Explore Visayas

The Visayas are a group of islands located in the central Philippines. They consist of the main island groups of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros, Guimaras, Panay, Romblon, Samar and Leyte - with many small islands to explore in between. The Visayas are a disparate bunch, with each island offering a unique flavour.

Scuba diving in the Visayas has long been one of the most popular activities in the region. It is a well developed diving area too, with many different dive centres, dive resorts and liveaboards to choose from. There is a mix of easy and more challenging diving but there are plenty of easier reef dives for those wishing to undertake beginner dive courses and deeper ones for those wishing to continue their education.

Located in the coral triangle, the waters are rich and the species are diverse - some dive sites offer one of a kind animal encounters, like the near guaranteed sightings of thresher sharks off of Malapascua. Dramatic wall dives, huge bait balls of sardines off Pescador Island, vibrant coral gardens and some of the best muck diving in the world means that you will be sure to find your perfect dive.

Places to Explore

Negros

Negros is world-famous for its amazing and diverse dive sites, where divers of all levels of experience can find some of the most beautiful diving sites.

Eastern Visayas

13 Divesites 1 Center

Eastern Visayas is a region that includes the islands of Leyte and Samar.

Central Visayas

193 Divesites 86 Centers

One of Philippines’ main island group are the Visayas, which is made up of eight main islands: Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Siquijor, Panay, Masbate, Leyte and Samar.

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Diver Level Programs / Courses

MAHI MAHI DIVE RESORT

Advanced Adventurer

13 Nov 2025 + 125 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

13 Nov 2025 + 148 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

13 Nov 2025 + 239 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

★★★★★ Tribird Plane Wreck

The Tri-Bird Plane Wreck is a 20 meter long airplane that was sunk on purpose on March 1st, 2012. It has a wing span of about 25 meters and is lying upside down on sandy grounds. The wreck starts at a depth of 25 meters down to the ground at 30 meters.

902
Logs
598
Divers
29.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 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

Diving in the Visayas

The Visayas region in the Philippines is a diver's paradise, boasting a variety of dive sites that cater to both novice and experienced divers. Malapascua Island is renowned for the unique experience of diving with thresher sharks. These elusive creatures can be seen year-round, making it a must-visit for thrill-seekers. Nearby, Gato Island offers intriguing underwater tunnels and vibrant marine life, perfect for shore dives. Wreck enthusiasts will find the Dona Marilyn wreck near Malapascua fascinating. This sunken ferry provides a hauntingly beautiful site teeming with marine life. For those interested in night dives, Apo Island offers spectacular underwater vistas where divers can witness the mesmerizing behavior of nocturnal creatures. The Visayas offers a balance between shore diving and liveaboard adventures, allowing travelers to tailor their experiences to their preferences, making it an unforgettable destination for dive enthusiasts.

The best Months to dive in the Visayas

The Visayas region in the Philippines offers divers a year-round opportunity to explore its vibrant underwater landscapes. Water temperatures typically range between 26°C to 30°C, providing comfortable conditions for diving throughout the year. Visibility can be excellent, often extending up to 30 meters, though it can vary with seasonal weather changes.

Weather factors such as monsoons affect diving conditions. The northeast monsoon (Amihan) from November to April can bring stronger winds and affect visibility, while the southwest monsoon (Habagat) from May to October generally brings calmer seas and better visibility. While diving is possible all year, the period from June to September is considered less favorable due to increased rain and occasional typhoons, potentially affecting water clarity and safety for divers.

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Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Honu Dive Center

The Bellevue Resort, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

GO Scuba Bohol Dive Center

Mayfair Resort, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Kasai Village Dive Academy

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

FEELGOODDIVE BEACH RESORT

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

ZHANG RESORT AND DIVE CENTER OPC

Malapascua Island, Barangay Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - PHL

BLUE DREAM DIVE, KITE & WING RESORT MANAGEMENT

Timbaon, 6227 Siquijor, Negros - PHL

LA TORTUE DIVE CENTER

Masaplod Norte, dauin, 6217 Dauin, Negros - PHL

JOK INTERNATIONAL INC.

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

SSI Service Center Philippines

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

MTD Dive Shop

Malapascua Island, Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - PHL

Apo Scuba Diving

Poblacion District 1, 6217 Dauin, Negros - PHL

Scuba Star Dive Center

Buyong Beach Maribago, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL

BIGBOSS DIVE - BOHOL

PUROK 4, DANAO, Bohol - PHL

OCEANWIDE MARITIME SERVICES CORP

mabini St., 6538 Palompon, Cebu - PHL

Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort

Malapascua Island, Barrio North, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - PHL

ATLANTIS INFINITI LIVEABOARD

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

Freedive Academy Panglao

Napaling Drive, Purok 4, Tangnan, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

WEOCEAN

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

Jpark Marineboy

Jpark Island Resort and Water Park, 6015 Lapulapu City, Cebu - PHL

CLUB CEBU HOPPING

Boyla Hotel, 6015 Lapu-lapu City, Cebu - PHL