Scuba Diving in Cebu - Plane Wreck and Sardines

Before my first dive in Cebu for some reason my expectations were not so high. I don't know why, but maybe because Cebu city is so close. After several diving days and I have to admit I was wrong. Scuba diving in Cebu area is great and there are lot of things to see.

Dive centers are near the luxury hotels like Movenpick and Crimson Resort in Mactan. Of course hotels organize also dive trips. First dive spots are very near the hotels. Even plane wreck and sardines are just next to the hotels.

Here are some highlights from my dives in Cebu area. Enjoy!

If you are going to visit in Cebu and like scuba diving it's worth to check also underwater life.

Regards,
Mika

Plane wreck and sardines in Cebu, Philippines

I had a weekend trip from Manila to meet my friend Petri in Cebu. We did also two dives in Mactan area.

Dive #: 239

Date: 21.6.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Tambuli

Depth: 29,5m Average: 14,9m

Dive time: 43min

Visibility: 20m

Sea temperature: +30C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: No wetsuit, only shorts and sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Scuba Haven

Price: Special friend price

Divers: Petri, Jari, Minna and me.

Our first dive spot was Tambuli. There is plane wreck, which is of course the most important target on the dive. 

Plane a bit closer.

Jari inside the plane.

"This is your captain speaking…". That´s me.

Petri comes out from the plane.

Jari takes some photos.

After the wreck we dived to more shallow area, where we saw banded sea snake.

Minna with the snake.

Finally the snake swam to the surface.

Small reef fishes.

Feather starfish.

Nudibranch.

End of dive and back to the surface.

Dive #: 240

Date: 21.6.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Kontiki Reef

Depth: 15,8m Average: 8,2m

Dive time: 73min

Visibility: 15-20m

Sea temperature: +31C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: No wetsuit, only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stinger

Our second dive spot was Kontiki Reef. There our goal was to find school of sardines, which usually are on the area.

Small striped catfishes.

Oh yes, we found the sardines.

More.

Corals and some kind of worms.

Soft corals.

Nudibranch.

Lionfish.

Our friend "Nemo".

School of striped catfishes.

Later on the dive we saw more sardines.

Closer.

Jari under the school.

In the end of the dive we saw lots of sardines. Visibility just in that place was not the best possible. 

Here is a short video clip of the sardines.

Water temperature especially on the second dive was very warm. Amazing +31C! Nice and relax dives.

If you are interested to dive in Cebu area just contact to Petri.

Regards from Manila,

Mika

Diving day in Mactan area in Cebu, Philippines

I had a diving day with the friends in Mactan Island area near Cebu. We did a three dives. Divers: Mikko H., Mikko R., and Petri, who was also our dive guide/instructor.

Dive #: 231

Date: 5.1.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Hilutungan

Depth: 21,6m Average: 10,9m

Dive time: 43min

Visibility: 20m

Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Scuba Haven

Price: Special price for the friends (3 dives)

Diving gears to the boat and to the sea. From the left: Mikko R., Mikko H., Petri and me on the back.

Our first dive spot was Hilutungan Island.

There was a lot of spade fishes. Some of them are very curious and come very close.

Fishes and corals on the wall. 

Petri taking some photos. 

Diaconal banded sweetlips.

That´s me on the wall.

During the first dive we saw also titan triggers, anemones and a lot of different reef fishes.

Dive #: 232
Date: 5.1.2013
Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Nalusuan Island
Depth: 17,6m Average: 9,4m
Dive time: 57min
Visibility: 20-25m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Our second dive spot was Nalusuan Resort Island. We jumped to water near the pier.

There was a lot of black spotted snappers under the pier building. 

 School of black spoted snappers near the pier.

Blue-spotted stingray. If you look closer you can see this one was lost her tail.

 Corals.

Big grouper on the cleaning station mouth open.

 Blue-spotted stingray with the blue-streak cleaner wrasses.

"Nemos" or Clark´s anemones posing. 

Same "Nemos" again. 

More stingrays.

Second dive was quite shallow, but also quite interesting. Especially under the pier we saw so many fishes. Also later on the dive it was create to see  many stingrays. 

Dive #: 233
Date: 5.1.2013
Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Olango Island, Talima
Depth: 21,3m Average: 14,6m
Dive time: 44min
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Our third and last dive spot was Talima. In practice it means deep walls, wooden wreck and lots of fish.

Here Petri diving on the wall.

Wooden wreck has already seen the best days. 

Wreck closer.

There are always a lot of fishes near the wreck. Here diaconal banded sweetlips. 

One sweetlips closer.

Fan coral and barrel sponge.

White eye moray eel ready to attack.

I was taking photo from some coral and suddenly I saw somebody is stearing me very close. It was this guy.

I have dived ones before in Talima about 6 months ago. There are always so many fishes especially near the wreck. 

It was great to dive in Cebu area again especially with the good friends. There are always lots of manine life. If you want to dive near Mactan just contact to Petri.

Regards,

Mika

Manila