One of the popular destinations that has become synonymous with world-class scuba diving is the Philippines. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, these group of islands is home to the highest concentration of marine life in the world living very close to its coast. Among its top scuba diving sites is Cebu. With thousands of sharks, crustaceans, fish, and other sea-dwelling creatures calling its shores home, you should make it your goal to visit this destination. Whether you are a first-time diver or a professional one, here are the top diving sites is Cebu.
Capitancillo Island
Located at Bogo in the northern part of Cebu is Capitancillo Island. Accessing this scuba diving paradise is fast and easy. You can either reach Capitancillo from the Marangig Cove by a 20 minute boat ride, or by bus from Cebu City which will take you about 2 to 3 hours. The normal visibility in this island’s diving site ranges from 20 to 30 meters and it’s maximum diving depth is around 50 feet. When you visit this diving spot, you’ll get to see grey reef and white top sharks, many kinds of reef fish, small and large shoals of pelagic species, and colorful corals.
Mactan Island
Another must-visit site for any diver regardless of experience is Mactan Island. This spot is nestled just a few kilometers from Cebu’s main island and you can reach it by crossing the Mactan Channel via the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. You’ll find sites to dive in the main island as well as the nearby islets of this destination. These sites include Amboucuan, Nalusuan, and Ooango among just to name a few. One of the things you’ll love about Mactan as a diver are it’s waters visibility and depth. For instance, you’ll have a visibility of 100 meters while diving in most of its spots whose depths go as deep as 180 feet. Other than several astonishing drop-offs and caves, also expect to see a wide variety of marine life in these areas, such as lionfish, Moorish idols, squirrelfish, batfiish, Tubastrea cup corals, dendrophyllia hard tree corals, surgeon fish, barracuda, tuna, and more.
Kansantik
For experienced divers, the best destination in Cebu is Kansantik. Located in the center of Olango Channel, this destination features an underwater mountain dive spot with a current that is quite strong, which is the main reason why the most seasoned divers are allowed to dive here and only in small. The maximum visibility at Kansantik is around 130 feet and the depth more than 165 feet. Marine life found here include snappers, huge sponges, Moorish fish, schools of fishes, and stony, soft and whip corals.
Pescador Island
Located in the Tañon Strait in the western coast of Cebu is Pescador Island. The maximum visibility of the waters here is 30 to 40 meters and the depth in some areas, especially along the Tañon Strait is extreme at nearly 600 meters deep! Expect to see a wide variety of beautiful corals, sweet lips, frogfish, turtles, lionfish, anemones, sardines, and other sea creatures when you scuba dive at this spot.
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