Located just outside of Cebu, one of the most progressive Islands in the nation, it is home to a good number of resorts. Scuba World has a major dive shop in Cebu City and works with Plantation Bay, a five star resort on Mactan Island. Some sites regularly dived from Cebu, such as Capitancillo Island, Talong Island and Cabilao Island offer dramatic drop-offs and good fish populations. Being south of the ‘Typhoon Belt’, diving is possible all year round. Scuba World shops are located in Mactan, Hadsan and Plantation Bay.

MACTAN ISLAND

This little island is nearest dive site in Cebu. Minutes away from an international airport, you could be in the water in less than 30 minutes. Mactan is a long stretch of dive sites from Punta Engaño to Cordova. There are two feeding areas ranging from an 80ft/27m wall in Tambuli and 15ft/5m in Costabella. Aside from a long stretch of wall diving, Mactan has a huge underwater cave a short walk away from Plantation Bay Hotel, Marigondon. The current is very strong and the top most part of the cave mouth starts at 100ft/33m up to 150ft/50m.

OLANGO ISLAND

Is sometimes mistaken for Santa Rosa, has one of the deepest wall dives around. Baring dive site is along the North-Western side of the Island and the wall starts at 60ft/20m and ends down to about 220ft/73m before disappearing on a gradual slope. This area is known for strong currents and big pelagic fish. There are two large resident sharks (hammerhead & thresher) that have been spotted on and off for the last 10 years.

NALUSU-AN ISLAND

Is another adjacent small Island that shares the same wall as Baring but is located at the most Southern tip of the Olango reef. A fish sanctuary was established years ago and this is a very popular place for divers and non-divers. The wall starts at 20ft/7m and drops as deep as 160ft/53m. The current is mild with great visibility.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Day tours from Cebu City take visitors through the heart of the city to visit the Magellan’s Cross, which the explorer planted on Mactan Island in 1521. Nearby is the Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino, where the visitors find the country’s oldest image of the Child Jesus. Fort San Pedro, designed by the colonizing Spaniards as a fortress against pirates, now houses well-manicured gardens and is open to the public. Visit the Casa Gorordo Museum for a glimpse at life during the Spanish Colonial era, the Taoist Temple with its ornate décor, and the University of San Carlos, the oldest University in the Visayas. The vacation will be incomplete without a view of the areas numerous tropical islets. Sun-kissed white sand beaches. Swim in the beaches of Argao, Oslob and Carmen. Explore the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and Gato Islands. The possibilities are endless.