Bohol

General Info

Bohol Island is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, with Tagbilaran City serving as the provincial capital and the main hub for accessing the island. However, the primary center for tourists and divers is Panglao Island, specifically the Alona Beach area, which hosts numerous dive shops and accommodations. Tourists can easily travel from Bohol Island to Panglao Island as they are connected by a bridge, making transit quick and convenient.

Aside from diving activities, which are the main focus, Bohol also offers unmissable terrestrial attractions such as visiting the unique landscape of the Chocolate Hills, seeing the Philippine Tarsier—one of the world's smallest mammals—in a sanctuary, or taking a scenic cruise along the Loboc River.

Dive Site (Detail)

1. Balicasag Island (Marine Sanctuary)
Balicasag Island is a world-class marine sanctuary located a short distance from Panglao, making it a must-visit destination for all divers. Its key feature is the Wall Dive along the island's perimeter, featuring some of the most pristine coral walls in Bohol. The site is famous for frequent sightings of Sea Turtles (both Green and Hawksbill) in large numbers on almost every dive. There are also opportunities to see large schools of fish (such as Jackfish and Barracuda) feeding in the moderate to strong currents.

2. Napaling Reef (Sardine Run)
Napaling is a famous dive site known as Bohol's Sardine Run. It is unique because it is a Shore Dive accessible directly from the Panglao coastline, eliminating the need for a boat trip. The coral wall starts near the surface and drops into the deep, making it a gathering point for massive schools of sardines that form spectacular Bait Balls throughout the year.

3. Arco Point / Hole in the Wall
Arco Point is located on Panglao Island and is known for its unique geological feature, the Hole in the Wall, a small tunnel that divers can swim through from a shallow depth (around 5 meters) to the main coral wall at about 16 meters. Diving here primarily involves enjoying the beautiful soft coral formations and searching for small marine life hidden within the crevices.

4. Cabilao Island
Cabilao is an island requiring a boat trip west of Panglao, but the journey is well worth the effort. The island is renowned for its tranquility and highly pristine coral reefs. Diving here often involves Drift Dives in moderate to strong currents. Cabilao is considered a high-potential spot for encountering Hammerhead Sharks during their season, and it is also home to abundant Pygmy Seahorses and rare macro critters.

5. Eel Garden
Eel Garden is located near Alona Beach on Panglao and is generally an easy and diverse dive site. The dive follows a sandy slope leading to a coral wall. The highlight is spotting Garden Eels extending their bodies from the sandy bottom at a depth of around 30 meters. It is also an excellent spot for Night Dives to search for various macro creatures, including frogfish, squid, and nudibranchs.