Located a short distance from Cebu, Mactan is one of the Philippines’ most tourist-oriented islands. While Mactan itself has a lot to offer, and while it is a great place to stay, some of the best diving can be found some distance away. Here are three of the best day trips you can take from Mactan. Enjoy the journey!
Hilutungaan Island Marine Sanctuary
With water so clear that you can see the dive boat in detail from the bottom, Hilutungaan Island offers rocky slopes with a beautiful blend of hard and soft corals in splendid colors. Home to an abundance of life, some of the most notable inhabitants here are the fish. Schooling parrotfish and batfish, large jacks and drum, and a few barracuda can be seen among the many smaller reef fish. You’ll find wrasse and damsels, lots of varieties of angelfish and butterfly fish, plus black snappers and midnight snappers, surgeons, pipe fish, and even ribbon sweetlips. Look for crustaceans and nudibranchs, too, and keep an eye out for turtles grazing among the soft coral. With some areas just a few meters deep and maximum depth at about 30 meters, this island has something for everyone.
Nalusuan Island Marine Sanctuary
With sites suitable for everyone from beginner to expert, Nalusuan Island Marine Sanctuary is ideal for underwater photography and videography. One of the most exciting aspects of the area are the countless blue spotted stingrays that can be found in the sandy areas and flying through the water above you, and there are also some enormous groupers living in the rocks. The coral is spectacular, with healthy hard coral in abundance, beautiful sea fans and lots of soft coral and sponges which attract grazing turtles. Along the vast stretches of table coral, you’ll find reef fish in every color of the rainbow. From gorgeous purple fairy basslets to blue tangs, yellow butterfly fish to swathes of orange anthias, they are here in glorious abundance.
Tingo Point and Talima Sanctuary on Olango Island
Tingo Point is a fantastic deep site for experienced divers only. After swimming down along a sandy slope, you’ll come to a drop off at about 25 meters, and beyond that, a ledge juts out from the wall at a depth of 40 meters. This is also known as Shark Point, and if you have enough bottom time, you can explore a big cavern that lies adjacent to the ledge. Groups of thresher sharks are commonly encountered here, and some lucky divers have seen hammerheads nearby. As you ascend, explore the wall, which shelters a myriad of creatures in every shape, size, and color imaginable. The whip corals and huge sponges are simply incredible.
The second dive on this day trip takes place at Talima Marine Sanctuary, where a fantastic coral reef in shallow water shelters a rainbow of fish and lots of crustaceans. Look for nudibranchs, sea horses, pipefish, and octopus as well. Talima Marine Sanctuary is ideal for newer divers, and is an excellent place for photography.
While Mactan itself offers plenty of accommodations at reasonable prices, it is important to select a dive operator in advance of your trip. It is possible to find all inclusive packages that include plenty of diving; these too are offered at inexpensive rates. Plan to visit between October and June, as the rainy season between July and September reduces visibility and diving is limited.