Best of Panglao Dive Sites
Embark on exciting underwater adventures with SK Academy - Scuba Kings in Panglao. We offer daily fun dive trips to the island’s stunning dive sites, providing both novice and experienced divers with unforgettable experiences.
With our professional team, top-quality equipment, and convenient scheduling, you're guaranteed an enjoyable and safe dives daily. Join us to explore Panglao's vibrant marine life and breathtaking underwater landscapes.
Panglao's Dive Sites - The Pinnacle of Bohol SCUBA Diving
Depth: 8-40 m | No. of Dive Sites: 20+
Panglao Island, located in the heart of the Philippines, is renowned for its stunning dive sites that cater to divers of all experience levels. From vibrant coral gardens to dramatic underwater cliffs, the island offers a diverse range of marine environments.
Dive sites like Arco Point, also known as the "Hole in the Wall," feature swim-throughs and caverns teeming with marine life, making it a thrilling experience for adventurous divers. Another popular site, Doljo Point, boasts a magnificent coral wall that plunges to depths of over 30 meters, home to an array of reef fish, colorful corals, and the occasional passing pelagic species.
The House Reef offers easy access and calm conditions for those seeking a more relaxed dive, perfect for novice divers and underwater photographers. The reef is a haven for macro enthusiasts, with sightings of pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and other small critters.
Meanwhile, Danao Beach provides a gentle slope adorned with hard and soft corals, where divers can encounter frogfish, lionfish, and vibrant anemones hosting playful clownfish. Whether you are looking for an exhilarating deep dive or a tranquil shallow exploration, Panglao's dive sites promise unforgettable underwater adventures.
Here's a list of some of Panglao's Dive Sites:
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Alona Reef
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Eel Garden
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PBP
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Habagat Wreck
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Danao Wall
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Gak-Ang
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Puntod
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Doljo Point
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Doljo
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Momo Beach
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El Capitan
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Twin Caves
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Napaling
There are more dive sites in Panglao for you to explore. Contact us and discover where we're diving on your dates here in Bohol.
Credit for images on this page to - @nirsokal_photography , @ronenmu1
Balicasag Diving
Depth: 15-30 m | No. of Dive Sites: 5
Diving at Balicasag Island in Panglao is a standout experience for any scuba enthusiast visiting Bohol. This picturesque, small island features a marine sanctuary, with access limited to just 150 divers per day to preserve its natural beauty. Located only 30 minutes from Alona Beach by boat, Balicasag is a must-visit for divers, and it’s easy to understand why. Alongside Pamilacan, Balicasag is one of the top dive sites in Panglao.
Balicasag offers a remarkable diving adventure with its diverse sites. From sandy slopes where turtles leisurely feed on seagrass to vibrant walls brimming with marine life, diving at Balicasag Island seldom disappoints. A large school of jacks resides here, seen almost daily, and encounters with whale sharks and other pelagics are not uncommon. Continue reading to discover more about diving at Balicasag, or explore additional Panglao dive sites, including Pamilacan, for your Bohol vacation.
The dive sites on Balicasag itself are:
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Cathedral
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Black Forest
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Rico’s Wall
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Diver's Heaven
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Rudy’s Rock
Pamilacan Diving
Depth: 15-40 m | Dive Sites: 3
Pamilacan Island is a must-visit for scuba enthusiasts exploring Panglao, offering a secluded and exclusive diving experience similar to Balicasag Island. Despite being less frequented than Balicasag, Pamilacan's lower diver traffic is a significant advantage. As one of the few operators offering weekly boat trips to Pamilacan, we believe no Bohol diving vacation is complete without experiencing this island.
The island is teeming with marine life, including frequent but shy turtle sightings. Whale sharks and large schools of jacks are common, and Pamilacan is a macro diver's paradise with a diverse array of crustaceans and nudibranchs. Sea snakes and various species of moray eels are often seen hunting on the reef. Together with Balicasag, Pamilacan is one of the top dive sites in Panglao, promising a memorable underwater adventure.
The dive sites in Pamilacan are:
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Dakit-Dakit
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Spanish Tower
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Pamilacan Sanctuary
Panglao Dive Sites - Marine Life
Diving in Bohol, and Panglao specifically, offers an incredible variety of marine life, making it a paradise for underwater enthusiasts. Divers can expect to encounter an abundance of reef fish, including angelfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish, that dart among the vibrant corals. Turtles are a common sight, gracefully gliding through the water or resting on the seabed. Macro enthusiasts will be delighted with the numerous nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and other small critters hiding in the crevices and coral formations.
In addition to the smaller marine inhabitants, Panglao's waters are home to larger species as well. Divers might spot schools of jacks, barracudas, and occasionally, trevallies patrolling the reefs. The more adventurous may even encounter the elusive whale shark or manta ray, especially during certain seasons. Eels, including the impressive moray eels, and various types of rays, such as blue-spotted stingrays, add to the diverse underwater experience. The rich biodiversity of Panglao ensures that every dive is a unique and memorable adventure.
If you want to explore Panglao's underwater - contact us for a free consultation about your diving vacation in the Philippines.
