Cebu is a large island located in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is an up and coming island with one of the densest populations in the country. Much of this population relies on the busy tourist industry, of which scuba diving is a major part.

Diving in Cebu is big business, with high profile diving towns like Malapascua, Moalboal and Mactan bringing in thousands of tourists each year. Malapascua is known for its thresher shark sightings, Moalboal for its infamous sardine run and Mactan for its stunning corals. Near the southernmost province of Santander lies Oslob - a town famous for its regular whale shark encounters, encouraged by feedings from the local fishermen. Off the coast of Oslob also lies Sumilon island, the first marine sanctuary in the Philippines which has some untouched marine biodiversity.

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Diving in Cebu

Cebu is a very large island and has many different types of diving to choose from. From deep shoal dives in Malapascua, to caves on Monad, to walls on Moalboal and drift and reef dives everywhere - there will be something to keep everyone happy.

The islands popularity mean that there are plenty of dive resorts and dive centers to choose from. Some dive resorts offer dive and stay options, which can range from backpacker to luxury. Every dive center will offer dive courses up to professional levels, it’s just a challenge choosing between them all. It is a popular place to learn to dive because of the fantastic, relatively easy diving, ease of travel and pleasant atmosphere. There are many different areas to stay in so be sure to check which dive sites you would prefer before booking anywhere. Another option, if you wish to dive in multiple locations, is to book a liveaboard. There are several that depart from Cebu and visit most of the major dive sites.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Cebu

Cebu diving is possible all year round due to its generally warm climate. The dry season, and the best time for diving, is from February to early June as it has the most reliably dry and calm weather with water temperatures of about 29°C/84°F. From June to November, there is a higher chance of rain and bad weather, especially in September/October. The waters in December and January are the coldest they will be, at around 26°C/79°F. The north of Cebu tends to get more rainfall and typhoons than southern Cebu.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Cebu

Diving in Cebu will delight you, whether you prefer macro filled muck dives or pelagic filled dives out in the blue.

Malapascua offers one of the best chances in the world to see thresher sharks all year round. The cleaning station filled with moon wrasse draws them up from the deep and often has eagle rays and oceanic manta rays too. A different dive site offers the chance to see schooling hammerheads.

Moalboal sardine run is a spectacular site, and if you dive to see fish - this is the dive for you. Millions of sardines congregate in a ball of fish that is dense enough to block out the sun. Other fish life in the area is typical of the reefs in the coral triangle - healthy coral with brightly coloured fish. The macro critters of Mactan Island are any photographers dream. You can even see the very rare mandarin fish.

One of the sights most associated with Cebu is the whale shark. Though they can be seen organically at certain dive sites, especially during their migration, the whale shark sightings close to Oslob are now, sadly, artificial. As local fishermen began to feed the animals, more and more started to congregate and ignore their natural migration cycles as the food was so plentiful. It is one of the best chances to see them, but bear in mind that with all the snorkel boats and tours, it may not be the natural or peaceful encounter you are looking for.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

3.9k Sightings
J
390
F
416
M
468
A
338
M
404
J
307
J
306
A
223
S
167
O
199
N
357
D
356

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

3.1k Sightings
J
331
F
338
M
337
A
295
M
309
J
186
J
223
A
181
S
168
O
166
N
310
D
282

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Thresher Shark

Thresher Shark

2.4k Sightings
J
214
F
350
M
401
A
311
M
219
J
120
J
94
A
169
S
66
O
73
N
204
D
186

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

1.3k Sightings
J
65
F
125
M
87
A
103
M
186
J
122
J
89
A
111
S
79
O
87
N
100
D
112
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
95
F
148
M
197
A
210
M
108
J
81
J
62
A
54
S
39
O
53
N
73
D
73
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
137
F
130
M
133
A
110
M
119
J
61
J
81
A
47
S
38
O
67
N
137
D
116

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

949 Sightings
J
40
F
68
M
76
A
41
M
152
J
71
J
92
A
93
S
83
O
77
N
60
D
96

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

850 Sightings
J
77
F
61
M
82
A
139
M
102
J
80
J
41
A
54
S
9
O
24
N
91
D
90
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

690 Sightings
J
82
F
110
M
70
A
25
M
24
J
43
J
29
A
70
S
55
O
30
N
62
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

9.9k Sightings
J
914
F
1.1k
M
1k
A
894
M
1.1k
J
704
J
724
A
705
S
571
O
542
N
820
D
815
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

6k Sightings
J
588
F
760
M
888
A
799
M
601
J
324
J
236
A
281
S
212
O
250
N
499
D
549

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

5.4k Sightings
J
565
F
587
M
539
A
409
M
583
J
343
J
453
A
362
S
346
O
278
N
487
D
480

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

5k Sightings
J
459
F
550
M
422
A
373
M
632
J
394
J
418
A
395
S
292
O
279
N
389
D
440

