Misamis Oriental dive sites

Cagayan de Oro is one of Mindanao's safest and most developed cities, a regional hub for commerce and tourism. The dive sites in Macajalar Bay are well-established and operated by professional dive centers. The bay itself is sheltered and conditions are generally calm. As with all Philippines diving, choosing a reputable operator with proper safety equipment and insurance is important.

Several Japanese transport vessels sunk during World War Two rest on the bay floor at depths between 18 and 30 metres. The wrecks are well-colonized by soft corals, sponges, and schools of fish that use the structures as artificial reefs. Penetration is possible on some wrecks for certified wreck divers. The wrecks are in various states of preservation, from largely intact to scattered debris fields.

Whale sharks visit the bay primarily from February to April, attracted by plankton blooms triggered by nutrient runoff during the wet-to-dry season transition. Sightings are not daily occurrences but local fishermen report their presence and dive operators respond when animals are spotted. The whale sharks typically feed at or near the surface and encounters can occur from boats or while snorkelling as well as on scuba.