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Mactan Island, nestled in the Visayas region of the Philippines, offers an exhilarating underwater adventure that captivates divers of all levels. The island's strategic position, separated from Cebu by the Mactan Channel and connected by two bridges, makes it an accessible dive spot bustling with aquatic life. The vibrant marine ecosystems feature captivating drop-offs, walls, and slopes, inviting exploration of coral gardens, seagrass meadows, and intriguing caves. Divers can immerse themselves in the stunning biodiversity, encountering species such as blue-spotted rays, crabs, shrimps, and the occasional barracuda gliding through the crystal-clear waters.

Adventurers seeking a unique experience can explore the San Juan Ferry wreck and the Marigondon Cavern, which promise a sense of discovery. Whether opting for shore dives or short boat journeys to more remote sites, Mactan presents a variety of diving environments. The island’s dive scene is well-equipped with numerous resorts and dive centers, ensuring every diver finds the perfect base. With coral reefs starting at shallow depths and extending beyond 100 meters/328 feet, Mactan's east side is a treasure trove for both novices and seasoned divers, offering a captivating glimpse into the Philippines' vibrant underwater world.

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Dive Activity

Diving in Mectan

There is lots of both shore and boat diving in Mactan. Most of the drop-offs start around 50–80 meters/164–262 feet away from the shore entry point. There are shallow reefs to enjoy until the drop-off, perfect for beginner divers. The walls sometimes plunge into very deep water, which is a favorite of technical divers. There are sometimes currents here, which can be used for drift dives. There are two wrecks, including an aircraft, to enjoy too.

The densely populated island means there is a wide variety of dive centers and dive courses to choose from—some of which include technical diving. There are several dive resorts too, which cater to different budgets ranging from backpacker to luxury. Several liveaboards include diving at Mactan Island within a tour of the wider area.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Mactan

Mactan diving is available all year round, but there are seasonal changes in the weather. The best conditions for diving tend to come during the warm and dry season between February and May. There is less rainfall in this season, and the waters are at their warmest in May/June. From June to November, there is slightly more rain, but as they tend to be short, refreshing showers, it is nothing that will ruin a holiday! December and January are the coolest months of the year, and water temperatures can reach as low as 25°C/77°F.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Mactan

The reefs surrounding Mactan are very healthy, particularly because of the deeper, cooler water which surrounds the island. The reefs host many colourful and diverse fish and sea creatures - groupers, barracuda, nudibranch, scorpion fish, pufferfish, clownfish, moray eels, butterfly fish and fusiliers are seen on almost every dive. The slightly more elusive creatures like frogfish, leaf fish, squid, octopus, sea snakes, stone fish and pipefish are there for the sharp eyed too. There is even the chance to spot the super rare mandarin fish.

Out in the blue, mackerel and jacks gather in huge schools. Turtles, stingrays and even big eyed trevally often accompany them. White tip reef sharks frequent several sites, and some dive sites even have the opportunity to see hammerhead and thresher sharks, though rarely.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.2k Sightings
J
50
F
115
M
139
A
80
M
154
J
134
J
125
A
113
S
99
O
80
N
60
D
89

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

853 Sightings
J
39
F
62
M
57
A
17
M
151
J
71
J
89
A
93
S
80
O
74
N
52
D
68

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

779 Sightings
J
70
F
79
M
62
A
29
M
121
J
62
J
77
A
72
S
74
O
52
N
34
D
47

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

756 Sightings
J
29
F
60
M
28
A
42
M
125
J
86
J
60
A
88
S
61
O
76
N
39
D
62
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

239 Sightings
J
11
F
38
M
19
A
6
M
7
J
40
J
12
A
40
S
14
O
12
N
15
D
25
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

136 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
17
A
15
M
31
J
30
J
4
A
3
S
4
O
1
N
5
D
19

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

3.9k Sightings
J
297
F
390
M
305
A
201
M
552
J
354
J
382
A
377
S
322
O
232
N
227
D
286

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

2.9k Sightings
J
221
F
274
M
182
A
151
M
443
J
251
J
297
A
277
S
248
O
168
N
149
D
240

