Marine Biodiversity Tour: Snorkeling & Diving Siquijor

Beneath Siquijor’s crystal-clear waters lies a vibrant underwater world. Thanks to marine sanctuaries and conservation efforts, the island offers excellent snorkeling and diving for all skill levels. Here’s your guide to exploring Siquijor’s marine biodiversity.

Overview

Siquijor’s marine environment includes:

• Marine sanctuaries — Protected reef areas with thriving ecosystems
• Coral gardens — Accessible snorkeling sites
• Dive sites — Walls, slopes, and deep sites for certified divers
• Shore snorkeling — Walk-in access at several beaches

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Top Snorkeling Spots

Tubod Marine Sanctuary

The best snorkeling on the island. Located in front of Coco Grove Resort in San Juan.

What You’ll See:

• Healthy hard and soft corals
• Schools of tropical fish
• Clownfish in anemones
• Sea urchins, starfish
• Occasional sea turtles

Access:

• Walk in from the beach
• Shallow to moderate depth
• Suitable for beginners

Tips:

• Go early morning for best visibility
• Avoid touching coral
• Stay within sanctuary boundaries
• Respect the no-fishing zone

Paliton Beach Reef

The famous photo-op beach also offers decent snorkeling along its fringing reef.

What You’ll See:

• Smaller reef fish
• Coral formations
• Seagrass areas

Note: Not as rich as Tubod, but convenient if you’re already at the beach.

Sandugan Marine Sanctuary

Near Larena Port, this less-visited sanctuary offers:

• Quieter experience
• Decent coral coverage
• Local fishing community
• Authentic atmosphere

Salagdoong Beach Snorkeling

The famous cliff-jumping beach also has snorkeling potential:

• Rocky reef areas
• Clear waters
• Combine with cliff jumping
• More adventurous access

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Diving in Siquijor

Dive Sites Overview

Site	Depth	Features	Level
Sandugan	5-25m	Coral slopes, reef fish	All levels
Tubod	5-18m	Coral gardens, macro	Beginner-friendly
Larena Point	10-30m	Wall dive, pelagics	Intermediate
Apo Island	5-40m	Turtles, sharks	All levels

What You Might See

Common Sightings:

• Reef fish (parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish)
• Clownfish and anemones
• Moray eels
• Nudibranchs (macro life)
• Sea turtles (especially at Apo Island)

Occasional Sightings:

• Reef sharks
• Eagle rays
• Octopus
• Cuttlefish
• Seahorses

Dive Operators

Several shops offer PADI courses and guided dives:

Services Available:

• Discover Scuba (intro dive): PHP 2,500-3,500
• Fun dives (certified): PHP 1,500-2,500 per dive
• PADI Open Water course: PHP 18,000-22,000
• Advanced Open Water: PHP 15,000-18,000
• Equipment rental included in most packages

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Apo Island Day Trip

Although not part of Siquijor, Apo Island is the region’s premier dive and snorkel destination.

Why Go

• Sea turtles — Almost 100% sighting rate
• Pristine reef — Excellent marine biodiversity
• Clear waters — Visibility often 20+ meters
• Less crowded — When accessed from Siquijor

Day Trip Logistics

From Siquijor:

• Boat from Dumaguete side (faster) or arranged from Siquijor
• Full-day excursion: 6-8 hours
• Cost: PHP 2,500-4,000 per person (includes boat, guide, fees)

What’s Included:

• Boat transportation
• Snorkel gear
• Marine sanctuary fee
• Guide
• Lunch (sometimes)

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Marine Conservation

Siquijor’s reefs thrive because of conservation efforts. Help protect them:

Do

• Use reef-safe sunscreen only
• Look but don’t touch
• Stay buoyant (don’t stand on coral)
• Follow guide instructions
• Support marine sanctuaries with fees

Don’t

• Touch, stand on, or break coral
• Chase or touch marine life
• Collect shells, coral, or anything
• Feed fish
• Use gloves (tempts touching)

Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Regular sunscreen damages coral. Look for products:

• Free of oxybenzone
• Free of octinoxate
• Mineral-based (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)

Some available in Siquijor shops, but bring from home for certainty.

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Practical Information

Best Conditions

Season:

• Best: November to May (dry season)
• Good: October and June (shoulder)
• Challenging: July-September (monsoon)

Time of Day:

• Morning: Calmest water, best visibility
• Afternoon: Possible wind and waves

Tides:

• Check tide charts for specific sites
• Some sites better at high tide
• Sandugan can be shallow at low tide

Gear Rental

Available at major snorkel sites:

Item	Rental Cost
Mask + snorkel	PHP 100-150
Fins	PHP 50-100
Full set	PHP 150-200
Life jacket	PHP 50-100
Underwater camera	PHP 500+

Note: Quality varies. Bring your own if possible, especially masks (fit is personal).

Safety

• Never snorkel alone
• Stay within your abilities
• Watch for boats and jet skis
• Be aware of currents
• Use life jacket if not a strong swimmer
• Stay hydrated

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Marine Tour Itinerary

Half-Day Snorkel Tour

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Depart accommodation
8:30 AM	Arrive Tubod Marine Sanctuary
9:00-11:00 AM	Snorkeling (2 hours)
11:30 AM	Lunch at Coco Grove or nearby
12:30 PM	Return

Cost: PHP 300-500 (including transport, fees, gear)

Full-Day Marine Experience

Time	Activity
7:00 AM	Depart for Apo Island
9:00 AM	Arrive, first snorkel session
11:00 AM	Beach break, lunch
1:00 PM	Second snorkel session
3:00 PM	Depart Apo Island
5:00 PM	Return to Siquijor

Cost: PHP 2,500-4,000 (complete package)

Diving Day

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Meet at dive shop
8:30 AM	First dive (Sandugan or Tubod)
10:30 AM	Surface interval, snacks
11:30 AM	Second dive
1:00 PM	Return, debrief

Cost: PHP 3,000-4,500 (two-tank dive)

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For Beginners

First-Time Snorkelers

• Start at Tubod (calm, shallow, protected)
• Rent life jacket if not confident
• Practice in shallow water first
• Don’t rush—enjoy at your pace
• Ask guides for tips

Discover Scuba

Never dived before? Try an intro experience:

• Pool/shallow water training
• Guided underwater experience
• PADI certification not required
• Typical duration: 3-4 hours
• Cost: PHP 2,500-3,500

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Budget Breakdown

Snorkeling Only

Item	Cost
Tubod Sanctuary fee	PHP 50
Gear rental	PHP 150
Transport (tricycle)	PHP 100
Total	PHP 300

Apo Island Day Trip

Item	Cost
Boat transfer	PHP 1,500-2,000
Marine sanctuary fee	PHP 100
Guide	Included
Gear	Included
Lunch	PHP 200-500
Total	PHP 2,500-4,000

Certified Diving

Item	Cost
Two-tank dive	PHP 3,000-4,500
All gear included	Yes
Boat/guide included	Yes

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Final Thoughts

Siquijor may not have the diving reputation of Moalboal or Malapascua, but its marine sanctuaries offer accessible, rewarding underwater experiences. The advantage is intimacy—you won’t fight crowds at Tubod, and the reef has recovered beautifully under protection.

For serious divers, make the day trip to Apo Island. Swimming with sea turtles in crystal-clear water is a memory that lasts.

Whether you’re dipping your mask in for the first time or logging another dive, Siquijor’s underwater world rewards exploration. The same mystical energy that defines the island above water somehow permeates below—a quiet, colorful magic where time slows and the real world fades away.

Grab your mask. The reef is waiting.