Initao, Misamis Oriental: Mindanao's Next Dive Destination?

Initao is a coastal town on the western side of Misamis Oriental, roughly an hour or more by road from Cagayan de Oro on the highway to Iligan. For years it was a place people passed through. That may be about to change. The Department of Tourism in Northern Mindanao (DOT-10) now wants to develop Initao as a diving destination, after a recent underwater exploration there reportedly turned up a marine species thought to be rare in the Philippines.

The species has not been named yet. DOT-10 plans to reveal it at the close of the 2026 MisOr Divefest, which is tentatively set to open on 12 November. Until then, Initao's diving future is a promising lead rather than a finished story, which is why the headline ends with a question mark.

Here is what is known so far, why Initao's coastline was already on the province's radar, and what a diver or curious traveller can realistically plan around right now.

What the dive team found, and what is still unknown

The news came from Ivy Guantero, who heads promotions at DOT-10. She said the find could lift Misamis Oriental's profile for scuba diving, underwater photography and macro photography, the slow, close-up style of diving where photographers hunt for tiny creatures on reefs and sand.

That macro angle is worth noticing. Initao is not being pitched as a big-fish or wall-dive spot. If the species turns out to be a small critter, the site's appeal will rest on patient divers with cameras, the same crowd that already fills dive boats in places like Anilao. Our guide to the best dive sites in the Philippines by season shows how strong that market already is elsewhere in the country.

Officials have also been careful to say that the species' rarity and conservation value still need scientific assessment. A single sighting during an exploration dive is a starting point. Treat any early claims of a "world-class" site with patience until the experts weigh in.

Why Initao was already on the map

The town did not appear out of nowhere. Back in 2023, the provincial tourism office said it wanted to push dive tourism beyond the eastern towns of Gingoog, Medina and Balingoan and into the province's second district, which includes Initao and Laguindingan. Part of that plan was to persuade dive operators to set up shop on the western coast.

Much of Initao's shoreline is also already protected. The Initao–Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape was set aside in 2002 under Proclamation No. 260. It covers about 1,300 hectares of limestone forest, caves and nearby sea, plus a buffer zone. The coast here is a mix of cliffs and short sandy beaches, with coral reefs offshore that hold grouper, parrotfish, triggerfish, wrasse and surgeonfish.

That protected status cuts both ways. It means the reefs have had some shelter from heavy use, but it also means any growth in diving will have to follow park rules, which can include fees, permits and limits on where boats may anchor.

MisOr Divefest 2026: dates and plans so far

The festival is planned as a three-day event, tentatively starting on 12 November 2026. The proposed venue for the land-based programme is the fifth floor of SM CDO Downtown in Cagayan de Oro, though both the venue and the schedule are still subject to confirmation.

Dives are expected along the coast of six areas: Gingoog City, Medina, Talisayan, Laguindingan, Balingoan and Initao. Governor Juliette Uy backs the event and has asked the Provincial Board to approve funding for it. The species reveal is set for the closing day, so anyone hoping to hear the news first should follow DOT-10 and the provincial government's pages in mid-November.

Can you dive in Initao right now?

Honestly, it is early. Initao does not yet have the cluster of dive shops, rental gear and daily boat trips that you find in Moalboal or Dauin. For now, the practical options look like this:

• Join the Divefest dives. If you are a certified diver, the festival is the most organised way to see the area with local guides. Ask the organisers early how slots are assigned, since spaces on dive boats are limited.
• Book through a Cagayan de Oro operator. Dive centres based in the city sometimes run trips along the province's coast. Ask specifically whether they go to Initao and whether they handle protected-area fees.
• Bring your own essentials. Pack your certification card, logbook, mask and, if you shoot macro, your own camera setup and spare batteries. Rental stock on the western coast may be thin.
• Check the rules first. The municipal tourism office in Initao can tell you about fees and any no-dive zones inside the protected seascape.

If you have never dived before, Initao is not the place to learn just yet. Take a course somewhere with an established dive centre, then come back once operators are running regular trips.

Getting to Initao

The town sits on the Butuan–Cagayan de Oro–Iligan road, so buses running between Cagayan de Oro and Iligan pass straight through it. Tell the conductor you are getting off at Initao. Laguindingan Airport, which serves Cagayan de Oro, is closer to Initao than the city itself, so travellers flying in can head west instead of going into town first.

Once there, getting around means tricycles, habal-habal and buses. Ride-hailing apps do not operate in Initao, so arrange transport for early dives the night before. Many visitors base themselves in Cagayan de Oro, where hotel choice is far wider, and make Initao a day trip. If you are building a longer Northern Mindanao loop, it pairs well with a morning of white-water rafting in Cagayan de Oro or a drive inland on a Bukidnon road trip.

Reasons to go even without a dive card

Non-divers have more to do here than the news coverage suggests. The Lasang Secret Adventure is a 57-hectare patch of forest inside the protected landscape, with caves that are home to split-nosed bats. Beaches lie in the barangays of Tubigan, Gimangpang, Pagahan and Jampason. Mount Kitanglay, in Barangay Tawantawan, is a beginner-friendly climb with a view over Iligan Bay.

Expect simple facilities. Initao is a working town of around 34,000 people, not a resort strip, so carry cash, water and snacks, and confirm entrance fees on arrival.

What to watch for next

The key moment is the Divefest closing day. Once the species is named, the real questions follow: how rare it is, whether it lives in one small patch of reef or across a wider area, and what the province and the protected area's managers will do to keep crowds from damaging it. Camiguin already has well-known dive sites in the same region, so Initao will need careful planning rather than a rush of boats to stand out.

We will update this page once the find is announced and the festival programme is final. Until then, Initao is worth a spot on a Northern Mindanao diver's watch list, with the question mark firmly in place.