Dauin & Dumaguete
Dauin and Dumaguete are two mainly muck diving sites with one of a kind black volcanic sand, sloping reefs, and coral gardens.
© iStock-DKart
Explore Negros
Negros, the fourth-largest island in the Philippines, offers an exceptional diving experience for enthusiasts of all skill levels. Nestled in the heart of the Visayas, it is divided into Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, each boasting unique underwater attractions. Divers can explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, including whale sharks often spotted in these waters. One of the premier diving spots is Apo Island near Dauin, celebrated for its breathtaking coral gardens and abundant biodiversity. The island's proximity to Cebu, known for its own marine wonders, adds to the allure of diving in Negros. The diving environment in Negros is varied, with options ranging from stunning reef dives to intriguing wreck explorations. Sipalay, located in the northwest, features beautiful beaches and reefs, as well as shipwrecks waiting to be explored. For those interested in muck diving, Dauin on the southern coast offers a unique opportunity to observe rare marine species in their natural habitat. Additionally, the marine reserve of Danjugan Island in Negros Occidental is a well-preserved haven for both divers and wildlife enthusiasts. The island provides an intimate glimpse into the vibrant underwater world, ensuring a memorable diving adventure. Negros' diving appeal is enhanced by its accessibility, with two airports and a ferry service connecting visitors to this underwater paradise. Whether it's the thrill of encountering a majestic whale shark or the serenity of drifting over a vibrant reef, Negros stands out as a premier dive destination in the Philippines.
Top Regions to Explore
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Diving in Negros
There is lots of diving available on Negros - there is stunning reef and wreck diving for those wishing to explore fantastic coral formations and the resident life. There are also deep wall dives for the suitably experienced. Some of the most famous diving on Negros is muck diving. The macro life that can be seen is some of the best in the world and is a dream for an underwater photographer. The night dives also offer fantastic diversity.
There are lots of dive centers and dive resorts on Negros, but as the two sides of the island are far apart, see which side you would prefer to dive before you book. There are a variety of prices available including some high end dive resorts. Most dive centers offer dive courses too. There are a couple of liveaboards which operate in this area and many incorporate other areas of the Visayas region too.
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
Best Months to Dive in Negros
The tropical climate of the Philippines means that rain can come at any time. The best time for diving in Negros is between February and May, where there is slightly less rain - though it can be dived year round. The winds and rains are strongest around September/October so if you plan to dive at this time, maybe think about seasickness pills!
Top Wildlife Sightings in Negros
The healthy reefs of Negros offer an abundance of species. As well as colourful reef fish, you may see the big fish famed on nearby Cebu - whale sharks. The macro life is unparalleled here and the muck diving will satisfy even the most demanding divers. Wonderpus, blue-ringed and mimic octopus, nudibranch, pipefish, seahorse, squid, mandarin fish, frogfish and flamboyant cuttlefish mean that every dive is a bucket list dive.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
2.5k Sightings
J
326
F
267
M
297
A
219
M
236
J
150
J
214
A
139
S
128
O
149
N
145
D
223
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
876 Sightings
J
136
F
68
M
87
A
63
M
102
J
55
J
74
A
61
S
38
O
63
N
47
D
82
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
617 Sightings
J
86
F
88
M
53
A
65
M
52
J
54
J
37
A
28
S
39
O
43
N
28
D
44
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
378 Sightings
J
54
F
63
M
30
A
27
M
23
J
34
J
10
A
24
S
28
O
26
N
28
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
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
292 Sightings
J
34
F
9
M
31
A
8
M
8
J
32
J
41
A
45
S
8
O
25
N
21
D
30
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
110 Sightings
J
15
F
11
M
5
A
13
M
1
J
6
J
16
A
20
S
5
O
7
N
5
D
6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
2k Sightings
J
209
F
201
M
198
A
194
M
185
J
141
J
192
A
153
S
97
O
120
N
142
D
202
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
1.5k Sightings
J
176
F
182
M
191
A
163
M
159
J
90
J
101
A
74
S
46
O
87
N
93
D
132
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
1.1k Sightings
J
133
F
121
M
110
A
35
M
70
J
87
J
122
A
99
S
64
O
78
N
90
D
107
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
952 Sightings
J
119
F
98
M
100
A
60
M
78
J
111
J
101
A
104
S
51
O
37
N
34
D
59
