Things To Do In Cebu For Families: Where To Dive, Snorkel & Encounter Sharks

Things To Do In Cebu For Families
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Just a short 3-hour and 40-minute flight away from Singapore, Cebu in Philippines offers something for everyone. Adventure, nature, island hopping, beaches to “nua” (chill out) or water sports—you name it they have it! Return tickets go as low as SGD $190, and food and accommodation are inexpensive, making it the perfect family holiday for all shapes and sizes, beach bodies or not.

We spent 8 days there for a total of SGD $1800, which included 20 dives, and here are our top highlights based on different areas of Cebu. Many of the activities we did were very family-friendly, especially for those with older children who love water-based activities like snorkeling and diving. 


Highlights of a Cebu Holiday for Water Babies

Malapascua Island

cebu boat to malaspcua  

In no order of preference, this one comes top for me personally. Home to Thresher sharks and vibrant marine life, we enjoyed a few days diving and snorkelling around the island.

It felt like a step back in time to true Islander life before things got too touristy like in Bali or Phuket. There were only motorcycles on the island and we got around by foot everywhere. If you looked the slightest bit lost, the friendly locals would ask you if you needed help in directions.


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 Malapascua Island beach

How about the beaches? The sand was soft, the waters were blue and lovely to swim in. Or you could “lepak” under the sun. On a hot day, iced coffee and desserts at Gelato by Angelina were yum. The sunsets were pretty and we spent the low tides at the main jetty trying to catch small crabs and enjoying local life.

Snorkelling at Malapascua Island

If you stay at Tepanee Beach Resort, or snorkel at their beach front for a fee, you can easily spot black tip reef sharks and small barracudas at their private reef.

By the way, all the sharks mentioned here in this article are nothing to fear. In fact, they were more scared of us!

Pro tip: stay still and let the baby sharks approach—you’ll get a better view! *cue baby shark doo doo doo doo doo doo*

Local market

The seafood here was amazing and amazingly cheap too. We spent most nights at the open-air BBQ soaking up the atmosphere and eating to our hearts content. Avrill’s and Malapascua Thresher Divers (MTD) restaurants were great! Mango was in season and the shakes were blissfully sinful.

Diving in Cebu 

At Kimod Shoal, we spotted 15 Thresher sharks

This was hands down the highlight of the trip. At Kimod Shoal, we spotted 15 Thresher sharks in a row—yes, we counted! Over at Gato Island, massive whitetip and bamboo sharks were in the caves, while at Evo Reef, we caught a magical dusk-time show: Mandarin fish mating, like an underwater dance.

The underwater cast didn’t stop there—Nemos, octopuses, cuttlefish, frogfish, lionfish, sea moths… it felt like a live-action marine documentary.

Cebu is also a great place to learn to dive

Cebu is also a great place to learn to dive. Safety standards are top-notch, and even kids as young as 10 can start Junior Open Water courses. There is also a Bubble Maker option for 8 year olds. The dives were not particularly deep or challenging, and with experienced dive masters and the super affordable prices, you can even opt for a private guide if you’d like some extra attention.

Instagrammable sandbar

A two-hour boat ride  gets you to Kalanggaman Island for a photogenic sandbar. Time to fly a drone or kayak at those classically crystal-clear blue waters that have flooded our social media pages.


Oslob

We spent just one day in Oslob, mainly because, to be honest, there wasn’t much to do beyond the main attractions.

Whale sharks in Oslob

Whale sharks in Oslob

Juvenile whale sharks are a magnificent sight as they come to feed near the shores of Oslob. This experience has become so popular that all visitors must attend a quick briefing before boarding boats for snorkelling. The golden rules? Keep a safe distance and absolutely no touching.

Instead of snorkelling, we opted for a fun dive, which allowed us to observe the whale sharks from a different perspective. While this meant we could only see their underbellies and not the signature spots, it allowed us to avoid the crowds and encounter these gentle giants face to face upon coming up from the deep.

Sumilon Island

Snorkelling and diving here was a delight. The water was crystal clear, with visibility reaching up to 20 meters. We also discovered a charming little sandbar to chill.

Pro tip: To avoid the itch from sea lice (common in some parts of the Philippines during certain seasons), remove your swimwear immediately before rinsing off and wash your swimwear thoroughly to remove any lingering sea lice.

Tumalog falls

Many pair their whale shark experience with a visit to Tumalog Falls. It’s near and easy to reach, but if you’re tight on time, read about the more impressive option in the section below!


Moalboal

Things To Do In Cebu For Families
 

Finally, Moalboal has that classic beach-town energy—affordable beachfront stays, $7.50 SGD massages, and lively karaoke nights with the locals. We spent 2 to 3 days here, diving at nearby Pescador Island as well.

Sardine run

This is the real magic. No need to fly to South Africa—just snorkel right off the beach and you swim with the ball baits. Or you could go for a tour where the locals would ensure you get ridiculously cool looking photos. It’s turtles galore here!

Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls

Not to be missed is canyoneering! If you’re really adverse to this adrenaline-inducing activity, you can visit the falls and swim at the waterfall without canyoneering.

Canyoneering is suitable for the age range 4 to 70 years old

Canyoneering is suitable for the age range 4 to 70 years old. You’ll be suited up with a helmet, life vest, and non-slip shoes, then taken up the mountain for a safety briefing. From there, it’s a most scenic walk in paradise and exhilarating cliff jumps—with height options for everyone (even scaredy-cats like me!). You can choose to zipline down or hike and canyon your way back. We picked the latter—more thrills, more memories.


FOOD in Cebu & Other Tips

cebu pork

A stop at Jollibee is a must—it somehow tastes better in the Philippines than anywhere else. Feeling adventurous? Try balut, a fertilized duck egg delicacy. It actually tasted like eggs and makes for bragging rights – if you can stomach it.

And of course, Cebu is famous for Lechon. The locals shared the tip to go for smaller roast pigs as the meat was more tender. These are best found in malls rather than roadside stalls.

If you have more time or prefer other activities, hike at Osmeña Peak or Casino peak. There are also many more waterfalls in Cebu.  For Instagrammable moments, head to Sirao Pictorial Garden in Cebu City and strike a pose atop the famous Giant Hand.

Close to the airport, Mactan offers banana boat rides, parasailing, wakeboarding, and more.

Before flying out, drop by Mary Grace café inside the airport—its cozy vibe and tasty food make for a sweet send-off (you can buy some snacks home too!). Time to stock up on souvenirs like 7D dried mangoes, dried fish, and Shamrock Otap for your friends back home. After all, you can afford to do so, as you’ve got the memories, the tan, and beach body or not—you did Cebu right.


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