Stops on this circuit
3 stops
- 1. Pescador Island
- 2. Sumilon Island
- 3. Santander
Jump-off point for the southernmost dive sites.
The South Cebu Diving Circuit is a premier underwater expedition that spans the rich marine sanctuaries of both the southwestern and southeastern coasts of the province. Combining world-famous megafauna encounters with lively coral drop-offs, this route is highly celebrated among scuba divers and marine photographers of all experience levels.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the circuit’s key dive sites and logistics:
Key Destinations and Highlights
- Moalboal & Pescador Island: Located on the southwestern coast, Moalboal is home to the world-famous Sardine Run at Panagsama Beach, where divers can swim through shimmering clouds of millions of sardines. Just 30 minutes offshore is Pescador Island, known for its dramatic steep walls, giant frogfish, and an underwater cavern called the Pescador Cathedral.
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter: On the southeastern coast, the waters of Oslob offer the rare opportunity to scuba dive alongside massive, gentle whale sharks.
- Sumilon Island Marine Reserve: Situated just off the southeastern tip of Cebu, Sumilon was the country’s first official marine sanctuary. The dive sites here are renowned for superb visibility, striking coral gardens, and regular sightings of blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, and large schools of trevallies.
- Santander: Located at the absolute southern tip of the island, Santander offers access to beautiful local reefs and serves as a strategic jumping-off point for dives in the surrounding southern waters.
Tour Logistics and Practical Tips
- Diving Rules and Etiquette: Local municipalities strictly enforce reef protection laws. The use of a personal dive computer is mandatory across these resorts, and wearing gloves is generally prohibited to prevent divers from touching the coral. Additionally, if you are diving with the whale sharks in Oslob, the use of strobes and flashlights is strictly banned.
- Environmental Fees: Divers should be prepared to pay local Marine Park and Environmental Users Fees (such as a PHP 110 fee per person), which fund community projects that help sustain the local marine environment.
- Water Conditions: The ocean temperatures in Southern Cebu are very comfortable year-round, averaging between 26°C and 28°C (79°F–82°F). Most divers find that a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit is perfectly suitable.
- Health and Safety: To avoid decompression sickness, divers must plan their itineraries so there is a minimum of 24 hours between their final dive and any departure flights out of Cebu. In the event of a severe diving emergency, the closest hyperbaric (recompression) chamber to the southern diving hubs is located at the Viscom Station Hospital in Cebu City.