Diving in Cebu’s Beautiful Sea
© CEBU navi SAKURA ｜ vol.14 Mar.-Apr.2018
Table of contents
Photo by TAKEYA 【EMERALD GREEN Diving Center】
Loved by skilled and professional divers, Cebu’s seas are some of
the most recommended diving spots. Let’s dive into the deep and
discover the mysteries of this underwater world.
Truly a diver’s heaven
Photo by HIROSHI SHIMOGAMA 【Blue Coral】
Comprised of over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is also comprised of various seas. In Cebu in particular, you have many chances to meet rare creatures, which attracts divers of all kinds, beginners to professionals, to the seas of Cebu. The tourist haven, Mactan Island, is surrounded by clear water and beautiful coral reefs where you can see the strong silhouettes of small and large fish. If you head south from here, you might be able to see a whale shark, one of the rarest animals in the world. In the seas of Cebu, you can experience a beautiful underwater world full of nature’s life and landforms.
Great scenery just 30 minutes from the airport
In just a 30 minute drive from Mactan Airport, you’ll reach the seashore of a resort area, lined with hotels. There are many beach spots where you can directly access the sea. And from here, about one hour by bangka boat, is a beautiful remote island bustling with tourists. There are many marine sanctuaries in the area and popular islands where people can enjoy not only diving, but also island hopping and snorkeling especially Hilutungan and Nalusuan Islands, where even beginners can casually have fun. The calm tidal flow, the beautiful coral reefs, the schools of giant trevally… the islands in Cebu are the best places to experience the various and beautiful colors of nature.
Everyone can freely join divers
Diving, a typical yet a not difficult to do is mostly enjoyed by many tourists and study abroad students visiting Cebu. Cebu, the island surrounded by beautiful diving spots, where a number of Japanese diving shops are established. Thus, anyone has a chance to try a one-of-a-kind underwater diving experience while on the island.Even those who do not possess licenses can still freely visit and enjoy the ocean by trial diving and see the underwater world.
Shortly off the beach of Mactan Island, frog fish welcome you.
Photo by HIROSHI SHIMOGAMA 【Blue Coral】
There’s a high possibility of meeting schools of Scissortail Sergeant around Hilutungan Island. A popular spot for divers who love schools of fish.
Photo by OYABU 【PUAHELE Diving】
Beautiful scenery as in the aquarium.
Photo by OYABU 【PUAHELE Diving】
You can enjoy your first dive even if no license by trial diving.
Meeting the biggest and rarest creature in the world
Photo by HIROSHI SHIMOGAMA 【Blue Coral】
The greatest enjoyment of diving in Cebu is that you can encounter one of the biggest and rarest creatures in the world. With a 3 hour drive from Mactan Airport, you will reach Oslob, a town famous for whale sharks. You can also see sea turtles and large schools of horse mackerel in Moalboal and around Balicasag Island, near Bohol Island. In recent years, the pelagic thresher, a type of thresher shark, has become a popular topic as it can be seen around Malapascua Island, north of Cebu Island. There is a marvelous environment in Cebu for experiencing the great wonders of nature up-close, moving north or south starting from Mactan.
Photo by OYABU 【PUAHELE Diving】
【Advice from a professional diver.】
When you swim with a whale shark, while remaining up to 6 meters deep, you can feel the intensity of it. However, try not to get too close and do not touch it.
Photo by NAKANISHI 【Free Crew Diving Center】
There is such a big frog fish around Cabilao Is.
Photo by TAKEYA 【EMERALD GREEN Diving Center】
For those who want to enjoy the beauty of land formations, the big cave on Pescador Island is recommended.
Photo by TAKEYA 【EMERALD GREEN Diving Center】
A green turtle that you can meet in Moalboal and Balicasag. It’s adorable face is soothing to see and you can swim with it too.
【Advice from a professional diver.】
If you find a sea turtle, don’t chase after him. The trick is to watch carefully as you encircle him. They’re quiet, sensitive creatures so don’t touch them.
Photo by HIROSHI SHIMOGAMA 【Blue Coral】
In Moaboal, mystic schools of sardines wave through the stunning scenery.
Photo by HIROSHI SHIMOGAMA 【Blue Coral】
How pretty this green turtle is.
