You got matched to Dauin.
Good. Most people walk straight past it.
Black sand. Shallow dives. Marine life that doesn’t show up on anyone’s highlight reel — which is exactly why it’s still there. You’re going to love it.
Get the Full Itinerary — $748 pages · instant download · $7 one-time
Dauin is where diving slows down and gets more interesting.
Nudibranchs in colours that don’t look real. Ghost pipefish hovering vertically in the water column. Frogfish sitting perfectly still, daring you to find them. Seahorses. Flamboyant cuttlefish. All within 15 metres.
Then a short boat ride away: Apo Island. One of the most biodiverse reefs in the Philippines — over 600 fish species, around 400 coral species, turtles so unbothered by divers they’ll swim alongside you for an entire dive.
Two completely different dive styles in one stop. You already knew this was the one worth building a trip around.
Dauin — macro life on volcanic black sand
Dauin is one of those places that’s easy to get wrong if you’re planning from abroad.
If you’re following a circuit, you don’t need to fly. You’ll likely arrive via Dumaguete by ferry from the previous island, and from there it’s a short transfer down to Dauin.
Where it makes a difference is where you stay. The resorts are spread along the coast, and the experience can vary a lot depending on the operator and how they run their dives.
Apo Island is done by boat, while many of Dauin’s macro sites are right off the shore. Apo Island is protected, so access and dive plans depend on local rules and conditions. Knowing which operator takes you at the right time makes a real difference to what you actually see.
Dauin rewards the divers who slow down and pay attention.
But knowing how to match the right resort, the right muck dives, and the right Apo Island day is what makes this stop work.
That’s exactly what this itinerary gives you — Dauin and Apo Island mapped out, as part of a circuit that makes the whole trip worth it.
The Philippines Dive Circuit Itinerary
48 pages. Every stop on the circuit, mapped out properly. Written by someone who has dived each of these islands — not in theory, but in the water, with the actual operators, on the actual ferries.
This covers Malapascua, Bohol, Siquijor, Dauin, Apo Island, Moalboal, and Coron as an optional extension. The route in the right order. The logistics for each leg. The dive sites worth your time. The information most guides gloss over or get wrong.
Trip variations for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Real 2026 prices. Dive operator contacts. Ferry booking instructions. Budget breakdown per island. Everything clickable.
Everything you need to plan this trip properly.
No filler. No generic advice you could find by Googling. The specific, practical information that takes weeks to pull together yourself — laid out so you can use it in minutes.
Before You Go
Best time to visit with honest notes on the wet season, what certification level you actually need for each stop, how money and ATMs work across the islands, a Filipino food guide, language basics, and how to route your flights through Cebu.
The Dive Circuit — All Six Islands
Full coverage of each destination: the dive sites worth your time, the operators I’ve actually used, where to stay at different budgets, where to eat, the daily schedule that works, and what to do when you’re out of the water. Including what most guides don’t mention — like Siquijor’s monthly marine closure and why Dauin’s diving looks unimpressive until it completely isn’t.
Trip Variations — 1 to 4 Weeks
Four different versions of the route depending on how much time you have. One week if you want the highlights. Four weeks if you want to do it properly. Each variation tells you exactly which islands to prioritise and which to cut without losing the best dives.
Practical Information
Full ferry logistics step by step. Real 2026 budget breakdown per island. A Green Fins guide to responsible dive operators. The most common mistakes people make on this trip and how to avoid them. A full FAQ covering solo travel, non-divers, weather, safety, language, and more.
Six destinations. One route that actually flows.
Fly into Cebu. Move between islands by ferry. Fly home from Cebu. No internal flights needed for the main circuit.
Malapascua
Thresher sharks at dawn
Bohol / Panglao
Turtles, reefs, Chocolate Hills
Siquijor
Calm water, consistent reefs
Dauin + Apo Island
Macro on black sand, reefs above
Moalboal
The sardine run. Year-round.
Coron
WWII wrecks + limestone lagoons
Stop researching.
Start diving.
The Philippines will still be there. The reefs are intact. You just need to actually go — and this is what makes that possible.
Guarantee
This should actually help you plan your trip. And if it doesn’t, just let me know.
Buy the guide, read it and if you feel like it hasn’t helped — just email me at hello@divingescapades.com within 14 days and I’ll refund you in full. No awkward forms, no questions, no fuss. I want you to actually plan this trip and love it.
Instant download