Dive into Visayas Liveaboard Experience in Philippines

Immerse yourself in the unrivaled beauty of the Visayas liveaboard diving, a pristine archipelago located in the central part of the Philippines. This region is a haven for divers, offering a unique liveaboard diving experience that beckons with its clear, turquoise waters, abundant marine life, and majestic underwater landscapes.

Your adventure on a liveaboard will unveil the wonders beneath the waves, revealing a world of vibrant coral gardens, mysterious wrecks, and schools of whimsical fish dancing in the gentle currents. The Visayas region has a rich history, with each island telling tales of the ancient civilizations that once thrived here. The blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty creates a unique backdrop to your underwater exploration.

About Visayas Liveaboard

From the elusive thresher sharks of Malapascua to the mesmerizing sardine runs of Moalboal, the Visayas promises an unforgettable diving adventure amidst the heart of the Philippines’ marine biodiversity.

The Visayas region in the Philippines is a diver's paradise, offering a range of unique diving experiences across its various sites. Best experienced with a Visayas liveaboard, here's a closer look at some of the prime diving destinations in this region:

Malapascua: Known for its thresher shark encounters, Malapascua Island is a jewel in the Visayas diving crown. Apart from thresher sharks, divers also frequently spot manta rays, hammerhead sharks, and a rich variety of smaller marine creatures. The dive sites here cater to all levels of divers, with Monad Shoal being the most famous for shark sightings.

Pescador Island (Moalboal): A marine park located near Moalboal, Pescador Island is celebrated for its vibrant coral walls and abundant marine life. The Cathedral, a cavern dive site, is one of the highlights here. The island is also home to schools of sardines, frogfish, and occasionally, whitetip sharks.

Sumilon Island: Known for its crystal clear waters, Sumilon Island offers stunning coral landscapes and a variety of marine life including reef sharks, rays, and a multitude of fish species. The island also has a marine sanctuary which has greatly helped in preserving the local marine ecosystem.

Moalboal: Beyond Pescador Island, Moalboal itself is a diving hub in Philippines known for its sardine runs. The sight of millions of sardines swirling together in unison is a spectacle not to be missed. There are also numerous dive sites here suitable for all levels of divers, featuring beautiful coral gardens and diverse marine life.

Apo Island (Negros): Leading the diving scene in Negros, Apo Island is a protected marine sanctuary. It's a haven for divers, boasting healthy coral reefs teeming with colorful marine life. Popular dive sites include Coconut Point and Chapel Point, each offering unique underwater landscapes and a variety of marine species.

Bohol: The waters around Bohol are a playground for divers. Sites like Alona Beach and Panglao Island offer a mixture of wall, drift, and macro diving. The area is rich in coral gardens, small caves, and overhangs, housing a diverse range of marine life from nudibranchs to reef sharks.

Balicasag Island: A small island off the coast of Bohol, Balicasag is famed for its wall dives. The island’s steep walls are adorned with beautiful corals and are home to a variety of marine species including turtles, barracudas, and jacks. Diver's Heaven and Black Forest are among the popular dive sites here.

When To Go To Visayas?

The best time to visit the Visayas region in the Philippines for diving would be outside the typhoon season and the rainiest months, which occur from late November through February.

During this period, especially from December through February, the eastern Visayas including Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte experience a wet climate due to the Amihan season (northeast monsoon) bringing heavy rains, particularly affecting dive sites in Southern Leyte. Typhoons are also common from November through January, notably impacting Leyte and the northern part of Cebu.

The waters can get rough during either the northeast or southwest monsoon (Habagat) as winds stir up the waves, potentially affecting the diving conditions. However, it's mentioned that dive trips are still recommended year-round as dive operators are knowledgeable about the seasonal variations and can guide divers to sheltered areas offering great diving experiences despite the prevailing weather conditions.

For a more predictable and pleasant diving experience, planning your visit between March and early November could be ideal. Specifically, some liveaboards shift their operations to Tubbataha from March through June, taking advantage of the shorter diving season there, which also indicates that this period is favorable for diving in the Visayas region.

Tips For Travellers

Liveaboard itineraries can change based on weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. Stay flexible and open to adjustments to ensure a pleasant journey.

Have some Philippine Pesos (PHP) on hand for incidental expenses, tips, or small purchases at local stops. While larger cities have ATMs, they might be scarce or unavailable in remote areas.

Purchase travel and diving insurance prior to your trip. Visayas Philippines is a remote location and some dive sites can be quite far away from nearest healthcare facilities.

Most of the liveaboards in Visayas require minimum experience such as Open Water. Check the minimum diving experience as some dive sites require advanced certification or a specific number of logged dives to be able to enjoy.

How to get there & Ports of Departure?

Cebu City and Malapascua are two common liveaboard departure locations for Visayas liveaboards. Cebu City is a booming metropolis and the regional capital of the Visayas, with a port that sends ferries, cargo ships, and liveaboards out in every direction. Getting to Cebu City is easy with a 1.5-hour flight from Manila or direct flights from select Southeast Asian countries nearby. International flights can get to Cebu City via a transfer in Asia. Conversely, Malapascua has no airport, but it can be reached by taxi, van, or bus (and small boat). From Cebu City, getting to Malapascua requires a five-hour bus journey; taxis take about half that time.

In addition to Cebu City and Malapascua, the Visayas region offers other departure points like Moalboal (in Cebu) and Dumaguete (in Negros) for some Philippines liveaboards due to the variety of destinations and itineraries. Moalboal can be reached by bus from Cebu City or by bus and a short ferry from Dumaguete. On the other hand, Dumaguete has its own airport with daily flights from Manila, making it a convenient point of entry. International travelers can also reach Dumaguete through connecting flights, typically with a layover in Manila or Cebu City. Upon arrival in Dumaguete, travelers can easily find transportation to the port where liveaboards are anchored, ready to embark on the underwater adventure.

Essential Travel Tips for Liveaboard Adventures

Marine Park Fees: Be aware of per person, per day marine park fees. Some liveaboard packages include these fees, while others require onboard payment. Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, cash, or travelers checks.
Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned entry date. Most countries require this, along with a return ticket. Check visa requirements in advance.
Health Preparations: Consult your doctor 8 weeks prior to your trip for vaccinations or preventive measures recommended for your destination.

Note: Please review the specific terms and conditions of your chosen liveaboard for any additional marine park fees or travel requirements.