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

2.5k Sightings
J
189
F
226
M
163
A
121
M
416
J
222
J
249
A
230
S
200
O
147
N
135
D
191

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

1.9k Sightings
J
159
F
181
M
138
A
76
M
279
J
132
J
212
A
187
S
177
O
111
N
103
D
135

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

1.4k Sightings
J
67
F
131
M
101
A
53
M
239
J
88
J
166
A
156
S
138
O
86
N
68
D
70

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

1.3k Sightings
J
75
F
80
M
101
A
60
M
207
J
102
J
148
A
182
S
123
O
79
N
56
D
109

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

1.3k Sightings
J
55
F
124
M
108
A
42
M
214
J
78
J
138
A
149
S
127
O
91
N
72
D
80

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

1.2k Sightings
J
93
F
105
M
117
A
68
M
182
J
52
J
96
A
105
S
139
O
60
N
60
D
79

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

1.1k Sightings
J
90
F
58
M
65
A
56
M
160
J
121
J
118
A
133
S
100
O
92
N
57
D
89

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

1k Sightings
J
78
F
118
M
61
A
74
M
163
J
77
J
86
A
96
S
98
O
74
N
49
D
75

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

1k Sightings
J
80
F
75
M
76
A
34
M
159
J
105
J
101
A
97
S
101
O
55
N
49
D
93

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

1k Sightings
J
80
F
62
M
81
A
50
M
170
J
106
J
71
A
120
S
79
O
79
N
47
D
72

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

977 Sightings
J
53
F
64
M
55
A
38
M
163
J
67
J
105
A
103
S
99
O
93
N
54
D
83

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

921 Sightings
J
32
F
92
M
66
A
53
M
132
J
74
J
79
A
109
S
120
O
54
N
44
D
66

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

777 Sightings
J
38
F
68
M
57
A
44
M
122
J
42
J
81
A
70
S
98
O
67
N
32
D
58

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

772 Sightings
J
12
F
54
M
48
A
26
M
141
J
78
J
74
A
94
S
89
O
84
N
23
D
49

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

740 Sightings
J
61
F
41
M
42
A
37
M
125
J
63
J
59
A
90
S
96
O
40
N
28
D
58

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

563 Sightings
J
61
F
38
M
19
A
13
M
93
J
41
J
61
A
77
S
58
O
27
N
36
D
39

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

510 Sightings
J
29
F
45
M
34
A
27
M
83
J
57
J
14
A
45
S
56
O
49
N
5
D
66

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

457 Sightings
J
12
F
23
M
46
A
13
M
81
J
26
J
17
A
52
S
70
O
51
N
27
D
39

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

375 Sightings
J
29
F
39
M
25
A
14
M
86
J
19
J
43
A
40
S
39
O
11
N
7
D
23

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

297 Sightings
J
21
F
29
M
38
A
8
M
30
J
27
J
38
A
28
S
22
O
5
N
36
D
15

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

216 Sightings
J
12
F
2
M
0
A
16
M
43
J
25
J
17
A
14
S
28
O
10
N
16
D
33

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

164 Sightings
J
5
F
21
M
8
A
6
M
29
J
28
J
6
A
8
S
40
O
7
N
1
D
5

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

155 Sightings
J
17
F
20
M
9
A
4
M
17
J
25
J
2
A
22
S
11
O
0
N
8
D
20

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

150 Sightings
J
2
F
20
M
8
A
7
M
30
J
12
J
20
A
19
S
18
O
12
N
1
D
1

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

135 Sightings
J
18
F
12
M
22
A
5
M
8
J
12
J
5
A
13
S
28
O
8
N
3
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

117 Sightings
J
5
F
9
M
16
A
7
M
6
J
3
J
12
A
0
S
34
O
12
N
2
D
11
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

110 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
6
A
3
M
12
J
8
J
5
A
7
S
8
O
5
N
6
D
42
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

102 Sightings
J
4
F
10
M
17
A
3
M
5
J
5
J
7
A
4
S
8
O
1
N
14
D
24

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

102 Sightings
J
0
F
11
M
24
A
5
M
12
J
8
J
6
A
6
S
3
O
1
N
13
D
13

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Underwater Beginner