiki.

To visit the wreck you have to pay 150 pesos to the local responsible people (they come to you with their little banca). It's a big wreck (superferry)the top of the wreck is around 35 meters, the bottom is at exactly 50 meters, not really a marine life (shoal of batfish and few soft coral) the bottom is a sand, to penetrate the wreck is easy, but careful to not be lost inside. They said that the wreck was burn, but i didn't see any trace of fire, some people think that they sank it to get the insurance's money. The mark is the buoy with a little tree on it, just follow the rope of the buoy to go directly on the wreck Liloan Wreck is also known as Liloan superferry, San Juan Wreck.

Good dive site for macro photography with a good diversity of sea life: cuttlefish (with flamboyants), sea snakes and snake eels, seamoths, dragonfish, Pegasus and batfish, seaslugs and a lot of shrimps. Small Island between Cebu tip and Malapascua Island.

Very nice wall running from 30m to 50m deep; with large gorgonian fans, puffer fishes and schools of fusiliers. 20 nautical miles south of Malapascua Island. There is a lighthouse on this small reef.

Pygmee seahorse, sea snakes, gorgonians and black corals... A very nice dive. West side of Gato Island. Gato Island - West is also known as Last Part.

This L shape cave is really great. Once in, just go to the surface and watch the bats! Then go back to the bottom and continue to the NW. There is a nice lightening window on the right (good for photographers). Turn left and you should see the exit. There are often reef sharks at the exit point, or below the large rock just after the exit. The marine life in the cave is really great. A lot of flatworms, sea slugs, crabs, cat sharks... The entrance of the cave is just south of the houseguard, near the surface. A hole allow bats to enter the cave.

Large boulders and a very nice small wall close to the island. Southwest side of Gato island. There is a 'buoy' (boat life jacket) for mooring.

Biton Resort Housereef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Bohol, Anda which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Southern side of Siquijor. West of Lazi.

Industrial Pier - Restricted Access for dive centers which got a permit to dive there. Since December 2008 the pier is in renovation and it's not yet sure, if the site will still have the biological diversity from before. On the last dive there had been many different kinds of frogfishes (pink, black, red-black) and many nudibranches and lots of other stuff. The Pier is also known as Ducumi Pier.

Dauin

Pura Vida Housereef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Atlantis Reef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Perfect place for dive training. Wall starts at about 5 meters debt. 100m out from Alona Beach Alona Beach is also known as House Reef.

Sydney Park is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Masaplod South is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Boluarte is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Philippines, Visayas, Negros, Apo which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.