Mactan Island, Philippines is often thought of by travelers as little more than an entry point into central and southern Philippines. It is home to the Cebu-Mactan airport, which is the second largest airport in the Philipines, with more than 6-million travelers coming and going in 2018 alone. Many divers do not consider Mactan a real scuba diving destination. However, it is an excellent place to find affordable diving, accommodations, food, and transportation.

For those coming from somewhere nearby, like Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong, direct, inexpensive flights to Cebu airport take only 3-5 hours, making it ideal for diving over an extended weekend, or even for the day for those who are journeying on to see more of this beautiful country.

Tambuli airplane wreck

Diving in Mactan

All dive sites in Mactan are located along the eastern coast of the island. Many shops will take you directly from the shore, which is ideal if you are watching your budget. Shore diving in Mactan is cheap, easy and particularly rewarding for muck divers.





Pipefish

The coral gardens off these shores are stunning and inhabited by a unique variety of creatures. Nudibranch lovers will be thrilled at the many different sea slugs they can spot. On my recent visit, the number of pipefish hanging around was staggering. I have been diving throughout Southeast Asia for 3-years now, and I have never seen so many pipefish in one place.