Bantayan Island
- Depth
- 12-14 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Reef
- Just outside the mangrove garden and a barangay fish sanctuary
North-west, Visayan Sea
Diving Bantayan Island
Bantayan is a beach island first and a dive destination a distant second: one local shop describes its diving as still in its infancy and recovering from destructive fishing. What there is sits on shallow shoals and the islets off Santa Fe, such as Virgin Island (Hilantagaan Diot) and Hilantagaan, mostly 7-22 m. The crossing is about an hour from Hagnaya port, which is 3-4 hours from Cebu City.
Quote a transfer to Bantayan Last checked: Oct 2026
- Dive sites here
- 5 (0 mapped)
- From Cebu City
- ~125 km to Hagnaya, 3-4 hrs + ~1-1.5 hr ferry
- Depths
- Mostly 7-22 m
- Character
- Shoals, islet reefs, a wall off Kinatarkan
Treat Bantayan as a place to snorkel and dive easy reefs between beach days rather than a dive trip in itself.
5 dive sites
Bantayan dive sites at a glance
| Site | Depth | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Bantayan Island | ||
| Oboob Platform | 12-14 m | - |
| Bugnay Shoal | 7-10 m | - |
| Santa Fe islands | ||
| Virgin Point (Virgin Island) | 7-10 m | - |
| Hilantagaan Island reef | - | - |
| Kinatarkan Wall | 15-22 m | - |
Site by site
Every Bantayan 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.
Bantayan Island
Sulangan, Bantayan
- Depth
- 7-10 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Shoal, Reef
- A stretch of shoal just off the Sulangan coast
Sources (1)
Santa Fe islands
Santa Fe, Bantayan · also called Sillon Island
- Depth
- 7-10 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Reef, Sanctuary
- A private fish sanctuary around Virgin Island
- Parrotfish seen by snorkellers
SanctuarySnorkel-friendly
Hilantagaan, Santa Fe
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Reef
- Mainly a snorkelling stop, about 30 minutes by boat from Santa Fe
Snorkel-friendly
Guintacan Island, Santa Fe · also called Guintacan Island, Kinatarcan Island
- Depth
- 15-22 m
- Access
- Boat
- Type
- Wall
- A wall dive just off the coast of Guintacan Island
Sources (1)
When to go
Seasons and conditions in Bantayan
| Conditions | Shallow sites are weather-dependent; the calmer half of the year is roughly November to May |
|---|
Getting there
How to get to Bantayan with your dive gear
| Road + ferry | About 125 km and 3-4 hours from Cebu City to Hagnaya port in San Remigio, then a ferry of about 1-1.5 hours to Santa Fe. |
|---|---|
| Islets | Hilantagaan is about 30 minutes by boat from Santa Fe; Virgin Island about 20 minutes beyond. |
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 Bantayan, 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 Bantayan Island on the form - just add your dates and details.
FAQ
Diving Bantayan: questions
Is Bantayan worth it for diving?
Come for the beaches and snorkel or dive the shallow reefs as an extra. For dedicated dive days, Malapascua is the stronger choice in the north.