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

5k Sightings
J
443
F
533
M
399
A
372
M
623
J
378
J
430
A
395
S
320
O
257
N
360
D
465

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

3.9k Sightings
J
333
F
443
M
398
A
422
M
400
J
272
J
268
A
276
S
233
O
189
N
360
D
355

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

3.9k Sightings
J
395
F
410
M
455
A
368
M
475
J
282
J
263
A
233
S
200
O
161
N
328
D
322

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

3.2k Sightings
J
334
F
317
M
330
A
353
M
353
J
184
J
179
A
176
S
147
O
131
N
328
D
322

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

3.1k Sightings
J
253
F
270
M
237
A
231
M
369
J
231
J
279
A
285
S
188
O
167
N
254
D
309
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

2.8k Sightings
J
217
F
332
M
398
A
397
M
337
J
149
J
92
A
151
S
132
O
103
N
245
D
288

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

2.6k Sightings
J
233
F
284
M
249
A
189
M
317
J
162
J
203
A
206
S
194
O
122
N
228
D
256

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

2.5k Sightings
J
172
F
228
M
187
A
185
M
339
J
195
J
256
A
250
S
185
O
133
N
196
D
178

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

1.8k Sightings
J
196
F
172
M
199
A
182
M
177
J
121
J
126
A
99
S
87
O
55
N
222
D
175

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

1.8k Sightings
J
160
F
218
M
138
A
143
M
215
J
122
J
113
A
149
S
122
O
96
N
119
D
183

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.8k Sightings
J
83
F
174
M
162
A
78
M
267
J
124
J
160
A
192
S
155
O
132
N
84
D
140

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse

1.7k Sightings
J
152
F
174
M
239
A
288
M
236
J
118
J
113
A
102
S
50
O
63
N
83
D
99

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

1.6k Sightings
J
134
F
184
M
144
A
178
M
158
J
133
J
55
A
110
S
84
O
114
N
113
D
203

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

1.5k Sightings
J
123
F
107
M
117
A
124
M
184
J
123
J
119
A
143
S
132
O
77
N
110
D
128

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

1.5k Sightings
J
145
F
200
M
177
A
235
M
161
J
93
J
74
A
54
S
45
O
32
N
158
D
112

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.4k Sightings
J
118
F
91
M
109
A
83
M
210
J
142
J
106
A
127
S
84
O
97
N
62
D
127

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

1.3k Sightings
J
78
F
116
M
114
A
96
M
167
J
80
J
116
A
122
S
140
O
92
N
107
D
120

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

1.3k Sightings
J
108
F
78
M
90
A
75
M
176
J
135
J
123
A
150
S
108
O
101
N
72
D
100

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.2k Sightings
J
54
F
78
M
63
A
66
M
195
J
86
J
108
A
117
S
104
O
110
N
64
D
105

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.1k Sightings
J
126
F
123
M
146
A
141
M
60
J
53
J
59
A
73
S
79
O
42
N
148
D
96
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

970 Sightings
J
90
F
120
M
122
A
118
M
88
J
48
J
93
A
44
S
48
O
25
N
90
D
84

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

966 Sightings
J
25
F
71
M
62
A
57
M
143
J
93
J
76
A
113
S
104
O
94
N
35
D
93

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

898 Sightings
J
92
F
76
M
143
A
71
M
74
J
70
J
46
A
50
S
46
O
41
N
99
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

772 Sightings
J
86
F
71
M
45
A
47
M
112
J
59
J
68
A
77
S
67
O
41
N
55
D
44

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

737 Sightings
J
65
F
93
M
64
A
100
M
62
J
62
J
23
A
42
S
25
O
26
N
66
D
109

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

654 Sightings
J
14
F
43
M
71
A
54
M
107
J
27
J
20
A
63
S
76
O
52
N
35
D
92

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

380 Sightings
J
39
F
27
M
49
A
45
M
52
J
26
J
29
A
15
S
22
O
4
N
41
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

366 Sightings
J
33
F
28
M
44
A
59
M
38
J
33
J
0
A
30
S
16
O
13
N
41
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

351 Sightings
J
40
F
38
M
12
A
45
M
44
J
39
J
6
A
20
S
51
O
12
N
13
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

280 Sightings
J
27
F
40
M
39
A
44
M
20
J
4
J
21
A
9
S
11
O
1
N
23
D
41

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

270 Sightings
J
19
F
42
M
9
A
27
M
17
J
29
J
5
A
26
S
19
O
0
N
13
D
64
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

264 Sightings
J
43
F
31
M
44
A
33
M
39
J
20
J
2
A
5
S
1
O
7
N
18
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

263 Sightings
J
16
F
4
M
8
A
26
M
47
J
26
J
20
A
14
S
34
O
11
N
17
D
40
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

263 Sightings
J
38
F
41
M
39
A
25
M
28
J
26
J
0
A
13
S
0
O
12
N
27
D
14

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