Diving

Fact Sheet about diving in the Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Siquijor)

The most important facts like a list of dive operators (dive centers) and liveaboard operators, dive safety (addresses of the hyperbaric chambers), dive conditions, climate, hotels and how to get to the Visayas in the Philippines on one page and ready to print.

On this page: diving facts about Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Siquijor
Look at my website about dive sites in the Philippines (Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Siquijor)
Click here to look at underwater photos taken in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros

How to get to the Visayas

Map of the islands in the Visayas: political map of the Visayas / geografic map of the Visayas / map of Cebu / map of Bohol / map of Negros occidental - oriental / map of Siquijor / map of Leyte / map of Boracay / map of Romblon / www.worldatlas.com maps of the Philippines

Cebu

Dive operators in Cebu

Badian:

Badian Dive Center

Dalaguete

Dive Point Alcoy at Tingko beach

Sumilon:

Sumilon Island Resort

Malapascua:

www.ocean-vida.com (Sea Explorers), Malapascua Exotic island dive, www.malapascuaisland.info, www.malapascua.de, www.malapascua.com

Mactan:

Club Aquasports, KonTiki Divers, Scotty's Dive Centre, Tambuli Beach Resort

Moalboal:

• Blue Abyss Dive Shop , Dolphin House, Neptune Diving Adventure , Ocean Safari Philippines, Planet Action Adventure, Savedra Great White Dive Center, Sea Explorers,  Seaquest Dive Center, Submaldive Dive Center , Visaya Divers , Whispering Palms Dive Resort

Bohol

Dive operators in Bohol

Panglao, Alona Beach:

• Alona divers, Atlantis Dive Center, Baywatch Dive Center, Bohol Diver's Lodge, Genesis Divers, Philippine Island Divers, Pro Safari, Sea Explorers, Seaquest Dive Center, Scuba World

Panglao, near Alona Beach (3-5km away)

• BelleviewRock Resort, Bituon Beach Resort, Bohol Sea Resort, Dumaloan Beach Resort, Frog Fish Divers,

Balicasag:

• Balicasag Island Divers

Cabilao:

• La Estrella Beach Resort
• Polaris Beach and Dive Resort
• Sea Explorers (also in Alona)

Tagbilaran:

Sierra Madre Resort

Places to stay around Alona Beach

• Alona Beach: over 15 resorts
• Alona Tropical Resort (Sea Explorers)
• Balicasag Island Dive Resort

How to get Bohol

Fly to Cebu (with direct flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and many other points in the Philippines) Take the fast ferries (Supercat or Delta) to Tagbilaran From the pier in Tagbilaran, it is easy to hire a taxi or you can arrange for pick-up through your resort (recommended for Cabilao). Transfer to Alona: 40min by car Transfer to Balicasag: ca. 1hour by boat Transfer to Cabilao: 45min by car to Sandigan island, 20min by boat

Negros

Dive operators in southern Negros

• Atlantis Dive Resort
• Dive Philippinen in Antulang
• Easy Diving in Zamboanguita
• International Diving Center
• Paul's Diving (Apo)
• Sea Explorers

Dive operators and places to stay in western Negros

• Artistic diving in Sipalay (Punta Ballo White Beach, west coast)
• Easy Diving and Beach Resort in Sipalay (Punta Ballo)

Stay at: Artistic diving / A-Rock Beach Resort / Langub Beach Resort / Bermuda Beach Resort / Mutavits Beach Resort

How to get to Negros

Fly to Dumaguete City from Manila or directly to Cebu (flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and many other points in the Philippines) From Cebu: take the fast ferries (Supercat or Delta) to Dumaguete City (sometimes via Tagbilaran). From the pier in Dumaguete, it is easy to hire a taxi or have the dive resorts organize a pickup for you. To go to Sipalay (western Negros) either take a bus from Dumaguete (4 hours) or fly to Bacolod City and continue by bus / Taxi to Sipalay (approx. 3 hours)

Siquijor

Dive operators in Siquijor

• Dive with Sea Explorers: e-mail / homepage
• Kiwi Dive Resort in Sandugan Beach: phone and fax: 63 35 4240534 / cell: 63 912 5040596 / e-mail
• Scotty's Dive Center, Coral Cay Resort, San Juan, Tel. (035) 4815024

Places to stay in Siquijor

• Coco Grove Beach Resort (Sea Explorers)
• Coral Cay Resort, Solangon, San Juan, Siquijor, Tel: +(63-918) 770-5578, E-mail
• Kiwi Dive Resort, PO Box 14, Larena, Siquijor, Tel: +(63-912) 505-0596. Kiwi is located on Sandugan Beach, close to the town of Larena
• Charisma Resort in Solangon, San Juan

MySiquijor-Website - more information about Siquijor and the Visayas

How to get to Siquijor:

Fly to Cebu (with direct flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and many other points in the Philippines) or via Dumaguete City from Manila. Take the fast ferries (Supercat or Delta) sometimes directly to Larena, Siquijor, or more often via Dumaguete City. From the pier in Larena, it is easy to hire a jeepney or you can arrange for pick-up through your dive resort.

