Explore Mactan

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, 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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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.

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

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.

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.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CEBU DIVE

Advanced Adventurer

29 Nov 2025

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.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Philippines

Instructor Evaluation - IE

03 Dec 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Philippines

Instructor Evaluation - IE

13 Dec 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Philippines

Instructor Evaluation - IE

18 Jan 2026

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Philippines

Instructor Evaluation - IE

14 Feb 2026

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ 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

★★★★★ 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

★★★★★ 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

★★★★☆ 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

★★★★★ Jpark Marine Boy House Reef

Site is suitable for beginners and experienced divers. With its convenient location and diverse marine ecosystem, this site is perfect for those looking for a relaxing dive. Diving Features Depth: 5m ~ 25m Visibility: 10m ~ 20m on average (varies depending on weather and currents) Current: Mild to moderate.

189
Logs
108
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Nenskie’s wall

an extensive shield reef, 3 -10 m, with sandy slopes and rocky points till around 22m where the wall starts. Nice corals, depth exceeds 40m and currents can be strong on an outbound tide.

30
Logs
12
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ PCR

A lovely wall dive with abundant local life and corals. The site is populated by human size statues of the 12 zodiac signs and other mythical beast.

356
Logs
237
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Marigondon Beach

An easy shore entry takes you to 3-8m/ 6 to 25 ft shallow reef ending in a vertical wall, descending to 40m+ depths. Ideal for all levels of divers, however care should be taken on outbound tides as the currents can be very strong.

1,355
Logs
451
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Palm Beach

An easy shore entry takes you to 3-8m reefs ending in a vertical wall, descending to 40m+ depths. Ideal for all levels of divers, however care should be taken on outbound tides as the currents can be very strong.

148
Logs
73
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★☆☆ Caohagan Island

A new marine reserve with lots of fresh corals and fish life. The island is fringed by sloping sandy shores with coral out cropping’s, dropping to a vertical wall at around 22m.

52
Logs
28
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Dolgorae House reef

a varied site going from 5m reef dives to a sloping sand bank to a beautiful wall at around 22m offers a variety of environments from shallow sea grasses, to corals to sandy bottoms

128
Logs
45
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Mectan

There is lots of both shore and boat diving in Mactan. Most of the drop offs start around 50-80m 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 favourite 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 for different budgets ranging from backpacker to luxury. Several liveaboards include diving at Mactan Island, within a tour of the wider area.

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 - 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.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Oceanblue Dive Resort

KALUBIHAN, MARBEACH MARIGONDON LAPU-LAPU CITY 6015, 6015 LAPULAPU CITY, Cebu - PHL

CEBU JUMP DIVE

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

DIVE MALDITAS SCUBA DIVING SERVICES

Babayon Datag,, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

DYNAMIC DUGONG

Marina Kontiki, 6014 Lapulapu, Cebu - PHL

KAI DIVE CENTER

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

Blue Dream

punta Engan~o Rd, 6015 Lapu-lapu PHILIPPINES, Cebu - PHL

ATLANTIS INFINITI LIVEABOARD

On-Shore Facility 31 Malvar Str., 5300 Puerto Princesa, Palawan - PHL

50BAR SSI DIVING CENTER CEBU

Kasinto Mactan, 6015 Lapu-Lapu, Cebu - PHL

WOOJU WORL WIDE CORP.

FD Bldg., Matumbo, Pusok, 6015 Lapu-lapu, Cebu - PHL

WEOCEAN

Beside Carancho Beach, Looc, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

FEEL DEEP SCUBA DIVING HADSAN BRANCH

The Beach Park Hadsan, M.L. Quezon National Highway, 6015 Lapu Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

FANTASTIC DIVE CENTER

Inside Club Kontiki resort, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

SSI Service Center Philippines

Unit 2i, BF Mactan Strip II, M.L. Quezon Avenue,, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

Philippines Aggressor II

Block 12, Lot 6, Portville Prime, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

BIGBOSS DIVE - CEBU

DATAG MARIBAGO, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

CHOIGANG DIVE

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

E&Z Diving Center

Marigondon Beach,, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - PHL

SSI PH TEST CENTER

Mandaue, Cebu - PHL

SSISP phil corp

AJS 013, AJOYA SUDB GABI, 6017 CEBU - CORDOVA, Cebu - PHL

CNC SCUBA ACADEMY

Tongo Beach Marigondon, 6015 Lapu-lapu, Cebu - PHL