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If you’re planning to go diving in Cebu, get ready to experience some of the best waters in the world. Whether you’ve been dreaming of diving amongst giant swirls of sardines or you want to see a whale shark up close. Cebu has it all. In fact, we would recommend a visit to Cebu, even if diving is the only thing you do.
As long-term travelers (over 15 years and over 50 countries), we have seen and done many amazing things around the world. Diving in Cebu genuinely counts as one of our top travel experiences – EVER! So we are very excited to share this article with you to help you plan your own epic diving adventures in Cebu.
This article is for anyone who is interested in diving in Cebu, whether you are completely new to diving or whether you are an advanced diver with plenty of experience.
In this article, we are going to share plenty of practical information, top tips, and recommendations to help you plan your diving trip in Cebu. We will suggest some of the best diving sites (we have even thrown in a super helpful map). We will also recommend some of the best (and most affordable) diving schools. And to help you plan your trip we will also include prices for different diving experiences.
If you are investing time, money, and energy to travel all the way to Cebu, we strongly recommend that you take a little time to plan your trip. Please read this article carefully and fully to make sure that you are equipped with all of the knowledge and information you need to plan your trip.
Why go diving in Cebu?
Cebu is one of the best places to go diving in the Philippines. It has incredible biodiversity, stunning colorful, and healthy coral reef. It also has a very unique and beautiful underwater topography with sea statues, shipwrecks, sea caves, and underwater cliffs to explore. In general, the visibility around Cebu is excellent; the water is generally very clear, and you can normally see at least 10m – 15m underwater (the water visibility does depend on the weather and location).
If you are interested in ocean ecosystems and biodiversity, you will love Cebu. For example, if you choose to dive in the Moalboal area, you are almost guaranteed to see the magnificent sardine run (swirls, arches, and tornadoes of sardines). In this area, you are also very likely to see sea turtles; there is an underwater sea statue and an impressive underwater cliff (coral reef drop-off). Alternatively, if you are interested in larger sea creatures, then head to Oslob, where you can dive with whale sharks. There are also plenty of other unique and beautiful sea creatures such as seahorses, nudibranch, lionfish, clownfish, batfish, and some impressively big banded sea kraits.
Another advantage of diving in Cebu: for many locations around Cebu, you do not need to take a boat to the best dive sites. You can dive straight from the shore. This means that diving is cheaper and more convenient. This is also preferable if you struggle with seasickness (there’s nothing worse than throwing up on the way to a dive!)
If you are interested in learning advanced diving skills, Cebu also has a lot to offer. There are plenty of deeper dive sites where you can reach depths of 40m or more. There are also sea caves. Some diving schools around Cebu also offer night dives.
What are the best dive sites in Cebu?
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE – How to get around in Cebu
In this article, we’re going to focus on three excellent areas for diving in Cebu: Cebu City, Moalboal, and Oslob. Each of these destinations has its own advantages and disadvantages and offers unique experiences. If you’re looking for an affordable and convenient experience, then we recommend Cebu City. There are several diving schools situated on the east coast of Mactan Island (not too far from the airport). If you’re hoping to see the Sardine run and dive with sea turtles, then we recommend heading over to Moalboal. Alternatively, if you would like to dive with whale sharks, then you will need to go to Oslob.
Don’t miss our guide – How to Travel From Cebu City to Moalboal
And also the full guide – How to Travel From Cebu City to Oslob
How much does it cost to dive in Cebu?
The price for diving in Cebu depends on the diving school and also the experience. Generally speaking, diving in Cebu starts at around 1,200 pesos (£17 or $20) for a short dive if you are already open water qualified. If you are diving somewhere that requires a boat journey, it is likely to cost more money. For example, expect to pay around 1,500 – 2,000 pesos (around £20 – £30 or $25 – $35) for a boat diving trip.
If you have not been diving for a long time, then you may need to do a refresher course. This is essentially a short course followed by a dive. If you are hoping to do a refresher dive, it is likely to cost more because they will include a training session, and your guide will also help you manage your equipment throughout the dive. A refresher dive is likely to cost you in the range of 2,000 – 3,000 pesos (£30 – £42 or $35 – $50) depending on the school. Remember, prices in the Philippines are often flexible, so you can barter to get a lower price.
If you are interested in doing a specialist dive (for example, a night dive or a deep dive), you may need an advanced diving certificate (speak to your diving school about their requirements). This is also likely to cost more: 2,000 – 3,000 pesos (£30 – £42 or $35 – $50).
