Explore the Philippines on a 6 Day Dive Safari!
6 Day Dive Safaris Philippines: to Cebu, Apo Island, Alona Beach, Balicasag Island, Siquijor Island, Sipalay and Moalboal.
We joined forces with the dive professionals of Easy Diving in Negros and organize 6-day dive safaris from Cebu via Bohol to Negros and back. From October to March, the safari vessels Royo and Goya commute between Sipalay (Negros) and Moalboal (Cebu) regularly back and forth while visiting to the best dive sites the archipelago has to offer.
Dive Safari Video
About Philippine Dive Safari
Cruise with us through the “epicenter” of marine biodiversity on earth, the Visayan Archipelago. The islands of Negros, Bohol and Cebu belong to the coral triangle home to more than 12.000 species of fish. Join us for a great dive adventure and prepared for great diving, good visibility, colorful corals, schools of fish, large predators, and tiny critters.
Dive Safari Philippines is the way to go: Within 6 days you will see the best dive spots the region has to offer, including Dauin, Apo Island, Siquijor Island, Balicasag Island, Panglao Island, Sumilon Island, Sunken Island and Pescador Island. Even a trip to the Kawasan Waterfalls set in the jungle of Matutinao Nature Park in Cebu is included, with an additional option to visit the Chocolate Hills of Bohol.
Apo Island is one of the world’s best known community-organized marine sanctuaries, and as such it has been well documented by the global science community. At present, the island is home to over 650 documented species of fish and estimated to have over 400 species of corrals.
On Panglao, the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project found that Panglao alone has more marine biodiversity than Japan and the Mediterranean Sea. For all those who would like to see the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, a day trip can be organized for a surcharge.
Sumilon Island is all of 24 hectares of luxuriant tropical greens enveloped by an astonishing collection of marine flora and fauna teeming in its lucid and azure waters.
Other highlights on this safari are the dive sites of Apo Island, Sumilon Island, Balicasag Island and a wonderful excursion to the Matutinao Nature Park and the Kawasan Waterfalls. Another land trip to the world renowned Chocolate Hills in Bohol is optional.
Dive Safari Philippines is conducted by divers for divers. We emphasize scuba diving and great dive spot selection, not necessarily the greatest comfort and luxury. Accommodation on land is simple but clean at local beach resorts close to the shore.
Dive Spots on Dive Safari
Balicasag Island – Bohol
Balicasag Island is Bohol’s top dive site. It’s a combination of dramatic vertical walls, colorful coral and sponge composites, and flourishing habitats of both small tropical reef fish and larger pelagic fish! Lots of turtles around here. The schooling jack fish are a trademark of the Balicasag Island.
Apo Island – Negros
Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 12 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete City in the Philippines.
The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve and has become a popular dive site and snorkeling destination for scuba divers. Apo Island is one of the world’s best known community-organized marine sanctuaries, and as such it has been well documented by the global science community.
Dauin – Negros
Famous for muck diving, u/w photographers love it. The sandy slope consists of black volcanic sand and is home to an incredible amount of unique marine critters. Watch out for all kinds of nudibranchs, frogfish, moray eels, harlequin shrimps, ghost pipefish, seahorses, cuttlefish, octopuses and more. This is also excellent for night diving.
Sumilon Island – Cebu
This island of the coast of Cebu, near the whale sharks of Oslob, is a picture perfect island with an extending sandbar. Beware, currents can be very strong at some of the dive spots surrounding the island. Whitetip and blacktip sharks are often seen at greater depth in the currents, schools of barracuda, too. Sometimes the roam through the corals at the reef top in shallower water. There is a marine sanctuary where currents are not so strong, with a nice wall and great marine life:
Dive Safari Rates
Price
- 65,000 Pesos including overnight stay in a beach resort on shore (2 divers sharing 1 room, price per person).
- Our rates are based on double occupancy, if you are traveling alone we can assign you a room mate, if you prefer to have your own room there is a single occupancy charge for the trip of 8,500 PHP per person.
Included
- Diving: 3-4 dives a day, depending on the dive sites and dive conditions.
- Accommodation: Stay at shore in a nice beach resort
- Food: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. Additionally, other refreshments, snacks and fruits are served. Drinks such as mineral water and soft drinks are free of charge on the ship. Drinks in restaurants, bars and in the resorts are on your own account
Excluded
- Equipment rental except weights and tanks.
- Some dive sites charge entrance fees for their marine sanctuaries. Some charge extra for divers using u/w cameras or video. These charges are not included in the dive price. Depending on the dive sites, these charges can reach 3000 – 4000 Pesos (60 – 100US$) in total.
- Transfer to beach resorts, airports or piers at the start or end of the safari.
What to bring
- Dive computer is a must.
- Surface Marker Buoy as well.
- Only few clothes are needed. Very important is sun protection such as sun blocker, sun glasses and a hat or cap. A wind jacket in case of bad weather or high waves is recommended.
- Also bring adaptors for battery charger, batteries and photo equipment, if needed.