Photo by TAKEYA 【EMERALD GREEN Diving Center】
25 deep in the sea, a Pelagic thresher whirls around to clean himself.
【Advice from a professional diver.】
The pelagic thresher is very timid, so don’t make a fuss and wait patiently until they come back. Flash and strobe photography and noisemakers are prohibited.
Unknown species found in a micro world!?
Meeting large creatures is not the only pleasure of diving. As your diving skills get better and better, you will be able to keep steady in a difficult environment and, after thorough searching, discover something “micro”. Around Olango Island, you can find small creatures like goby, crustaceans like crabs, sea hare and etc. Some creatures are so rare that only the best of the best divers can find them. It’s said that there are many new, undiscovered species that haven’t been named yet in the Liloan area, near Cebu City, so we went on a search.
Many species in the shallows of Liloan.
There were many ribbon goby in the 3 meter deep shallows, where they’re usually seen 40 meters deep in Mactan and 25 meters deep in Moalboal. The sea of Liloan overthrows the common sense of marine organisms. Species without Japanese names, English names, or even scientific names frequently show themselves in this area.
Baby of Luna lionfishPhoto by SUZUKI 【Aqua Buddies Cebu】
【Advice from a professional diver.】
Micro creatures live in sandy and silty areas. Therefore, it’s necessary to keep your neutral buoyancy and your fin work must not kick up any sand. It’s important to remain undetected as you get closer so they don’t run away.
Photo by SUZUKI 【Aqua Buddies Cebu】
【Basic Precautions】
Please be careful of getting on an airplane!
After you go diving, please wait over 12 hours before getting on an airplane. If you’ve done numerous dives in a day, or have gone diving for several days, please wait at least 18 hours.
Listen to your guide, follow the rules of depth, time, and residual pressure
Please follow the buddy system, and listen to your guide instructor to fully enjoy siving.
Don’t litter in the sea! Pick up any trash you find!
The clean seas of Cebu are protected by it’s divers.
Interview done in cooperation with shop
BLUE CORAL Mactan
［Meet the mysteries of the sea, enjoy a leisurely dive］
The power and impact of nature, living creatures, and landscapes that you’ve never seen before are waiting for you! We are fully prepared so even beginners can enjoy diving at sea.
+63-32-495-8021 (WATANABE)
White Sands Resort, Maribago,
Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan
direct_yoyaku.toiawase@bluecoral.jp
http://www.bluecoral.jp
EMERALD GREEN Diving Center Mactan
Swim and experience nature’s creations
We will guide you to the world’s best diving points from our 5 locations. Beginners are welcomed! Photographers, landscape enthusiasts, please come enjoy your favorite spot!
+63-32-495-7728 (ARAI)
Anemone Resort Buyyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan
info@emeraldgreen.info
http://www.emeraldgreen.info
PUAHELE Diving Tour
Beginners welcome! Enjoy sea-walking to the fullest
Whether you’ve just started diving or are about to start diving, we’ll introduce you to how fascinating the seas of Cebu are. Please feel free to ask about trial dives or licensing.
+63-32-564-2171（OYABU）
Aozora Seaside Mactan Bout Punta Engano Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan
puahele@cebu-nikka.jp
http://puahele.jp/
Aqua Buddies Cebu
A rare fish expert will show you the sea of Liloan
There are still so many species of fish that you’ve never seen before! We’ll give you the tips and tricks and places where you can enjoy Cebu’s micro worlds. Why not come take a picture with this micro lives in the sea of Liloan?
+63-32-564-3492（SUZUKI）
The BoardWalk Resort, Tiwasan Catarman Liloan,
aqbuds@yahoo.co.jp
http://aqbudsliloan.iinaa.net
Free Crew Diving Center
Enjoy the sea of Cebu safely & comfortably with a Japanese guide
Veteran Japanese staff, who are well-informed about Cebu, will attend to you, whether a beginner or advanced. Their self-owned boats, tanks, and shuttle cars are immaculately clean and the group numbers are limited for a private feeling.
+63-977-104-8864（YUKIKO）
Datag Baybayon Maribago,Lapu-Lapu City Mactan
info@freecrew-diving.com
http://www.freecrew-diving.com/