A diving day trip (with several dives and a visit to several stunning sites) is likely to start at around 3,000 pesos (£42 or $50) and they can cost a lot more than this. If you want to do a diving day trip, shop around and don’t forget to barter.
What is the best time of year to dive in Cebu?
The great news is that you can dive all year around in Cebu. Although Cebu does experience a monsoon season, the monsoons are normally less intense than they are on some of the peripheral Filipino islands (Cebu is sheltered by these islands to some extent).
The best months for diving in Cebu are from March to May. On average, these months are relatively hot and dry, and there is less wind and ocean currents. April is the best month of the year to dive with whale sharks. During April, there are typically a higher number of whale sharks in the water, and some of the biggest sharks can be seen at this time of year.
Although it is possible to dive in Cebu throughout the year, November is the worst month for diving. On average, the rainfall is the highest and the conditions are least favorable. During rainy weather, the visibility tends to be reduced, and there are more jellyfish in the water; there are also stronger currents and larger waves during rainy weather.
It is important to be aware that it can rain throughout the year in Cebu, and you can also find plenty of dry days during the rainy season. So, if you are planning a trip to Cebu during November, it is still totally possible to have an amazing diving experience. If you are planning to visit Cebu during the rainy season, we recommend taking more time (if possible) in case your activities are rained off.
Is it worth taking a diving course in Cebu?
If you are interested in learning to dive, then Cebu is a fantastic place. In general, diving courses are quite expensive, and this is true everywhere in the world. In general, Open Water certification starts for around £200 or $250. It is very hard to find courses cheaper than this (anywhere in the world). You can find open water diving courses in Cebu for this kind of price range, so Cebu is amongst the cheapest places in the world to get your Open Water diving certification.
What are the requirements to dive in Cebu?
It is possible to go diving in Cebu with no prior experience or qualifications. If you do not have any experience or qualifications, you will need to do a discovery dive. If you do a discovery dive, you will be under the close supervision and monitoring of a trained instructor who will help introduce you to the equipment, principles of diving, and also help you to operate your equipment. Discovery Dives tend to be in relatively shallow calm water. Discovery Dives don’t normally go much deeper than 5 – 8m. Taking a discovery dive is a fun and affordable way to familiarize yourself with diving and decide whether you want to pursue the Open Water certification.
If you are interested in a more intrepid and adventurous dive, you will need to have the open water diving certificate. SSI and PADI are the most recognized awarding bodies. We recommend traveling with your open water diving certificate; you may need to show your certification when you book your dive.
1 Diving in Cebu City
One of the most convenient places to dive in Cebu is Cebu City. If you are hoping to dive in Cebu City, you will need to go to Mactan Island (this is the airport island). There are plenty of diving schools situated along the east coast of Mactan Island. This is super convenient, especially if you are flying into Cebu. You can go straight to the coast and dive.
What is the best diving school in Cebu City?
We highly recommend taking a dive with the SiDive Diving Centre. If you are interested in fun dives, then you can take a diving day trip to a range of different islands and Marine parks in the area (Olango Island, Gilutongan Island, and the beautiful coral gardens at Nalusuan Island). It is possible to see sardines, turtles, blue-spotted stingray, and huge jackfish in the area (just speak to them about what you are interested in seeing, and they will help match you up with a suitable diving program).
Most of the day Safari experiences range in price from 3,000 pesos to 6,000 pesos (£42 – £84 or $50 – $100), depending on where you want to go and how many dives. The price also depends on the number of people going; it is possible to get a cheaper price if more people take the trip. We recommend contacting them directly to find out more about their day trips and work out the best option for you.
How much is the PADI open water certificate with SiDive?
SiDive is a very popular diving school and for good reason. They offer competitive prices and an innovative training program, including the PADI e-learning. You can take an Open Water course for 14,500 – 15,500 pesos (around £200 – £220 or $250 – $275) – this is consistent with some of the cheapest open water prices in the world. The price includes full PADI e-learning, 5 confined water dives, 4 Open Water dives, equipment, tanks, instruction, and certification. SiDive Diving Centre also offers specialist courses, such as instructor training and kids’ diving experiences. If possible, we recommend booking your dive a few days in advance. Find out more on the Official SiDive Website.
