Diving Sumilon Island
Scuba diving at Sumilon Island as a day trip offers a refreshing change of scenery from Moalboal’s reef and wall dives.
Located off the southeastern coast of Cebu, near the town of Oslob, Sumilon is home to one of the country’s most well-preserved marine ecosystems.
Clear waters, gently sloping reefs, and a healthy mix of hard and soft corals make it an excellent destination for a day of relaxed, scenic diving.
Sumilon holds the distinction of being the first marine protected area in the Philippines, officially established in 1974 through the efforts of marine biologists from Silliman University in Dumaguete. Decades of protection have helped maintain the island’s ecological balance, with thriving coral gardens and diverse marine life that benefit from minimal fishing pressure and strong conservation efforts.
For divers based in Moalboal, a day trip to Sumilon provides access to a different marine environment, less current-prone, often with better visibility, and offering a good chance of spotting whitetip and blacktip reef sharks and other larger fish species. It’s a great way to add variety to your trip while experiencing one of Cebu’s most significant conservation success stories
Dive Sites of Sumilon Island
The dive sites around Sumilon typically include sloping reefs, coral gardens, and walls that drop into deeper water.
Visibility here is often better than what you’ll find in Moalboal, on many days it can exceed 20 meters. The reefs are home to a wide variety of marine life, including healthy populations of hard and soft corals, large schools of reef fish, and occasional sightings of bigger pelagics like trevallies, barracudas, and often reef sharks. Green and hawksbill turtles are also commonly seen in the area.
This trip is open to all certified divers, and the dive sites are suitable for a range of experience levels. Although currents can occasionally be strong, most of the sites are relatively easy to dive. Good buoyancy control is a must.
It’s also a popular choice for underwater photography due to the good visibility, colorful reefscape, and interesting topography
Marine Life and Diving Conditions
Sumilon is known for a high level of biodiversity and vibrant marine life. Divers can expect to see a mix of tropical reef species, including angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, triggerfish, and various types of wrasses and damsels.
Moray eels and lionfish are frequently spotted, and if you look closely, there’s often a variety of macro life hiding in the coral.
In deeper sections of the reef and along the walls, there is a good chance of seeing larger species, such as giant trevallies, bumphead parrotfish, and often white-tip nad black tip reef sharks.
The coral health around the island is generally very good, with both hard and soft corals well represented. Some areas have gentle slopes with scattered coral bommies, while others drop more steeply into deeper water.
Depending on the site and season, you may encounter some current, but for the most part, the diving here is relaxed and comfortable.
Schedule and Logistics
We leave the dive center early in the morning, typically around 6:00 AM.
From Moalboal, we transfer by van to the Oslob pier, which takes about 90 minutes depending on traffic. At the pier, we board a traditional Filipino outrigger boat, or banka, for a 20-minute ride to Sumilon Island.
Upon arrival, divers will prepare for two boat dives at different sites around the island.
We usually schedule a longer surface interval between the two dives, which allows time to rest, enjoy the view, and have something to eat. Included in the trip are light snacks, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and a packed lunch.
After the second dive and a bit of time to relax and rinse off gear, we make our way back to Oslob and then return to Moalboal by van.
The entire day usually wraps up between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon.
Practical Information
The trip includes round-trip transport from Moalboal, boat fees, two guided dives, refreshments, and lunch. Divers should bring their certification card, swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, and any personal dive equipment they prefer to use. We provide rental gear if needed, and our dive team handles tank fills, weights, and logistics.
This trip requires a minimum of two divers to run and is available on request. It’s a good idea to book in advance, especially during the dry season from December to May when demand is higher.
If you’re already doing a PADI course with us, such as Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver, you can often count this trip as part of your training. Let us know in advance, and we’ll make sure the dives are structured to meet course requirements.
Summary of the Sumilon Island Day Trip
- Day trip includes two guided boat dives at Sumilon Island
- Departs from Moalboal at 6:00 AM, returns mid-afternoon
- Transfers by van and boat included
- Dive in the Philippines’ first marine sanctuary, established in 1974
- Good chance of spotting whitetip and blacktip reef sharks and other pelagics
- Good visibility, healthy reefs, and diverse marine life
- Suitable for all certified divers with some experience and good buoancy control
- Snacks, lunch, coffee, tea, and soft drinks provided
- Minimum of 2 divers required, advance booking required
- Can be combined with Oslob Whaleshark diving
- This includes transfers, marine park fees, beverages and snacks, lunch pack, excluding u/w camera fees 200PHP, rental equipment
