Explore Davao

Diving in Davao offers an enchanting encounter with the vibrant marine wonders of the southern Philippines. Just a short hop from the bustling city, the serene islands of Talikud, Ligid, and Samal serve as gateways to a dozen spectacular dive sites. These waters boast pristine reefs teeming with life, including large gorgonians and thriving soft corals. Divers frequently spot turtles gliding gracefully through the vibrant underwater gardens. The dive environments range from beginner-friendly sites perfect for island hopping to more challenging locations featuring labyrinth-like caves and steep walls, such as the iconic Mushroom Rock.

For those interested in historical exploration, the area is dotted with Japanese wrecks from World War II, offering an evocative glimpse into the past. Davao's dive centers and resorts provide excellent facilities along the coast, catering to both novice and experienced divers. The allure of a liveaboard journey through the Mindanao region is irresistible for those wishing to maximize their time on the water. With its perfect diving conditions year-round, Davao promises a diverse and memorable underwater adventure, shadowed by the majestic Mount Apo and featuring the powder-white sands of Samal Island's beaches.

Events and Courses

Deep Diving

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.
On request

Basic Diver

In the SSI Basic Diver program, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to try diving up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. It is a great way to explore the underwater world more fully as you try diving. The entire Basic Diver program can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Dive programs within 6 months, so you can take the next step in your dive adventure.
On request

Scuba Diver

Using online learning, confined and open water dives, the SSI Scuba Diver program is a perfect foundation to become a confident and safe diver. You will learn all you need to scuba dive in open water up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. In this program, you will complete almost half of the Open Water Diver course training and can upgrade your certification easily. You just need to complete the remaining academic and confined water sessions, plus two open water training dives.
On request

Scuba Skills Update

It is easy for dive skills to get rusty and to lose confidence when you have not dived for a while. With the SSI Scuba Skills Update, we will get you back in the water and diving with ease in no time. This scuba refresher course allows you to review and practice scuba skills you learned in your Open Water Diver program, under the guidance of an SSI Professional. This is a great course to take just before a dive holiday, so you spend less time worrying about your skills and more time admiring the marine life. If you are a non-certified Open Water Diver student, a Scuba Skills Update is ideal for practicing your dive skills before your open water training dives. With no fixed course duration, you can take your time and focus on the skills you need help with.
On request

Advanced Open Water Diver

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver 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 Open Water Diver 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 Open Water Diver training towards them.
On request

Navigation

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.
On request

Science of Diving

Join the SSI Science of Diving specialty and you will develop a complete understanding of the underwater world and its effects on the human body. This specialty is required training for most SSI Professional programs, as well as some Extended Range programs, and is an essential way to expand your dive knowledge. Available online, you can earn your SSI Science of Diving specialty certification from home and get ready to begin your dive professional career. Upon completion, you will be halfway to earning the coveted SSI Divemaster rating and earn the SSI Science of Diving specialty certification.
On request

Night Diving & Limited Visibility

Night diving requires different skills from diving during the day. The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is the best way to learn about night diving and practice the techniques you will need to become a safe and confident night diver. In this program, you will be provided with all the knowledge and skills you need to safely and comfortably dive at night or in limited visibility conditions. With a combination of online learning and open water training dives, you will learn how to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment, and how to communicate with your buddy easily at night or in limited visibility. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty certification and be ready to go night diving with confidence.
On request

Try Scuba

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!
On request

Dive Activity

Diving in Davao

At Ligid Island, there is a vibrant reef dropping down to two limestone caves, where divers can make their way through interesting passageways. Pinnacle Point offers the chance for experienced divers to drift swiftly around an underwater seamount while the Coral Garden dive site, on Talikud Island, is perfect for dive courses and photographers. Samal Island has pristine reefs with large gorgonian sea fans, Talikud Island, steep walls adorned with stunning soft corals at Masud Wall and Japanese WWII wrecks at Malapino.

Dive Sites

Mares

Coral Gardens Reef (★4.3)

Located at the south-west side of Talikud Island this site offers a little bit of everything. Drift diving is a favorite here, but there is also a Marine protected area nearby so there is normally a lot to see. Good training area for beginners as well.
Aqualung

Angel's Cove (★4.2)

This is a fantastic area for training, photography, or just a fun dive. Easily accessed through boat and with a fairly confined area. All training can be done there including deep diver as it connects to a wall.
Scubapro

Mansud Wall (★4.4)

Mansud Wall in Talikud Island, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines is a stunning wall dive site that features a sheer vertical drop with a depth ranging from 10 to 40 meters...

Top Wildlife Sightings in Davao

In pristine reefs, lionfish and sea turtles rest on corals as sea snakes slither across the silty seabed. As the sun goes down, search in nooks and crannies for the more unusual smaller marine life, including nudibranch, sponge crabs and golden sea cucumbers which have come to life. At steep walls watch out for seahorse and ghost pipefish while schools of barracuda and tuna can be found in deep waters. If you are very lucky, you may see playing dolphins, dugongs or even whale shark have been reported in the area.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
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Hawksbill Turtle
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Barracuda
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Eagle Ray
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Moray Eel
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Wrasse
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Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
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Lionfish
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Angelfish
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Butterfly Fish
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Triggerfish
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Scorpionfish
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Frogfish
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Parrotfish
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Damselfish
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Nudibranch
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Surgeonfish
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Trumpetfish
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Pufferfish
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Bannerfish
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Shutterstock-Joost van Uffelen

Olive Ridley Turtle
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Sweetlips and Grunts
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Soldierfish
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Crab
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Sand Eel
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Squirrelfish
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Emperor
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Shrimp
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Pipefish
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Tarpon
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Grouper/Basslets
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Jackfish
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Snapper
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Goatfish
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Boxfish
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Garibaldi Damselfish
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Stonefish
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Banded Sea Krait
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The best Months to dive in Davao

Sheltered from the Philippines seasonal typhoons by its surrounding mountain ranges, Davao diving is available year-round. Although diving is great all-year-round, March through to June is considered the most consistent period for scuba diving in Davao - where the visibility is at its best.

Most dive centres in Davao only schedule dives on the weekend to the surrounding islands however, you can charter your own dive vessel any day of the week.

Dive Centers

Santosidad Tour Services and Dive Center, Shawn Kennedy

Phase 1, El Rio Subd. F. S., 8000 Davao City, Mindanao - PHL

Gov. Generoso Diving Shop, Ceraflor Lucente Laguna

Purok 1, Poblacion,, 8210 Davao Oriental, Mindanao - PHL