Dumaguete, Philippines
The frogfish capital of the Philippines, Dumaguete, with its black volcanic sandy beaches, offers divers a great opportunity to see unique macro marine life on sandy patches, hard coral reefs, and artificial reefs (including cars, various structures, and more!). From Dumaguete, you can dive over 20 coastal dive sites, the healthy reefs around Apo Island with over 400 documented species of corals (that’s 65% of the world’s corals!), the vibrant walls of Siquijor, and snorkeling with whale sharks in Oslob.
Dumaguete is located on the island of Negros, near Cebu Island. It is a quick one-hour flight from Manila. Most resorts and dive sites are located south of the city along the coast of Dauin. Many of the Dumaguete resorts offer amazing house reefs.
Dumaguete's main draw for travelers is the selection of resorts, from high-end resorts to accommodations for the budget traveler. Although the local dive sites are known for macro dives, there are great reefs and wide-angle subjects like large coral reefs, schools of jacks, and groupers just a short boat ride away.
Dumaguete is a year-round destination where rich marine life is found all year around. The weather is tropical with April being the driest month, but from December thru June, the weather is usually sunny. July to mid-Nov is the rainy season and even a monsoon can happen. Monsoons generally affect the northern part of the Philippines, with Dumaguete affected less.
The water temperature is generally about 27C / 81F but in January and February, this can drop to around 25C / 77F. A 3mm full wetsuit is recommended. Visibility around Dauin is about 12 meters / 40 feet and near Apo 24 meters / 80 feet.
Best dive sites include Apo Island which is about an hour boat ride. Apo features amazing healthy hard coral reefs and abundant marine life.
Our favorite resort in this area is the Atlantis Dumaguete: https://www.liquiddivingadventures.com/resort/atlantisdumaguete