Gilutongan & Nalusuan.

A trip to Cebu is never complete without diving in Gilutongan and Nalusuan Marine Santuaries in Cordova, Cebu. When my friends from Manila made a quick vacation to Cebu twice, we also dived in these areas twice.


Gilutongan Island Marine Sanctuary was established in 1999 to protect the waters of Cordova and its coastal and marine resources. The community has been quite active in reef monitoring and the number of fish has increased over the years. A school of batfish are regulars in this sanctuary.


Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary is located about 30 minutes by motor boat from Mactan island. It has the healthiest coral reefs in the Olango area. Nalusuan has crystal clear waters and it has visibility up to 35 meters. The wall dive here is ideal for beginners.

Gilutongan and Nalusuan are among the best diving spots in Cebu.

For diving trips to Gilutongan and Nalusuan, contact
Daniel Elemia
+63 916 3414724

Expect to see a barracuda (or a school of these amazing fish), stingrays, turtles, nudibranchs, and gardens of colorful corals in these sanctuaries.


Expect to encounter a wide variety of fish, too. Simply, simply fantastic. If you don't dive, you can also swim and snorkel.


How to go to Gilutongan and Nalusuan:

From Cebu City, take a jeepney (or cab) to Kontiki Mactan.
From Kontiki, hire a motorized boat.
Travel time: About 30-45 minutes.
Travel time from Gilutungan to Nalusuan (and vv): about 10 minutes.

Or you can let your dive master or your resort arrange a boat for you.

Boat rentals: Php3,000 - 5,000.
Sanctuary Fees (Divers): Php300/person; (Non-Divers): Php150/person
Divers with camera: Php500

Diving equipment rentals vary. Please ask your resort, dive master, or Daniel (if you decide to hire him for your diving trips).

*Diving gloves are not allowed. They discourage touching, holding corals and other marine life.


My friends and I had the grandest time in Gilutongan and Nalusuan. We all had amazing dives and we were quite happy about how clear the visibility was. Daniel was quite an excellent dive master and we all felt very safe with him underwater. He was very efficient, considerate, and fun!

It was, all in all, one of the best diving trips we had.

PS. The people of Cordova are trying their best to protect their marine resources, please be a responsible diver.