I have been asked why Reef Without Borders starts in Cebu rather than somewhere with less political complexity, less coastal development pressure, or waters that have not already been as damaged. The answer is simple. This is where I have dived for 25 years. This is where Dindo Paquibot has spent his entire career. This is where the reefs that shaped our understanding of what the ocean can be are located. You protect what you know. And we know these waters.

Cebu’s Reef Geography

Cebu is an island province in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, surrounded on all sides by reef systems of extraordinary ecological significance. The island sits at the intersection of multiple Philippine sea passages, creating water conditions that support exceptional coral diversity.

• Moalboal on the southwest coast is known globally for its sardine run, one of the largest bait fish aggregations in the world occurring just meters from shore, and for wall diving that drops from shallow reef crests into deep blue water.
• Malapascua at the northern tip of Cebu is the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be reliably observed at a cleaning station, at Monad Shoal. It also hosts manta rays, whale sharks in season, and diverse coral gardens.
• Olango Island in the Mactan Channel is home to the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance that also has significant reef systems supporting thousands of migratory waterbirds.
• Maribago Bay in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, is the location of the Protect Maribago Bay project where our Director of Dive Operations spent five years conducting coral nursery and restoration work.

The Threats Cebu Reefs Face

Rapid Urbanization

Greater Cebu City is the second largest urban conglomeration in the Philippines. The coastline of Mactan Island, immediately adjacent to Cebu City, has experienced intensive coastal development over the past three decades. Runoff from urban areas, inadequate sewage treatment, land reclamation projects, and increased boat traffic have degraded nearshore reef systems that were once rich in coral and fish life.

Bleaching

Cebu’s reefs experienced significant bleaching during the 2016, 2019, and 2024 bleaching events. Monitoring data shows that hard coral cover in some Cebu reef areas has declined substantially. The 2024 event was part of the fourth global bleaching event, the worst in recorded history, which affected 84% of the world’s reefs.

Fishing Pressure

Despite being illegal, destructive fishing practices including dynamite and cyanide fishing continue in some Cebu reef areas. Legal but unsustainable fishing methods further reduce fish populations and disrupt the ecological balance that healthy reefs depend on.

Why Cebu Remains Restorable

Despite these pressures, Cebu’s reefs retain significant restoration potential. Water clarity at sites like Moalboal and Malapascua remains good. Reef structures, while damaged, still provide substrate for coral attachment. Local dive communities have deep knowledge of the reef systems and genuine investment in their recovery. A local marine science institution has active research programs in Cebu. And the precedent set by the Protect Maribago Bay project demonstrates that coral nursery restoration is feasible in Cebu conditions.

Clarisa Strohmeyer is the Founder and Executive Director of Reef Without Borders, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to coral reef restoration in the Philippines and across the Indo-Pacific. Learn more at reefwithoutborders.org/