The Sunken Cemetery In Camiguin – Visitor’s Guide

The Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin is one of the most popular attractions on the island and an adventure not to be missed.

You can go snorkeling at the Camiguin Sunken Cemetery and spot old tombstones and crosses as well as an abundance of marine life.

I have put together this travel guide to the Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin including where to find it, how much it costs, countless Sunken Cemetery photos, and what to expect when you arrive.

QUICK ANSWERS – SUNKEN CEMETERY CAMIGUIN

Let’s start this guide with all the essentials you should know about the Sunken Cemetery, from its location to getting there and more.

WHERE IS THE SUNKEN CEMETERY CAMIGUIN?

The Sunken Cemetery is located in Catarman on Camiguin Island.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

From the main tourist area of Mambajao, it’s approximately a 10-minute drive to reach the Sunken Cemetery Camiguin.

HOW TO GET TO THE SUNKEN CEMETERY?

The best way to get to the Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin is to rent a scooter in Mambajao and make your own way to this incredible Camiguin tourist spot.

I rented my scooter from Camiguin All In One for 350 pesos per day with a full tank of gas. They have many scooters to choose from and they can also help you to organize round-the-island tours in Camiguin.

Alternatively, there are tricycles and shared van options available to get around Camiguin Island. A 10-minute tricycle ride from Mambajao to Catarman will cost around 100 pesos, whereas the shared van is only 40-50 pesos.

HOW MUCH IS SUNKEN CEMETERY CAMIGUIN ENTRANCE FEE?

The Sunken Cemetery entrance fee is 150 pesos, which includes 100 pesos environmental fee and 50 pesos for the snorkeling kit.

There is also an additional 150 pesos fee for a mandatory guide to take you snorkeling.

I personally didn’t think we needed a guide as my buddy Jay and I are both competent swimmers. However, we were glad our guide was with us to point out the tombstone, the underwater cross, and other marine life we probably wouldn’t have found ourselves.

Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin Island

WHAT IS CAMIGUIN SUNKEN CEMETERY HISTORY?

What once was a cemetery that resided on land was forced to depths below sea level following a volcanic eruption on Camiguin Island in 1870. The natural disaster brought the city to rubble and caused the cemetery to subside.

A giant cross was later built in remembrance of the deceased that lay in the cemetery that once was. It is truly an iconic landmark displaying the rich history of Camiguin and its local inhabitants.

Needless to say, the Sunken Cemetery story only adds some uniqueness to your visit.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SUNKEN CEMETERY CAMIGUIN

Now that you know the basics, let’s go through a more thorough Sunken Cemetery description.

We visited the Camiguin sunken cemetery around 8 am one morning and we were the first tourists to arrive.

As I mentioned earlier, the sunken cemetery is one of the most popular Camiguin tourist spots so it’s best to get there early to beat the crowds.

After paying the entrance fees our guide took us down to the beach and we followed his lead out into the water with our snorkel gear on. From the shoreline, it’s a short 50m swim through shallow waters to reach the giant cross and the underwater tombstone.

The tombstone displays a stone sculpted head with a cross attached to the top which was a pretty creepy sight when I first laid eyes on it but unlike anything I have seen before. Corals, barnacles, and small fish seemed to have made this tombstone their home.

After taking a couple of photos at the submerged tombstone at the sunken cemetery in Camiguin, we climbed up the concrete stairs to the giant cross, wandered around for a minute, took a quick selfie, and then dived back into the ocean to keep snorkeling.

We swam out to the reef’s outer edges, and our guide showed us some giant clams, sea anemones with clownfish, beautiful sea stars, and the old cross that forms part of the Camiguin Sunken Cemetery.

There is such an abundance of sea life and colorful corals the further out you go, and I highly recommend checking it out.

Besides snorkeling and exploring, the Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin is one of the island’s most photographed attractions, so don’t forget to bring your GoPro or your Waterproof Phone Case.

Ideally, the best time to visit is on a mid to high tide. It can get quite shallow at low tide making it difficult to swim across the top of the reef.

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE PHILIPPINES

When visiting the Philippines, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – CAMIGUIN SUNKEN CEMETERY

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about the Sunken Cemetery Camiguin Island, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically.

Many thanks!