Bohol is fast becoming one of the top island destinations in South East Asia. Located smack in the middle of the Philippines in the Central Visayas region, Bohol is blessed with a wide array of underwater and overwater attractions.
For the avid scuba diver or for those who are only beginning to explore the ocean’s rich marine life, the island of Bohol will not disappoint – it has diving sites for every kind of diver to fill their marine life bucket list.
From colorful corals to excellent wall dives. to various kinds of fishes, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins, sharks, and even whales.
Here are the 4 best dive spots to explore in Bohol:
1. Pamilacan
An isolated island off the mainland of Bohol, it boasts of beautiful white sand beaches and famous in the dive community for its excellent visibility. A great place to see pelagic fishes like the Dogtooth tunas and Barracudas, it’s also the best spot in the group of islands to see Manta Rays.
The island itself is made of fossilized shells and corals, so expect to see a rich collection of hard coral biodiversity which is unique to the region.
Trips to Pamilacan are usually paired with trips to Snake Island, another interesting dive spot with rich corals, which is along the way from the mainland of Bohol.
2. Cabilao
Cabilao is an island far off from the mainland of Bohol and if you wish to explore its underwater marine life, then you’d had to set aside an entire day of your visit. It takes two hours by boat to reach the island, and there are only about a couple of resorts present there, with only one offering decent accommodation if you wish to stay the night.
Located to the northwest of the mainland, it’s a great place to see pelagic fishes like the Giant Trevallies and Barracudas. From December to June, and if you’re lucky enough, you can spot hundreds of schools of Hammerhead Sharks.
Although the island is a great spot for diving during the day, it comes alive at night with special animals such as stargazers, seahorses, and pegasus.
3. Balicasag
Declared as a marine sanctuary, expect its rich marine life to be diverse and pristine. The number of divers are restricted, as well as fishing, making it a protected area with a wide array of interesting dive spots.
Located south of the mainland, it features healthy reefs and excellent corals, teeming with mackerels, Barracudas, and schools of jackfish. A resort is also located on the island, making it possible for you to stay for more than just a day or two exploring its rich marine life.
4. Panglao
By far the most popular island of the 4, the island’s best dive spots are at Alona Beach, its top tourist spot. While plenty of water activities, hotels, and parties abound over water, its underwater life is also teeming with a rich biodiversity of fishes, reefs, corals, and special marine animals such as the frogfish, the ghost pipefish, anemones, scorpionfishes, and the list goes on and on.
The best spot for beginner divers, its calm waters make for the perfect introduction to the world of scuba diving, as well as a great spot for macro photography.
Many people visit Bohol due to its large number of natural attractions such as The Chocolate Hills and the beautiful white sand beaches, but more and more diving enthusiasts have discovered its underwater life is just as beautiful and interesting to explore. And of course, worthy to be in your dive spots bucket list.
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