Siquijor
Siquijor Diving: Tulapos, fun dives, courses
Photo: Genpasaporte2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Siquijor’s diving sits almost entirely off its own coast road: most dive sites are five to ten minutes out by boat, and the island’s best-known spot, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, draws snorkellers as well as certified divers for its resident school of barracuda.
Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: the barracuda reef
A shallow protected reef on Siquijor’s north coast, reachable by boat, known for a tight school of barracuda that both divers and snorkellers commonly swim right alongside. It is the one Siquijor dive site that shows up again and again in visitor reports, well beyond the diving community.
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| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | ≈ ₱100 pp | Plus a separate guide fee |
| Guide fee | ≈ ₱250 | On top of the entrance fee |
| Gear rental (mask, fins) | ≈ ₱400 | If you don’t bring your own |
Sourced against a current Tulapos Marine Sanctuary visitor listing, last checked 15 October 2026. This covers a snorkelling visit, a dive boat out to the same site adds the dive shop’s own fun-dive price below on top.
Fun dives: two shops, two different prices
Siquijor dive shops don’t price the same way, worth checking more than one before booking.
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| Shop | 1 dive (same day) | Volume pricing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Pearl Divers | ₱2,150 | ₱1,600/dive (4-6 dives), ₱1,500/dive (10+) | Night dive listed separately at ₱2,500 |
| Siquijor Divers Center | ₱1,500 | Minimum 2 dives/day | ₱1,700/dive above 10 dives, a different volume curve than Sea Pearl’s |
Sourced against both shops’ own published rate pages, last checked 15 October 2026. Both prices include standard equipment. Confirm what is included when you book.
Courses
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| Course | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PADI Open Water | 3 days, 4 dives | USD 354 |
| PADI Advanced Open Water | 2 days, 5 dives | USD 337 (one shop) or ₱19,900 (a second shop) |
Sourced against current PADI dive-centre listings for Siquijor, last checked 15 October 2026. The two Advanced Open Water prices are from different shops. Confirm what’s included (materials, certification card, equipment hire) before you book.
Where this fits on a Siquijor trip
Diving and Tulapos’s snorkelling are a half-day on their own, separate from the island’s scooter loop past Cambugahay Falls and the two headline beaches. See a 3-day Siquijor itinerary for how a dive day fits against the waterfall and beach loop, and Siquijor: best time to visit and what a trip costs for the wider budget.
Before you book
A session with me is the fastest way to ask how a Siquijor diving day fits around the rest of a Visayas trip.
Questions people ask
How much does a fun dive cost on Siquijor?
It depends which shop. Sea Pearl Divers lists a single same-day dive at ₱2,150, dropping to ₱1,500–1,600 per dive once you book several dives in a stay. Siquijor Divers Center prices a dive at ₱1,500, with a minimum of two dives per day. Both prices include standard equipment. Confirm what is bundled when you book.
What is Tulapos Marine Sanctuary and how much does it cost?
A shallow reef sanctuary on Siquijor's north coast known for a resident school of barracuda, popular for snorkelling as well as diving. The entrance fee is ₱100 per person plus a ₱250 guide fee, with mask and fin rental adding roughly ₱400 if you don't bring your own.
Do I need to be a certified diver to see the barracuda at Tulapos?
No. Tulapos sits shallow enough that snorkellers commonly see the barracuda school as well as divers, swimming right alongside the fish without scuba gear.
How much does a PADI course cost on Siquijor?
It depends on the shop. One shop lists PADI Open Water at USD 354 for 3 days and 4 dives, and Advanced Open Water at USD 337 for 2 days and 5 dives. Another prices Advanced Open Water at ₱19,900. Get a current quote from the shop before booking.
Is Siquijor diving good for beginners?
Most Siquijor dive sites are close to shore, five to ten minutes by boat, and Tulapos is shallow enough that snorkellers see its barracuda school too. Ask the dive shop which sites suit your experience level.
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