Hilutungan Channel
Mactan Island · Philippines
A protected marine sanctuary in the narrow strait between Mactan and Hilutungan islands, where gentle tidal flow over a sloping reef from 5 to 25 m creates reliable turtle encounters year-round. Green and hawksbill turtles feed on algae and rest on coral bommies here with little concern for divers, habituated by years of sanctuary protection. The reef also rewards macro hunters with nudibranchs, robust ghost pipefish, and ornate ghost pipefish tucked among feather stars, making it one of Cebu's most rewarding dual-purpose dives.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
8 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Collared Kingfisher
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 30 records
Very likely
Most dives
Green sea turtle
Last confirmed Feb 17, 2026 · 4 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Ornate ghost pipefish
Last confirmed Feb 19, 2026 · 2 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Hawksbill sea turtle
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Nudibranch spp.
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear