I

t is hard to believe that such a
densely populated small island
like Mactan is a dive Mecca, but it
has a huge number of dive centers
(more than 100 at the last count)
that service divers from all over the
world doing everything from having
relaxed holidays to getting
advanced dive training.
Both international and domestic
flights land at the Mactan-Cebu
International Airport. Mactan is a
densely populated island located
just a few kilometers from Cebu
Island in the Philippines. The island
is part of Cebu Province and it is
divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the
municipality of Cordova. The island
is separated from Cebu by the
Mactan Channel which is crossed
by two bridges.
The resorts offer a wide range of
accommodations. Somewhat spread
out, the resorts are mostly on the
island’s eastern side, which has a
fringing reef with an impressive wall

dropping off along its length.

Mactan is also the jumping-off point

for many sites in the Visayas, several

of which are less than an hour away

by banca boat. Most resorts and

dive centers throughout Mactan

offer dive training, much of it is

PADI oriented.

Cebu City, a short taxi ride across

either of the two bridges, has no

dive sites. But it does have several

retail dive centers that supply the

region’s many dive operators and

their customers. Mactan also has a

small, family-style aquarium.

Cebu’s harbor is a convenient

boarding point for live-aboard boats

and to catch fast ferries to outlying

islands like Moalboal, on the

southwest coast of Cebu Island.

Oslobis a small municipality in

the southern tip of Cebu Tan-awan

village, where the whale shark

feeding occurs. Divers also embark

on the whale shark tours from

Dumaguette and Bohol.

Mactan and Cebu City

Flatworm

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Mactan Island