Other Mactan Island Dive Sites

Overview

These additional dive sites around Mactan Island, Cebu, extend beyond the core Olango Island cluster. Drop-offs descend from roughly 10 m to 30–40 m, with pelagic species, coral gardens, and overhung caves as the common draws. Currents run strong and unpredictable enough that novice divers need a divemaster alongside, and rough-weather diving is a skip, not a judgment call. Conditions are best March–June and September–December.

Resorts line the Mactan coast facing Olango Island, and most run dive trips, training, equipment rental, and guiding as standard.

Location

Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu — not Bohol. Included here as an excursion reference for Bohol-based visitors reaching Cebu. The sites are spread across the reef system northeast of Mactan and into the Camotes Sea.

Getting There

From Mactan Island, native outrigger boats (banca) reach the sites in 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on location. From Cebu City, transfer to Mactan, then board a dive boat. From northern Bohol, the route goes via ferry to Cebu or Mactan first — there is no direct Bohol-to-Mactan ferry. As of 2026, OceanJet runs Cebu City–Getafe (northern Bohol) in about 1 hour 15 minutes; Cebu City–Tagbilaran in about 2 hours. A road transfer of 30–45 minutes then connects Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City/Mactan.

Practical Info

• Depth range: Drop-offs from 10 m to 30–40 m; some sites to 130 ft (40 m) maximum
• Visibility: Up to 100 ft at clearest sites; turbid in shallows near shore at some locations
• Currents: Strong and localised at several sites; experienced divers strongly advised
• Best months: March–June and September–December
• Equipment: All resorts on Mactan coast provide gear rental and guides

Named Sites (from source)

Island site 100 km north of Mactan (near Bago) — 2.5–3 hours by banca from Mactan; 1 hour from Sogod; or road to Bago then 30-min banca. Average depth 80 ft, max 150 ft. Shallow reef tops at 10 m lead to drop-offs with colourful corals; caves with overhangs hold shoals of pelagic fish. Shallow reef flats extend 3 km around the island. Visibility up to 100 ft. Fierce currents possible; novices with divemaster.

Talong Island (“Eggplant Island”) — 55 km north-northeast of Mactan, just north of the northwest point of Pacijan Island (westernmost Camotes Islands). 1.5–2 hours by banca from Mactan; 1 hour from Sogod. Average depth to max 130 ft. Long slopes on north and northwest sides with fields of stony corals — large table and boulder corals prominent. Normally choppy with medium currents, but can get rough. Visibility up to 130 ft. Good pelagic sightings.

Lassuan Reef (east side of reef south of Olango) — 20–30 min from Mactan by banca. Average 60 ft, max 130 ft. Waters choppy with strong, localised currents; avoid rough weather. West side (Hilutungan Channel) has tricky conditions — stay on east side in Olango Channel. Both channels have rip currents. Good drift diving over drop-offs. Stony corals to 20 m depth. Guide recommended to locate best dive points.

What to Expect

These sites extend the Olango dive area north into the Camotes Sea. Cave diving and pelagic sightings are the draw; the boat time (1.5–3 hours to the northern sites) is what separates them from the more accessible Olango fringing reefs. Current variability is the main risk factor, not depth.

Notes

• Sources: http://www.travelsmart.net/ph/Diving_Sites/Cebu.htm; http://www.polaris-dive.com/eng_nf/diving_olango.htm; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olango_Island
• Operator contacts and banca charter rates for the more remote named sites (the Bago-area island, Talong Island, Lassuan Reef) aren’t consistently published — confirm current availability and pricing directly with a Mactan-based dive shop before booking.

Cebu-Bohol Ferry Schedule and Rates 2026, accessed 2026-07-17.