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Close-up shot of a colorful nudibranch on a coral reef, highlighting underwater macro photography.
📷 ocean video mauritius · Pexels

Lapus-Lapus

3.6 — based on 18 community signals
4.2 12 species 20 contributors

Lapus-Lapus in the Philippines offers year-round diving with diverse marine life and accessible conditions for most skill levels.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Macro hotspotBleachingRiskFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Lapus-Lapus location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
0.4 kn
Wave
0.14 m
Water
29.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: WNW (45%)
Now: WSW (243°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.72m

Next: High at 02:00 (+1.49m)

+1.5 m0 m-0.2 m
▲ 02:00 · +1.49m ▼ 10:00 · +0.17m ▲ 15:00 · +0.49m ▼ 19:00 · +0.29m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV8.75 · very high Air PM2.513 · moderate 05:32 17:41
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 9.2 0.32 9 3mm
09-20 12.5 0.32 9 14mm
09-21 11 0.28 9 16mm
09-22 11.6 0.2 9 13mm
09-23 5.7 0.12 9 4mm
09-24 6 0.04 3 5mm
09-25 4.7 0.06 9 1mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions

About this spot

Lapus-Lapus, located in the Philippines, is a dive destination that welcomes visitors throughout the year. The site supports a rich variety of marine species, with 12 documented species observations recorded by the diving community. Recent video documentation from community divers provides current insight into conditions and wildlife encounters at the spot. The area is not protected under a Marine Protected Area designation, making it an accessible option for independent dive planning. However, divers should note the current coral bleaching watch status and plan visits with environmental awareness in mind. This underscores the importance of practicing responsible diving techniques to minimize impact on the reef system. Community engagement at Lapus-Lapus remains active, with three videos available showing real conditions and typical encounters. These resources offer practical reference material for planning your dive. The year-round diving window means you can schedule around your own availability rather than strict seasonal constraints, though local conditions and weather patterns should still guide your timing.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Philippines: 119 Sites, Wrecks & Walls Worth the Flight

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B/C · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11242km · ~2586kg · €47

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 11h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

Can I dive Lapus-Lapus year-round?

Yes, Lapus-Lapus is accessible for diving year-round, giving you flexibility in planning your trip. Local weather and sea conditions may vary seasonally, so check current reports before booking.

What marine life will I see at Lapus-Lapus?

The site supports diverse marine species with 12 documented observations. Community videos provide current footage of typical wildlife encounters. Check those resources for specific species you're likely to encounter.

Is Lapus-Lapus a protected area?

No, Lapus-Lapus is not within a Marine Protected Area, so fewer restrictions apply to diving access. However, the site is on coral bleaching watch status, making responsible diving practices important.

How do I learn current conditions at Lapus-Lapus?

Three community videos document recent conditions and wildlife at the site. These provide reliable reference material for what to expect and help you plan your dive profile accordingly.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

French Kiss Divers

French Kiss Divers

2.7 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-18:00
Evolution

Evolution

2.8 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mon-Sun 7am to 9pm

Avila's Horizon Dive Resort

1.2 km
3.8 (232 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

MBI Dive Center

2.3 km
4.9 (932 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 40+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Dive Society Dive Center

2.4 km
5.0 (39 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 53+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Dive Society

2.4 km
4.8 (598 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 45+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

1 records · 1 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Metalia spatagus

Echinoidea · Brissidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Apr 2008
×1records
Depth:
15 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba Diving The Philippines - Lapus Pinnacle & Lapus Lapus #malapascua #lapuspinnacle #lapuslapus

Scuba Diving and Dogs
💬 3 top comments
  • pretty creatures with beautiful color 🤩

    @desakjunita8187 · 👍 1
  • Nice find with the sea moth! Those are tricky buggers to spot.

    @Wheels131326 · 👍 1
  • 1:58 sleeping catfishes comfy and snug in a stack 😆 So adorable!

    @CommanderArcadeDoll · 👍 1

Diving Malapascua - Lapus Lapus

Life&Dive

Exploring Malapascua's Underwater Wonders: A Scuba Diver's Paradise in the Phillipines!

Totaldive
💬 3 top comments
  • Good shot. We went there April 9-10, 2024. We just did Snorkeling and saw 2 Tresher sharks, beautiful fishes, amazing Coral Reef and the Japanese Shipwrek.

    @robertandjulie · 👍 3
  • sanaol

    @SaltyEggDiver · 👍 1
  • Getting there, the journey from Cebu will drive me nuts

    @joyschtik · 👍 3

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/246644364 - building=collapsed? Is this building really gone? In that case it should be deleted or rategged to demolished:building=yes. Note that building tag describes purpose of the building - see https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:building and remains of buildings must not be mapped as buildings"

    Mateusz Konieczny · 2018-06-08
  • "Many buildings are tagged as building=damaged, when they clearly are not from the satellite imagery. Many also have outdated typhoon:damage or typhoon:reviewed tags that need to be cleaned up."

    Totor · 2024-05-08
  • "Marine Protected Area of Philippines Government: mandatory entrance fee of 50 Pesos"

    DakitDakitAdjoining · 2024-01-06
wind peaks Jan-Feb-Mar, calmest Oct-Aug-Jun, dry Feb-May.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (89/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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