Leyte

Dive operators in southern Leyte

• Peter's Dive Resort Lungsodaan, Padre Burgos (whale of a dive)
• Sogod Bay Divers
• Sogod Bay Scuba Resort Lungsodaan, Padre Burgos
• Southern Leyte Divers in San Roque, between Macrohon and Padre Burgos
• Hotel close by: Padre Burgos Castle Resort

Best time to see the whale sharks is November to the end of May.
More information about Leyte: www.southernleyte.com

How to get to Leyte:

Fly to Cebu (with direct flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and many other points in the Philippines). Take a taxi to the ferry pier. Ferries - check if they are still running: Supercat to Ormoc / Cokaliong shipping lines and Trans-asia shipping lines to Maasin. There does exist a ferry service from Leyte to Bohol, departing from Hilongos (Leyte) to Ubay on Bohol at 9.00 AM and 1.00 PM. Same times from both sides. 2 hours. Or fly from Manila to Tacloban in northern Leyte, take a aircon bus (L-300) to Maasin (3 1/2 to 4 hours) From Maasin take a local bus to San Roque and Padre Burgos (30 min). For a small fee the aircon bus might bring you directly to the dive operators doorstep.

Boracay (Panay)

List dive operators / list of dive sites in Boracay with good description (2 pages) / list of dive sites in Boracay with maps and little text / www.boracaytrip.com (about the Boracay, hotels, activities etc.)

How to get to Boracay:

Boracay can be reached either by airplane from Manila or Cebu or by ferry from various surrounding islands By air from Manila: Philippine Airlines (PAL), Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific fly daily from Manila to Kalibo, Aklan, take air-conditioned bus to Caticlan and the boat from Caticlan jetty to Boracay. Smaller airlines like Asian Spirit, Air Ads and Pacific Airways fly directly to Caticlan. By air from Cebu: Philippine Airlines flies from Cebu to Kalibo By air from Palawan: Philippine Airlines and Asian Spirit from Puerto Princesa By ferry from Manila to Dumaguit/New Washington By ferry from Bacolod (Cebu) to Iloilo City By ferry from Tablas (Romblon) to Sta. Fe

More dive operators in the Visayas

Romblon: List dive operators / www.romblon-isl.com (Deutsch)

Camiguin and Mindanao: List of dive operators

Samar: Biri Scuba (northern Samar)

Dive conditions and climate in the Visayas

• Diving all year around possible
• Visibility is mostly very good (up to 30m)

Weather averages in Mactan / Cebu

weather now in Cebu	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Best time to travel
Highest temperatures (°C)	29	30	31	32	32	31	31	31	31	31	31	30
Lowest temperatures (°C)	23	23	24	25	26	25	25	25	25	25	25	24
Daily hours of sunshine	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Rainy days	22	21	24	12	18	25	25	22	18	22	22	24
Precipitation (mm)	119	80	45	41	91	174	187	128	169	212	125	136
Humidity (%)	82	84	83	73	79	83	81	82	80	84	84	86
Water temperatures (°C)	27	27	29	30	30	30	29	29	29	30	29	28

General information about the Philippines

Best time to visit the Philippines is November to June. Nearly no rain in April and May. Raining season is July to October. The water is colder in December to February (26 to 27°) and warmer in March to May (29°).

Yahoo weather now in the Philippines (list) - travelphil (Jens Peters) - lonely planet information about the Philippines - yahoo information about the Philippines - Jakes directory

Description of dive sites in the Philippines: Batangas Anilao 1 and 2, Bohol, Boracay 1 and 2, east Cebu, west Cebu, Palawan, Puerto Galera, Tubbataha

Dive safety

Phone DAN (Divers Alert Network) outside Australia +61-8-8212 9242

DAN (Divers Alert Network) in the Philippines phone 02-815 9911

For more information about dive safety look at the excellent site of Diving Medicine Online or look at the dive safety page.

Hyperbaric chambers (or recompression chamber) in the Philippines:

There are 5 recompression chambers in the Philippines to treat decompression sickness

Manila (Quezon City): AFP Medical Center (V. Luna hospital), V. Luna Road, Quezon City. Contact: Dr. Jojo R. Bernardo
Phone: 920 7183 and 921 1801 (local 8991)
Batangas City: St Patricks Hospital, Batangas City St. Patricks Hospital Wound Care & Diving Medicine Centre
Phone: (6343) 723-8388 / Fax. (6343) 723-8388 Beeper: 150-611-169
Cebu City: Recompression Chamber Camp Lapu-Lapu Lahug / Doctor Memerto Ortega
Phone: (032) 310-709 or (032) 312-325 / (032) 746-652 loc. 2625
Coron (Busuanga, Palawan): Deco chamber at Seadive resort
Phone: 0920 9458714 or 0918 40000448
Subic Bay: Recompression Chamber Subic Bay Freeport Zone Zambales / Doctor Lito Roque
Phone: +(63-47) 252 2743 / 252 7052; 252 7566; 252 2751
Armed Forces of the Philippines Air and Seaborne Search and Rescue Facilities and Equipment
Phone: +(63-2) 833 7546 / 911 79 96 / 911 63 85
Singapore: The Singapore Naval Underwater Medicine Centre. Phone +65-6758 1733 (24-hours Emergency Hotline) / +65-6796 4197 (appointments)
Hyperbaric Medical Services, 1 Orchard Boulevard #08-05, Camden Medical, Centre, Singapore 248649, Phone: +65-6732 8552
Hyperbaric Medicine Centre, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Tan Tock Seng, Hospital, Basement 1, Singapore 308433, Phone: +65-6355 9021/2
www.hyperbaric-singapore.com / Medical Director: Dr Wong Ted Min

More Information about scuba diving in south-east Asia