Mactan Island Dive Spots

• Tweet
• Pin It

The province of Cebu is blessed with a rich marine life, providing divers with spectacular and breathtaking sights. Mactan Island in particular offers the perfect dive spots, which are very accessible since they are about 15 minutes from the airport and about 45 minutes from Cebu City.

While diving in Cebu can practically be done all year round, the recommended months are between March and June, as well as September and December.  Looking for the perfect spots won’t be that hard as majority of the resorts in Mactan have diving tours that offer trainings and equipment rentals.

The dive sites mainly offer exhilarating drop-offs that go down from 30 feet to about 130 feet deep in a single near-vertical wall. There are established dive sites in Mactan facing Olango Island. Other dive spots are found between Engaño Point and Amboucuan Point. However, they are a bit dangerous because of the number beach resorts along the stretch, where tourists usually ride boats and jet skis.

Image source: kontikidivers.com

It is our pleasure to share with you some of the spectacular dive spots in Mactan. Marigondon Cave, which is situated 100 meters offshore in the Hilutungan Channel from Amboucuan. It is strictly for professional divers because it is very deep and it is known for its violent currents. Most resorts have native outrigger boats that will bring you to the area for about 10-15 minutes. The drop off is usually before the cave at 90 feet. The average dive depth is 100 feet and the maximum is 180 feet. Apart from the lion fish, the cave is known for the stunning flashlight fish.

North of Marigondon Cave is Agus Reef, which is rich in moray ells, soldier fish, lionfish, pipe fish, sea cucumber, and sea snakes. While this spot is perfect for novices as it is generally safe, professionals still visit the place because of the wonderful view it offers.

Like Agus Reef, Kontiki Reef is recommended for beginners. It slowly slopes to approximately 30 feet and drops to around 100 feet, where steep slopes and drop-offs get deeper over 320 feet. Though it can be very deep, it is pretty safe as the waters are generally calm.

Located at the northern tip of Mactan Island, alongside the Gilutongan Channel is Shangri-la House Reef. It is known for its brilliant coral formations that would certainly attract underwater photographers. Drop-offs go from 90 feet to 160 feet. Amid the corals is a great assortment of attractive invertebrates. It is abundant in lionfish, barracuda, parrotfish, jacks, and silver batfish.

Other magnificent sites in Mactan are Marine Station Sanctuary, Tambuli Reef & Airplane Wreck, Coral Reef, Cabilao Island, Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary, and Nalusuan Island Marine Sanctuary.

Just a warning: inexperienced divers should always be escorted by professionals because of sudden surges and tough currents.

View Larger Map

About Us

Related Posts

• 

  Maya’s Native Garden
  Maya’s Native Garden
• 

  Cebu’s top scuba locations
  Cebu’s top scuba locations
• 

  Evolution and The Craic House
  Evolution and The Craic House
• 

  Dive Scotty
  Dive Scotty

One Comment

1. Pingback: Everything Cebu | Cebu’s top scuba locations