Southern Visayas (Cebu - Cebu)

Seadoors · Philippines · 5 nights

Duration

5 nights

Embarkation

Cebu, Philippines

Disembarkation

Cebu, Philippines

Dives

Approximately 15 dives in total

About this route

Explore the classic route of Southern Visayas, a journey that can be extended based on availability. This trip delves into the best dive sites of Bohol Island, along with significant sites around Apo Island. Anticipate vibrant coral gardens teeming with reef fish, and opportunities to encounter whale sharks. The itinerary also features diverse marine life, from frogfish and pygmy seahorses to various shark species.

Regions on this route

VisayasCebuBoholApo Island

Highlights

Apo Island

Apo Island is a protected marine sanctuary, celebrated for its pristine coral reefs and dense fish populations. The island's dive sites feature healthy hard and soft corals, steep walls, and sloping reefs. It is particularly known for its resident population of sea turtles, which are commonly seen during dives. Currents can be strong, making it an ideal location for drift dives while observing a wide array of marine species, including various reef sharks and pelagic fish.

Protected marine sanctuary
Pristine coral reefs
Sea turtle encounters
Dense fish populations

Bohol

Bohol is a highly sought-after diving destination, famous for its abundant macro life and picturesque underwater landscapes. The island's dive sites often feature colorful walls, energetic drift dives, and intricate coral gardens. Common sightings include pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and various nudibranchs, alongside schools of reef fish. The area typically offers good visibility and a mix of gentle and moderate currents, suitable for exploring its rich ecosystems.

Abundant macro life
Colorful wall dives
Pygmy seahorses & frogfish
Vibrant coral gardens

Cebu

Cebu is a central hub for diving in the Southern Visayas, providing access to diverse dive sites. The waters surrounding Cebu are known for their healthy coral reefs, which attract a variety of reef fish and macro critters. Whale shark encounters are a highlight in certain areas, offering unique interactions with these gentle giants. The visibility is often excellent, and the currents can range from mild to strong, catering to various diving preferences.

Whale shark encounters
Healthy coral reefs
Excellent visibility
Diverse marine life

Visayas

The Visayas region of the Philippines is renowned for its exceptional marine biodiversity, offering a wide variety of dive experiences. From vibrant coral gardens and dramatic wall dives to encounters with large pelagic species, the area provides diverse underwater topography. Currents can vary, supporting a rich ecosystem where both macro life and schooling fish thrive. The region is a premier destination for underwater photography and marine life observation.

Rich marine biodiversity
Vibrant coral gardens
Large pelagic encounters
Diverse topography

Requirements

CertificationOpen Water
Minimum logged dives30
ExperienceDivers should have at least 30 logged dives for this trip.

Good to know

The last dive will be on the penultimate day of the trip. Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive.

Day-by-day plan

Day 1: Embarkation – Cebu
Boarding commences in Cebu City, where guests will be welcomed aboard the vessel. After settling into cabins and a safety briefing, the liveaboard prepares for departure to the Southern Visayan waters. Guests will enjoy dinner as the journey begins.
Day 2: Bohol – Marine Life Encounters
Today's diving focuses on the vibrant sites around Bohol, known for their rich biodiversity. Dive sites such as BOHOL Wall offer impressive wall dives with giant sea fans, while BOHOL Drift is characterized by plateaus suitable for drift diving. Visibility is generally good, allowing for excellent viewing of frogfish, pygmy seahorses, and various pelagic species. The area often features a mix of soft and hard corals attracting diverse marine life.
Dive sites: BOHOL Wall, BOHOL Deep, BOHOL Drift, BOHOL Nice
Day 3: Cabilao Island – Diverse Reefs
Diving today explores the diverse reefs near Cabilao Island, offering a mix of vibrant coral formations and intriguing macro life. Sites like NEGROS Staggering Coral showcase sloping reef walls and healthy soft corals, often attracting schools of fish. The area is known for excellent visibility and mild to moderate currents, supporting a rich variety of marine species from colorful reef inhabitants to shy creatures hiding in crevices.
Dive sites: NEGROS A, NEGROS Staggering Coral, NEGROS Green, NEGROS Hand Garden
Day 4: Tanawan – Whale Shark Encounters
This day is dedicated to diving in the waters around Tanawan, an area renowned for its frequent whale shark encounters. Guests will experience exhilarating dives alongside these gentle giants. The dive sites here often feature strong currents, which can also bring in black-tip and white-tip reef sharks. The underwater topography includes a mix of channels and reef walls, providing diverse habitats for marine life.
Dive sites: CEBU Dive with Whale Sharks, CEBU Current, CEBU Whale Sharks, CEBU Car wreck
Day 5: Anda Island – Macro & Pelagic Diversity
The final full day of diving explores the rich waters around Anda Island, known for both its macro life and pelagic species. Sites often feature vibrant coral plateaus and walls, with excellent visibility and mild currents. Divers can expect to find schools of jacks and barracuda, alongside smaller, colorful critters like frogfish and pygmy seahorses. The deeper sections can also reveal larger marine life, making for exciting encounters.
Dive sites: BOHOL Deep, BOHOL 80m deep, BOHOL Quite
Day 6: Disembarkation – Cebu
After a final breakfast on board, guests will disembark at Cebu Yacht Club. Transfers to the airport or their hotel in Cebu City will be arranged, concluding the liveaboard adventure.

Upcoming departures

No departures scheduled for this route right now.

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

SeadoorsPhilippines

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