Dive Safari Schedules
The dive safaris vessels commute between 2 destinations, Sipalay in Negros and Moalboal in Cebu. The first dive safari starts in Sipalay and cruises through the Philippine archipelago for 6 days. The dive safari boat will end late afternoon in Moalboal, Cebu. There the divers will disembark and check-in in a beach resort of their choice in Moalboal. A new group of divers will go on board the ship and leave for the next dive safari. The route of the dive safari is now reversed. The dive safari ship cruises for 6 days back to Sipalay in Negros, where the second trip ends. And so on for the whole season. Dive Safaris start in October and end in May every year.
Dive Safari Schedules 2023 / 2024
Sipalay – Moalboal
21 October 2023 | 26 October 2023 |
06 November 2023 | 11 November 2023 |
22 November 2023 | 27 November 2023 |
08 December 2023 | 13 December 2023 |
25 December 2023 | 30 December 2023 |
10 January 2024 | 15 January 2024 |
26 January 2024 | 31 January 2024 |
11 February 2024 | 16 February 2024 |
27 February 2024 | 03 March 2024 |
14 March 2024 | 19 March 2024 |
30 March 2024 | 04 April 2024 |
15 April 2024 | 20 April 2024 |
03 May 2024 | 08 May 2024 |
19 May 2024 | 24 May 2024 |
04 June 2024 | 09 June 2024 |
Moalboal – Sipalay
29 October 2023 | 03 November 2023 |
14 November 2023 | 19 November 2023 |
30 November 2023 | 05 December 2023 |
16 December 2023 | 21 December 2023 |
02 January 2024 | 07 January 2024 |
18 January 2024 | 23 January 2024 |
03 February 2024 | 08 February 2024 |
19 February 2024 | 24 February 2024 |
06 March 2024 | 11 March 2024 |
22 March 2024 | 27 March 2024 |
07 April 2024 | 12 April 2024 |
23 April 2024 | 28 April 2024 |
11 May 2024 | 16 May 2024 |
27 May 2024 | 01 June 2024 |
12 June 2024 | 17 June 2024 |
Dive Safari Schedules 2024 / 2025
Sipalay – Moalboal
21 October 2024 | 26 October 2024 |
06 November 2024 | 11 November 2024 |
22 November 2024 | 27 November 2024 |
08 December 2024 | 16 December 2024 |
25 December 2024 | 30 December 2024 |
10 January 2025 | 15 January 2025 |
26 January 2025 | 31 January 2025 |
11 February 2025 | 16 February 2025 |
01 March 2025 | 06 March 2025 |
16 March 2025 | 21 March 2025 |
01 April 2025 | 06 April 2025 |
17 April 2025 | 22 April 2025 |
03 May 2025 | 08 May 2025 |
19 May 2025 | 24 May 2025 |
04 June 2025 | 09 June 2025 |
Moalboal – Sipalay
29 October 2024 | 03 November 2024 |
14 November 2024 | 19 November 2024 |
30 November 2024 | 05 December 2024 |
16 December 2024 | 21 December 2024 |
02 January 2025 | 07 January 2025 |
18 January 2025 | 23 January 2025 |
03 February 2025 | 08 February 2025 |
19 February 2025 | 24 February 2025 |
08 March 2025 | 13 March 2025 |
24 March 2025 | 29 March 2025 |
09 April 2025 | 14 April 2025 |
25 April 2025 | 30 April 2025 |
11 May 2025 | 16 May 2025 |
27 May 2025 | 01 June 2025 |
12 June 2025 | 17 June 2025 |
The Dive Safari Boats
The two Dive Safari Philippines that cruise through the archipelago
The design of dive safari boats are based on traditional Filipino fishing boats, called bankas. The boats used for dive safari are custom-built for scuba diving purposes. Every year, the boats are dry-docked and overhauled in the months of June to September. The management of the boats is Swiss.

Safari boat GOYA
Year of construction: 2005
Length: 23 Meter
Width: 4.5 Meter
Toilet / shower: 1
Engine: 1 Yanmar-Marine-Diesel 120 HP Turbo
Speed: 10 Knots
Reach: 800 NM
Fresh water tank: 600 l
Navigation: GPS, Compass, Sonar
Communication: VHF Radio, Satellite Telephone
Power supply: 12V / 24V DC + 220V
Service boat: Dinghy with 15 hp outboard engine

Safari Boat ROYO
Year of construction: 2008
Length: 30 Meter
Width: 4,8 Meter
Toilet / shower: 1
Engine: 1 Isuzu GRA1 250 HP
Speed: 12 Knots
Reach: 800 NM
Fresh water tank: 800 l
Navigation: GPS, Compass, Sonar
Communication: VHF Radio, Satellite Telephone
Power supply: 12V / 24V DC + 220V
Service boat: Dinghy with 15 hp outboard engine
Dive Safari map
Safari Map of the Dive Safari Philippines
Here is a map of the showing the route and the islands which are visited on the dive safari. Islands included are Cebu, Apo Island, Alona Beach, Balicasag Island, Siquijor Island, Sipalay and Moalboal.
