Tambuli

Tambuli dive site in Mactan is well-known for its plane wreck, purposely sunk to create an artificial reef and a dive attraction. The wreck, a single-seater, twin-engine plane, rests at depths ranging from 16 to 23 meters on a sloping wall directly in front of the former Tambuli Beach Resort. It has since become encrusted with corals and sponges, offering a habitat for various marine species, making it a popular subject for underwater photographers. While the airplane wreck is a highlight, the site offers more than just the wreck. The dive site features a sloped wall that extends down to 35 meters, with the upper section comprising a sandy plateau adorned with seagrass and seaweeds. Scattered coral formations contribute to a comfortable diving environment, especially for beginners. Tambuli is recognized as an excellent spot for macro photography, where divers can encounter a variety of small critters. The area is rich in biodiversity, with diverse coral formations considered among the best and most varied in Mactan. Schools of sardines, jacks, snappers, and groupers are often seen in the shallows. The site is suitable for all levels of divers, from novice to experienced, including newly certified Open Water divers. Depending on tidal conditions, currents can be strong, providing opportunities for drift diving. Entry to the dive site is typically by boat, often just a few minutes from nearby dive centers. Some sources also indicate the availability of shore entry. It is often recommended to dive with Nitrox to maximize bottom time at Tambuli, and an underwater camera is a must for capturing the abundant marine life. The site's popularity is also due to its accessibility, being close to major resort hotels and dive centers in Mactan. It is a great place for beginners to observe many different varieties of small fish, as it has become a feeding station where marine life is accustomed to divers. While Tambuli's reef may show more algae and less coral coverage compared to protected sanctuaries, serving as a reminder of the importance of marine protection, the wreck itself supports a thriving ecosystem.

Dated accounts of the plane and the slope

The Freeman, writing on 4 September 2016, reports nudibranchs, anemone shrimps, tiny anglerfish and angelfish with lush coral growth at Tambuli, and a small airplane resting along a steeply sloped wall, intentionally sunk as an artificial wreck. A May 2017 Adrenaline Romance blog post places the site a few hundred yards from the shore of the old Tambuli Resort, describes boulder star and other hard corals with soft corals growing on them and expansive colonies of elephant ear and plate corals lining the wall, and reaches the plane at around 60 feet. Those divers write that the aircraft was originally owned by a local diver and purposely sunk several years earlier, with its instruments and seats long gone.

A Mactan guide published by 3D Academy in September 2025 and updated in July 2026 lists Tambuli Reef at 10 to 20 metres, rates it intermediate, says the artificial reef attracts batfish, groupers and macro life, and notes that snorkellers can swim above the airplane wreck and reef gardens. Those depths differ from the 16 to 23 metre range given above; the accounts are recorded here, not reconciled.