Diving Dumaguete - Dive Dumaguete - Scuba Dive Travel Dumaguete, Dive Adventures Philippines

Dumaguete is the largest city in the province of Negros Oriental, located on the southeast coast of Negros Island. It is a bustling university town with an airport, several hospitals, historical buildings, shopping malls and restaurants and bars along it's seaside boulevarde.

"The City of Gentle People", is best known for the Silliman University established in 1901 as the Philippines first Protestant university and the oldest private American university in Asia.

Close by is Apo Island, a marine protected area since 1982.

Most dive resorts are situated in the coastal town of Dauin, about 15 kilometres (30 minute drive) south of Dumaguete. The area remains one of the Philippines best kept secrets.

Geographical Information
Activities
When to Travel
Diving in Dumaguete
Hotels and Resorts

Dumaguete Geographical Information

Negros Oriental province is renowned for it's outstanding natural beauty and fascinating culture. Marine sanctuaries line the Dauin coastline. Inland, the vast mountain ridge is home to many serene lakes, thundering waterfalls and local indigenous cultures.

Hotels and Resorts in Dumaguete


Atmosphere Resorts Near the small town of Dauin	Budget: $$$ - $$$$ Pool: Yes Beach/Beachfront: Yes Bar: 1 Restaurant: 1	Wifi: Yes Onsite Shop: Yes Gym: No Spa: Yes Onsite Dive Centre: Yes
Pura Vida Beach Resort Closest to the town of Dauin	Budget: $$-$$$ Pool: Yes Beach/Beachfront: Yes Bar: 1 Restaurant: 1	Wifi: Yes Onsite Shop: Yes Gym: No Spa: Yes Onsite Dive Centre: Yes
Atlantis Dive Resort Near the town of Dauin	Budget: $$$ Pool: Yes Beach/Beachfront: Yes Bar: 1 Restaurant: 1	Wifi: Yes Onsite Shop: Yes Gym: No Spa: Yes Onsite Dive Centre: Yes

Scuba Diving in Dumaguete

The marine sanctuaries lining the Dauin coastline house some of the world's rarest critters competing for the underwater photographer's attention. Whether you are a novice or experienced diver, you will be sure to find some new and exciting species here. All the dive sites are replete with huge numbers of splendid fish (triggerfish, parrotfish, pennant fish, moray eels, surgeonfish, snappers, groupers, Moorish idols, lizardfish, gobies, batfish, lionfish, trumpet fish, puffer fish, filefish, emperors, wrasses, fusiliers and trevallies to name only a few).

Invertebrates from the tiniest transparent shrimp and neon-coloured nudibranchs to huge basket sponges adorned with hundreds of multi-coloured crinoids; anemones, sea cucumbers, starfish and worms reside with vast numbers of hard and soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Turtles, octopus, cuttlefish, manta rays, eagle rays and sharks make guest appearances.

Apo Island is a short boat ride away. A jewel in the Philippine Sea, this small island has been a marine protected area since 1982 and is widely regarded as one of the premier dive locations in the Philippines. It is a scuba diver's heaven, its walls and reefs densely covered with an incredible variety of hard and soft corals home to all kinds of marine life in amazing numbers. There is really something for everyone, from roller coaster drifts to gentle, relaxed dives..

Some popular dive sites:

Apo Island

Rock Point East/West

Suitable for divers of all levels with lots of marine life on this steep wall. Turtles, potato groupers, scorpionfish, black and white snapper, batfish, butterfly fish and many varieties of pufferfish. Look out for the banded sea snake. Macro lovers will find nudibranchs, flat worms, gobies and anemone shrimp hiding in the coral. Max. depth: 30 metres.

Cogon

Suitable for advanced divers with drift diving experience. Currents can be fierce resulting in a beautiful coral slope with a vast array of colourful soft corals and sponges. Bump headed parrotfish and huge schools of big eye trevally frequent this site, along with the occasional giant travelly. Max. depth: 30 metres.

Dauin Coastline

Masaplod North

Has more schooling fish and pelagics than any other on the coast and is the oldest marine sanctuary in the area. Home to blue spotted stingrays, schools of surgeon fish, the occasional barracuda, big staghorn, potato and lettuce coral formations and a resident school of big eyed jacks encircle divers. Turtles are common here. Search for baby frogfish, scorpionfish and flounders. Max. Depth: 25 metres.

The Cars

An artificial reef made up of 2 old cars, oil drums, a cement mixer etc. Overgrown with coral and home to dozens and dozens of huge lionfish. A good place to look for moray eels, juvenile emperor angelfish, shrimps, snappers, colourful wrasses, groupers, snake eels, saddleback anemone fish in their leather anemone, ringed pipefish and flounders. Photographers love this site. Max. depth: 30 metres.