- WhatsApp: +44 786 346 6103
- Email: sidiveph@gmail.com
2 Diving in Moalboal
FULL GUIDE – Everything you need to know about diving in Moalboal
Moalboal, indisputably one of the best diving locations in Cebu, is probably one of the best diving destinations in the Philippines. Moalboal has everything you need for an enjoyable stay. There are plenty of hotels, resorts, and guest houses in the area. You can also find lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants around. If you visit Moalboal don’t miss these fantastic places to eat. As a top diving spot, there are lots of different diving schools and diving centers to choose from. The biodiversity in this area is very impressive.
FIND OUT MORE – The main hub in Moalboal – The Panagsama Beach Area
Moalboal is well-known for the magnificent sardine run. If you go diving in Moalboal, you are almost guaranteed to see huge swirls of sardines swimming around the coral reef drop-off. The reef drop-off is situated around 50m from the shore; it is essentially an impressive underwater cliff covered in reef, extending as deep as 30m or 40m. There are also plenty of other marine organisms to see in the area. You are very likely to see sea turtles if you dive in Moalboal. Another advantage of diving in this area is the price. You do not need to take a boat to access the best diving sites in Moalboal; this keeps the price of diving lower.
What is the best diving school in Moalboal?
For a fantastic and affordable diving experience, check out Floi Diving Centre. If you have your Open Water certificate, you can do a fun dive for 1,200 pesos (£17 or $20) for 40-50 minutes. If you want to reach some dive sites further afield, you can do a boat dive for 1,500 pesos (£20 or $25). They also offer a refresher dive for 2,500 pesos (£35 or $45).
You can also take the PADI Open Water diving course for 17,500 pesos (£240 or $300) for 3 days and 5 dives. The Advanced Open Water course for 17,000 pesos. If you’re looking for something different, you can also do a night dive for 2,000 pesos (around £30 or $35) – this is particularly great for seeing plankton, octopus, and mandarin. Also, if you do not have your own action camera, they offer GoPro rental (500 pesos, one battery). If possible, try to book a day or two in advance.
- Floi Diving Centre
- +63 922 394 9410
- samfloi1519@gmail.com
TOP TIP: You may have heard of an airplane shipwreck in the Moalboal area. However, this disappeared in the 2021 monsoon. You may still find online info about the Cebu Aeroplane Shipwreck – but this is now out of date.
3 Diving in Oslob
DON’T MISS THIS NEED TO READ GUIDE – Whale Sharks in Oslob
If you want one of the most unique and superlative diving experiences in the world, then we recommend diving at Oslob. Oslob is a famous destination for swimming with whale sharks. Many people travel a long way to Oslob and wait many hours in a queue just to get 30 minutes in the water with these magnificent creatures. The normal way to do this is to take one of the boat trips, and you will be able to jump in the water and see the whale sharks swimming past the boats. However, if you are looking for a particularly unique and special experience, you can take a discovery dive in Oslob.
There are several advantages to seeing the whale sharks this way. Firstly, you can spend a lot longer in the water. If you swim with the whale sharks, your experience is limited to 30 minutes. However, if you take a discovery dive, you will generally get around 45 minutes in the water. If you do a discovery dive in Oslob, there is no need to queue up or pre-book your tickets (many people will start queuing as early as 3am to swim). On the other hand, if you go diving at Oslob, you can arrange your slot (no need to get up super early and queue for hours).
The water is not particularly deep here, generally ranging between around 5m and 8m depending on the tide. From this depth, you can clearly see the magnificent whale sharks gracefully swimming over your head.
What is the best diving centre in Oslob?
There are several different diving centres in the area. We recommend the PSI Diving Centre; it is situated right next to the whale shark registration office. It costs around 2,500 pesos for a dive (around £35 or $45). We were quoted different prices for this dive – so ask around and barter! 2,500 pesos is a good price to aim for.
The whale shark dives at Oslob are Discovery Dives, so no prior experience or qualifications are required. This really is open to anyone who wants one of the most unique diving experiences around! The price of the dive fully covers the cost of instruction, equipment, and entry to the water. If you’re planning to scuba dive in Oslob, we do also recommend taking one of the boat trips to swim with the whale sharks. Swimming with whale sharks is a different experience; the whale sharks generally swim along the surface, so if you take one of the boats to swim with them, you will be able to get closer to these majestic creatures.
You can find out more on the Official PSI Facebook Page
