SCUBA DIVING IN CEBU

Overview

More than 70% of our planet is covered with water, alluring and inspiring human imagination since the dawn of mankind. Thanks to daring and resourceful explorers like Jacques Cousteau, who invented the first SCUBA unit (Self Contained Under Water Breathing Apparatus), it is possible now for nearly everybody to visit the fascinating, colorful and spectacular underwater world for a limited time.

So scuba diving as a recreational sport has become extremely popular in the last two decades, due in part to places like Cebu and the Visayas, with its awesome coral reefs, the wide variety of fish life and the ease of diving that the islands offer.

Cebu and the neighboring islands are located in the middle of the Philippine archipelago; the location gives the region a relatively dry climate with not as much rain fall as Luzon in the north or Palawan in the west of the Philippines. The result is that the waters around Cebu are usually clear, calm, and diveable year round. Water temperatures average a warm 78-84°F (25.6-28.9°C), with visibility averaging 70 - 100 feet (20 - 30m).

The dive spots around Cebu, Bohol and Negros belong to the best the Philippines have to offer. Some islands are famous for big fish like thresher sharks, manta rays and, if you are lucky, whale sharks. Others offer fantastic coral gardens, steep, often overhanging walls and cliffs, teeming with reef fish. To get an impression read here an article about scuba diving in Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu: Join me on a dive in Pescador Island.

Dive Orientation

If you booked a trip with a dive/hotel package with us you will be given a thorough dive orientation and briefing before your first dive. Also, we recommend that you do a check-out dive as part of the briefing process before taking off on your own to shore dive or going on a dive boat. The main reasons for this are to have each diver check buoyancy so that damage to the reef is minimized or eliminated and also to check out the dive equipment, whether it be rented or owned.

Boat & Shore Diving

Most dive operators feature one-tank boat dives in the morning and early afternoons, as well night boat dive once or twice a week. If you book a multi-day dive package, you will usually receive unlimited shore dives as part of the package.

Other Services

Most dive shops in Cebu also offer a complete range of rental gear for both snorkeling and diving, and will also provide beginner training for snorkelers. Some dive operations also offer guided snorkeling and night snorkeling.

Some of the dive shops, like Savedra Dive Center in Moalboal, also have underwater photo shops associated with them. Besides renting camera or film processing, you have the opportunity to take courses and learn more about taking great underwater pictures.

Dive Courses

In addition to scuba diving, most dive shops offer a full range of instruction covering courses from entry to professional level. Almost all the certifying agencies are represented. PADI, NAUI, SSI, CMAS, IANTD, are a few whose certifications are available, PADI being by far the most popular.

Nitrox

Many of the dive operators connected with us offer Nitrox fillings and tank rentals as well as Nitrox instruction and certification. Usually Nitrox can be purchased on a per tank basis or a weekly package.

Trimix

Trimix fills and instruction are available only by few dive operators due to logistic problems and costs. Advanced technical courses as well as gear rentals are available.

Recompression Chamber

In case of a diving accident or emergency, Cebu has a recompression chamber in Camp Lapu-Lapu, a military hospital in Lahug, Cebu City . Contacts are