Explore Central Visayas

Central Visayas, a gem in the heart of the Philippines, offers an unparalleled diving experience marked by its rich marine biodiversity and stunning underwater landscapes. This region, part of the Visayas island group, is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs, dramatic walls, and intriguing wrecks that cater to divers of all levels. The islands of Bohol, Cebu, and Negros, among others, serve as gateways to crystal-clear waters teeming with life. Here, divers can encounter everything from graceful whale sharks and playful dolphins to a kaleidoscope of tropical fish darting through technicolor corals. Diving in Central Visayas is a treat for both shore and boat divers, with many sites easily accessible from the coast. However, the true essence of diving here is best captured aboard traditional Philippine Banka boats or through liveaboard adventures that offer a unique perspective on the region's aquatic wonders. The Visayas' strategic location, with convenient airport and ferry connections, makes it a seamless dive destination. Seasonal highlights include the stunning sardine run off Cebu and the migratory patterns of thresher sharks near Malapascua Island, providing divers with exciting opportunities to witness extraordinary marine phenomena. Whether you're exploring vibrant reefs or delving into historical wrecks, Central Visayas promises a dive journey rich in discovery and awe.

Places to Explore

Cebu

78 Divesites 42 Centers

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.

Apo Island

12 Divesites

Explore the beautiful volcanic Apo island surrounded by sloping reefs, dramatic walls, and endless drop-offs covered in stunning healthy corals.

Malapasqua

19 Divesites 10 Centers

Head to the northeast of Cebu Island to arrive at Malapascua Island, which offers a wide arrange of macro/muck diving with rock and coral formations.

Siquijor

27 Divesites 5 Centers

Siquijor, in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, is an enchanting dive destination with a mystical allure. Known locally as the "Island of Fire" due to its enchanting fireflies, this small collection of islands offers an underwater experience that is both mesmerizing and diverse. Divers will find 23 dive sites that boast a variety of environments, including healthy coral reefs, deep walls, and fascinating swim-throughs. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, Siquijor accommodates all skill levels with its calm waters and select sites featuring strong currents for advanced exploration.

Bohol

36 Divesites 18 Centers

Bohol is an island in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It’s white, sandy beaches and world renowned dive destinations make it an up and coming hotspot for divers. 

Upcoming Events

More

Diver Level Programs / Courses

MAHI MAHI DIVE RESORT

Advanced Adventurer

14 Nov 2025 + 124 more

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Adventurer program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Adventurer Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Adventurer training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

E&Z Diving Center

Deep Diving

14 Nov 2025 + 147 more

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

E&Z Diving Center

Navigation

14 Nov 2025 + 238 more

In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Kasai Village Dive Academy

Open Water Diver

15 Nov 2025

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Philippines

Instructor Evaluation - IE

15 Nov 2025

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to:

• Conduct academic sessions
• Lead confined water training
• Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more
• Develop student management and communication skills

Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more.
Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

50BAR SSI DIVING CENTER CEBU

Advanced Open Water Diver

15 Nov 2025 + 1 more

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVESTORY

Open Water Diver

15 Nov 2025 + 7 more

这个全球认可的认证项目是您作为一名认证水肺潜水员开始终身冒险的最佳方式。个性化的培训与水下练习相结合，确保您拥有真正适应水下环境所需的技能和经验。您将获得SSI开放水域潜水员证书。

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CEBU DIVE

Deep Diving

16 Nov 2025

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

GO Scuba Bohol Dive Center

Assistant Instructor

17 Nov 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Atlas Divers Philippines, Inc.

Advanced Open Water Diver

17 Nov 2025

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CEBU DIVE

Open Water Diver

19 Nov 2025 + 2 more

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CEBU DIVE

Advanced Open Water Diver

21 Nov 2025

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ SILVER REEF HOUSE REEF

Gentle slope reef with a lot of yellow tail Snappers, resident Green Turtles and Hawksbill turtles. Reef has strong current but a diver can hide behind huge coral bommies and hang out with fish at 5m

458
Logs
181
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Nalusuan Island

Located just off the bottom of Olango Island the Nalusuan site takes around 30 minutes to reach from Mactan. It offers a large sflat flat descending to a deep wall with superb corals. Also shallow reefs and walls on the southern end of the marine park.

2,189
Logs
615
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Kontiki Reef

This is a great beginner dive spot in Mactan. Closely situated to the Airport, this is a beloved site by dive centers all over the small island, as it is the perfect location for courses,and refresher dives.

5,535
Logs
1,149
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary

Gilutongan Island, also called Hilutungan Island, Hilotongan Island or Lutungan Island, lies 30 minutes by banka boat from Mactan Island. The island is home to numerous coral reefs and sea grass meadows.

1,971
Logs
626
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ El Dorado

This is a favorite dive site for divers looking for dense fish. It is a coral recovery and conservation site that features different types of Artificial Reef designed to encourage coral growth. It is now home to a wide variety of fish species and coral species.

1,141
Logs
572
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ E&Z DIVE CENTER

EZDC House reef is a white sand beach good for swimming, snorkeling and confined Open Water Diver training. It is a slight slope from shallow 3m/9.6feet upto 18m/59feet. A place rich for macro and wideangle photography.

1,646
Logs
242
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Brothers house reef

The point here is a shallow depth of about 7 meters with a cliff, making it easier for first-time diving visitors to dive, and it is impressive that there is a turtle point about 10 meters below the cliff.

