Diving in Visayas

Best Time to Dive in Visayas

The warmest water temperatures in Visayas occur in January, averaging 27.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 27.8°C (air: 23.3°C)
• February: 27.8°C (air: 23.3°C)
• March: 27.8°C (air: 24.2°C)
• April: 27.8°C (air: 25.3°C)
• May: 27.8°C (air: 25.7°C)
• June: 27.8°C (air: 24.8°C)
• July: 27.8°C (air: 24.7°C)
• August: 27.8°C (air: 24.9°C)
• September: 27.8°C (air: 24.8°C)
• October: 27.8°C (air: 24.4°C)
• November: 27.8°C (air: 24.3°C)
• December: 27.8°C (air: 23.7°C)

Marine Life in Visayas

Home to 577 recorded species including 463 reef fish, 24 sharks & rays, 21 hard corals, 19 sea snails & nudibranchs, 14 sea cucumbers, 9 crabs & lobsters.

Dive Site Difficulty in Visayas

Visayas has 25 beginner, 5 intermediate, 1 expert dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Visayas

Based on average water temperature of 27.8°C.

• Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• BCD - buoyancy compensator
• Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
• Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
• Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
• Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Visayas

• Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Island of Rasa Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Taklong Island National Marine Reserve - Resource Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Sagay Marine Reserve - Resource Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Island of Banaon, Basaan, Saac, Tambu, Bambanon Wilderness Area - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Baliangao Protected Landscape & Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Mangrove areas from Agio Point up to the Municipality of Cambuyao; Mangrove aras from Bo. Biabas to Bo. Ondol including Bo. Condary, and Juagdan except the Island of Tintiman Mangrove Wilderness area - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Tañon Strait Protected Seascape - Protected Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape & Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Selinog Island - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Guiuan Protected Landscape and Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Island of Panglao; Mangrove areas from the west of Loboc River to the municipality of Laya Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Protected Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Island of Budlanan, Bugatusan, Panga, Silo, Cabgan, Canconstino, tabaon, Maagpit, and Islet of Basihan, Bugatusan, Hayaan, Inanoran , and Poom Point East of Basihan Islet (Getafe Group of Island) (Clarin Group of Island) Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Catiil, Colangaman, Lomislis, Tagangdio, Tintinan, and islet of Pamasuan Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Awasan, Cabilan, Capaquian, Sugbuhan and Tagboaba Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Dinagat, Hikdop, Sibate and Hanigad Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Mangrove Areas along Municipalities of Lavigan, Valencia Up to Taon River Municipality of Barcelona,, Islands of Masopelid, Mahaba, Condona, Bayagnan, Bilabid and Caye Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Pamusuan, Handayan, Majanay,,, Islets of Bonoon, Lapinig, Pinahon and Lapinig Chico, Mangrove areas east of Soom River Pangpang Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Hinatuan Passage Development Alliance (HIPADA) - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Marine Protected Area Network with Guiuan Marine Resource Protected Landscape and Seascape - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Baclayon, Tagbilaran Bohol - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Asid Gulf Marine Protected Area Network (AGMPAN) - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Dauis, Tagbilaran Bohol - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Juan Siquijor - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Carmen Critical Habitat - Critical Habitat (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Eastern Iligan Bay Marine Protected Area Network - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Bago, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Hinigaran, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Ilog, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Nueva Estrella Norte Marine Reserve - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Pontevedra, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Enrique, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Takbal-Bato Marine Sanctuary - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Valladolid, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Apale-Tolingon Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Balirahay Reef Marine Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Benolho Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Buntay Marine Protected Area/ Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cabugawan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Calangawan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cancandoy Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Caroyocan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cinco Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cogon Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Dumana Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Gabas Marine Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Guinob-an Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Himokilan Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Ingan Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Kantawi Reef Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Kawayan Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Lewing Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Look Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Mabini, Higatangan Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Macabug Marine Reserve Area with Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Madong-badong Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Mahayag Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Naval Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Palo Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve (Binangalan Reef) - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Pangasugan Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Panunubulon Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Plaridel Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Poblacion I Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sakay Point - Sitio Calipata-an Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sambawan Island - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sampotan Islet Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Miguel Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sta. Cruz Marine Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tagbak Marine Park - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tagbibi Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tinag-an Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tomakeen Daco Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Uson Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• VSU Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Poblacion Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cahayagan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tambongon Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Coring Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Columbus Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cataingan Bay Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)

Getting to Visayas - Nearest Airports

• Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB), Cebu City/Lapu-Lapu City - 30 km away, approx 47 min travel time
• Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD), Bacolod City - 145 km away, approx 173 min travel time
• Laguindingan International Airport (CGY), Laguindingan - 188 km away, approx 220 min travel time