Badian Island West
BeginnerBadian
- Depth
- to 40 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Wall, Reef
- About 750 m north of Badian Point
- Current: Low.
South-west coast, Tañon Strait
Diving Badian, Alegria & the south-west coast
South of Moalboal the same Tañon Strait coast carries on through Badian, Alegria and Samboan with quieter, less-dived reefs: the Zaragosa Island and Badian Island sanctuaries, the Sunken Island pinnacle between Moalboal and Badian, the Santa Filomena sanctuary in Alegria with its underwater statues, and Colase Marine Sanctuary in Samboan. Badian is about 113 km and 3-4 hours from Cebu City.
Quote a transfer to Badian or Alegria Last checked: Oct 2026
- Dive sites here
- 10 (1 mapped)
- From Cebu City
- ~113 km to Badian, 3-4 hrs
- Character
- Sanctuaries, shore reefs, one deep pinnacle
- Access
- Shore and short banca rides
- Crowds
- Far fewer boats than Moalboal
This stretch is far less documented than Moalboal, and we say so site by site below: several Badian sites are known by name and little else. Zaragosa (1987) is one of Badian’s seven marine protected areas by 2019, up from one in 1999.
10 dive sites
Badian & Alegria dive sites at a glance
| Site | Depth | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Badian & Zaragosa | ||
| Badian Island West | to 40 m | Beginner |
| Zaragosa Island Fish Sanctuary | - | - |
| Badian Wall | 3-40 m | - |
| Fisherman's Cave | 3-40 m | - |
| Coral Gardens (Badian) | - | - |
| Garden Eels (Badian) | - | - |
| Sawang | - | - |
| Lambug Beach Coral Garden | - | - |
| Alegria | ||
| Santa Filomena Marine Sanctuary (Alegria)shore | 4-20 m | Beginner |
| Samboan & Ginatilan | ||
| Colase Marine Sanctuaryshore | - | Beginner |
Site by site
Every Badian & Alegria dive site
Depth, level, access, marine life and current for each site, with its sources. Every site has its own link, so you can share one directly.
Badian & Zaragosa
Zaragosa (Badian Island), Badian · also called Badian Island sanctuary
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Sanctuary, Reef
- Fringing reefs of mostly branching and massive corals
- Rocky intertidal and sandy areas
- · About 9.7 ha, declared in 1987 and run by a local cooperative
- · Cited in 2019 as one of two well-managed small marine protected areas in the area, with Saavedra
Sanctuary
Off Badian Island, Badian
- Depth
- 3-40 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Wall
- A shelf at 3 m to 4 m dropping off to 30 m to 40 m
- Suited to night diving
- Current: The current can be a bit strong.
- Depth: A shelf from 3 m to 4 m drops off to 30 m to 40 m
- · 10 to 15 minutes by boat toward the north and northwest side of Badian Island
Night dive
Sources (1)
Off Badian Island, Badian
- Depth
- 3-40 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Wall, Cave
- A shelf at 3 m to 4 m dropping off to 30 m to 40 m
- Suited to night diving
- Current: The current can be a bit strong.
- Depth: A shelf from 3 m to 4 m drops off to 30 m to 40 m
- · 10 to 15 minutes by boat toward the north and northwest side of Badian Island
Night dive
Sources (1)
Near Badian Island, Badian
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Reef
Sources (1)
Near Badian Island, Badian
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Slope
Sources (1)
Near Badian Island, Badian
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Reef
Sources (1)
Lambug, Badian
- Type
- Reef
- A coral garden off Lambug Beach used for diving and snorkelling
Snorkel-friendly
Alegria
Santa Filomena, Alegria · also called Sta. Filomena Marine Sanctuary, Alegria house reef
- Depth
- 4-20 m
- Access
- Shore
- Type
- Reef, Sanctuary
- Mandarinfish
- Turtles are common
- Life-size underwater statues placed on the reef, rediscovered in 2020
- Depth: Drops to 15 m to 20 m and deeper
- · About 30 km south of Moalboal and 5 km from Kawasan Falls
SanctuaryMacro
Samboan & Ginatilan
Colase Marine Sanctuary
BeginnerColase, Samboan
- Access
- Shore
- Type
- Sanctuary, Reef
- A roadside sanctuary where snorkelling starts in waist-deep water
- Soft corals close to shore
- Turtles; barracuda, dolphins and blacktip reef sharks reported nearby
- · No dive centre on site (2016): bring your own gear and guide
- · About 15 minutes by road from Samboan town
SanctuarySnorkel-friendly
When to go
Seasons and conditions in Badian & Alegria
| Calmer | November to May |
|---|---|
| Wetter | June to October |
| Sunken Island | Strong currents warned by every source, any month |
Local rules and fees
- Tañon Strait Protected Seascape
The strait between Cebu and Negros is a national protected seascape, and Zaragosa’s sanctuary sits inside it.
Source: badian.weebly.com - Colase (Samboan)
Published fees conflict (a 2016 list versus "no entrance fee" in 2024), so check locally.
Source: sugbo.ph, 14 May 2024
Getting there
How to get to Badian & Alegria with your dive gear
| Road | Badian is about 113 km from Cebu City (3-4 hrs) and 125 km from Mactan airport (3.5-4 hrs). Alegria is about 30 km south of Moalboal; the coast road continues to Samboan and Santander. |
|---|---|
| Zaragosa / Badian Island | Boats cross from the Manay-as wharf in Badian. |
Dive kit takes more room than its bag count suggests, so tell us how many gear bags you are bringing and we size the vehicle for it before we quote.
Quote a transfer to Badian or Alegria, gear included
A private car or van with room for your dive bags, met at arrivals or your hotel, at one fixed price agreed before you travel. We reply by email, usually the same day.
We’ll pre-fill Badian on the form - just add your dates and details.
FAQ
Diving Badian & Alegria: questions
Can you dive Sunken Island as a new diver?
It is not a beginner site. The top of the pinnacle sits at around 25 m in open water between Moalboal and Badian and every source warns of strong currents, so it is for experienced divers on a guided boat dive.