189
Logs
67
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Chapel Point

The Lighthouse dive site in Cabilao Island, located west of Bohol, is a breathtaking diving destination known for its stunning coral formations, rich marine biodiversity, and excellent visibility. This site is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers who enjoy wall diving and drift diving.

665
Logs
467
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Kontiki House Reef

Kontiki House Reef Point is located 30 seconds away from Mactan Fantastic Dive Point and is a point where you can safely receive training in scuba diving, technical diving, and freediving. The distance to the wall is clear so it is very easy to get in and out. . The kitchen rope creates a safety border, making the

2,130
Logs
559
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Abaca House Reef

Blue Monsta Houseleaf is a five-minute drive from Maktan Newtown and you can see a variety of marine life, especially turtles, trigger fish, grouper, crown fish, trumpet fish, sardines, fan coral and seahorses.

1,258
Logs
295
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Guinabasan Port

Guinabasan is a sitio of Tubigagmanok, a barangay in the municipality of Asturias, in the province of Cebu. The place is called Barangay Tubigagmanok, in other words, a place where an abundance of water which was accidentally discovered by the chickens.

92
Logs
13
Divers
8.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Monad Shoal

Monad Shoal is considered the best dive site in the world to see the rare and timid Thresher Sharks. These sharks normally live in the deep but regularly come here early in the morning for the cleaning station.

15,452
Logs
10,271
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Lighthouse

The Lighthouse dive site in Cabilao Island, located west of Bohol, is a breathtaking diving destination known for its stunning coral formations, rich marine biodiversity, and excellent visibility. This site is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers who enjoy wall diving and drift diving.

1,039
Logs
548
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Gilutungan Coral Plateau

Hilutongan is 30mins. away from Jpark Marineboy Dive Center via Speedboat, and it is under the Municipal of Cordova, it is a small island close to Nalusuan

1,582
Logs
568
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Talima

large sandy slope dotted with corals till around 12-17m where the wall starts. There is a memorial for some long gone wooden wrecks at around 12. Nice corals, depth exceeds 40m and currents can be strong on an outbound tide.

3,468
Logs
1,112
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Central Visayas

Central Visayas is a diver's paradise, offering a mix of thrilling wreck dives and serene shore dives. Among its highlights is the "MV San Juan" wreck off Liloan, Cebu, inviting divers to explore its fascinating submerged history. For those preferring shore dives, Dauin on Negros Oriental provides easy access to vibrant coral gardens and unique critters like the flamboyant cuttlefish, perfect for macro photography enthusiasts.

Night diving in Moalboal, Cebu, reveals a different world where the famous sardine run takes a nocturnal twist, attracting larger predators for riveting underwater spectacles. The region caters to all preferences with options for both shore and liveaboard diving, ensuring easy access to its underwater treasures, whether you prefer the flexibility of shore entries or the extended range of liveaboard excursions.

The best Months to dive in Central Visayas

Central Visayas offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures typically ranging from 26°C–30°C/79°F–86°F. Visibility is generally good, often reaching up to 30 meters/98 feet, making it a diver's paradise. The region experiences two main seasons: the dry season from November to May and the wet season from June to October. The dry season generally provides the best diving conditions with calm seas and minimal wind.

While diving is possible throughout the year, the wet season may bring occasional heavy rains and stronger currents, particularly in July and August, potentially affecting visibility and safety. Divers are advised to check local weather conditions and forecasts before planning their underwater adventures. Overall, Central Visayas remains a top diving destination, offering diverse marine life and spectacular underwater landscapes regardless of the season.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Little Mermaid Dive Resort

Malapascua Island, 6013 Cebu, Cebu - PHL

Cabilao Divers

Cabilao Sanctuary Beach And Dive Resort, 6327 Cabilao, Bohol - PHL

Iman Basic Swimming Technique

Casili, 6001 Consolacion, Cebu - PHL

Silver Reef Dive Resort Dauin

KM 21 National Highway, 6217 Dauin, Negros - PHL

CHOIGANG DIVE

Alfheim Resort, In Hadsan beach, Agus, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

Harolds Diving Center

205 Hibbard Avenue, 6200 Dumaguete, Negros - PHL

Dive Spot Asia

N.Bacalso Avenue,, 6024 Boljoon, Cebu - PHL

MTD Dive Shop

Malapascua Island, Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - PHL

CEBU JUMP DIVE

Kontiki Maribago, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

Dumagat Freedive

La Independencia Street, 6217 Dauin, Negros - PHL

THALATTA RESORT INC.

Brgy Maluay,, 6218 Zamboanguita, Negros - PHL

JOK INTERNATIONAL INC.

BOYUNG , LAPU LAPU CITY, 6015 LAPU - LAPU, Cebu - PHL

Salaya Beach Houses

Purok Guava, Lipayo, 6217 Negros Oriental, Negros - PHL

Dive Point Siquijor, Maite, San Juan

Republika Beach Bar, 6227 Maite, San Juan, Negros - PHL

MAHI MAHI DIVE RESORT

6218 Zamboanguita, Negros - PHL

amun ini dive

Candabong Bas dako, 6311 Anda, Bohol - PHL

Creator’s Critters Adventures

Pajo, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

Polaris Beach and Dive Resort

Cabilao Island Bohol, Pantudlan, 6327 Loon, Bohol - PHL

ANDA SCUBA DIVING

Anda Scuba Diving, 6311 ANDA, Bohol - PHL

Kasai Village Dive Academy

Kasai Village Dive Resort Tuble, 6032 Moalboal, Cebu - PHL