Shore Diving

Most dive resorts have a handful of house reefs directly off their shoreline. These are most suited to learners and beginners, who then move outwards to the boat dives.

One more nudi,Credit

Boat Diving

In total there are around 42 dive sites in the Sipalay area waiting to be explored.  Most are suitable for beginner divers. Nearly all are about 5-10 minutes by boat from the dive shops.

Day trips can be arranged to some of the sites around Turtle Island and the Danjugan Island Nature Reserve. Here, there are wrecks,reefs and two walls. 

Seahorse, Credit

Liveaboard Diving

Sipalay and western Negros are often built into broader liveaboard tours of the Visayas. While not  everyone will dive the sites in the immediate vicinity of Sipalay, tours of Apo Reefs, Coron Wrecks, Anilao and Dauin are generally included. Most of these liveaboards depart from Cebu.

How to Get There

The nearest international airports are in Cebu or Manila. From Manila,  take a domestic flight to Bacolod and from there either a taxi (it takes 3.5 h) or a public bus (5.5-6 h) to get to Sipalay.

From Cebu it takes about 4 hours by ferry to Dumaguete and from there another 6 hours by public bus to Sipalay. 

Where to Eat & Drink

Various bars and a restaurants are available. Generally the area is quiet with no discos, but concerts and beach parties are sometimes organised. 

A restaurant in Sipalay, Credit

While Sipalay is a quiet place, there are a handful of bars and restaurants. Most restaurants tend to be run from the various resorts, but a number of them will welcome outside visitors. Driftwood City Restaurant, located within Driftwood Village Resort, is an Italians seaside restaurant, which also organizes tours and transfers. They also have a bar.

Ask around for local events such as concerts, beach parties or discos, as resorts will organise something from time to time. 

Other Activities

Activities around Sipalay revolve largely around the ocean, with plenty of activities for non-divers, including walking and relaxing on Sugar Beach  as well as games of beach volleyball, badminton and frisbee. 

Kayaks are available for rent for those wishing to explore the mangroves and a few shallow reefs. There are also daily guided snorkeling trips. Boat trips can also be arranged  to explore the nearby Tinagong Dagat and Maricalum Bay. 

Further inland, there are a number of trekking routes which lead into series of caves.

Beach Volleyball net, Credit

Elephant Trekking & Abuse

On a general note, while in Asia, please do not support elephant abuse by riding elephants or supporting elephant performances.

• The 'training' that elephants go through to become a part of the tourism industry involves cruel physical and mental abuse over long periods of time starting as a calf
• Asian elephant's spines cannot support the weight of people. Carrying people on their backs all day often leads to permanent spinal injuries.
• That said, there is responsible elephant tourism in Asia.  A good rule to remember is that if a tourist outfit offers anything other than getting to spend time with elephants, it is not friendly to them.
• Remember; any outfit that offers riding, circuses or paintings means the elephants have undergone horrific abuse in order to get there

Help these magnificent animals by making travel companions aware of what lies behind this industry; the main problem is a lack of awareness.

Dive Report is committed to raising awareness to the abuse suffered by elephants used in the tourist industry. If you want to know more you can find out more here, here, here and here. Also see a PETA documentary video here.

Tips 

Be aware of tricycle drivers trying to overcharge, or saying that the hotel you want is full and  they know something better. 

Be wary of boat transfer operators. Scams and inflated prices are commonplace. 

The beach, Credit

Sugar Beach is the most famous destination in Sipalay but serious divers prefer quieter and more dive-orientated resorts based out of Punta Ballo. 

The nearest hyperbaric chamber is located in Batangas. It is over 700 kilometers away and only accessible by boat or flight. There is a secondary chamber in Manila, which is slightly further away.