Explore Bohol

Bohol is an island in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It’s white, sandy beaches and world renowned dive destinations make it an up and coming hotspot for divers. 

Diving in Bohol encompasses several different destinations. Anda is a quiet town on the sound east tip of Bohol, which is has a few select dive sites to choose from. Panglao is off the south west coast of the island and is a dive destination by itself. With many dive resorts and hotels to choose from on the busy White Beach and Danao Beach, Panglao has something for everyone. Off the coast of Panglao lie the islands of Balicasag and Pamilacan which also have great diving. Cabilao is an island further up the coast which offers the opportunity to see schooling hammerheads. It is reached via the neighbouring island of Sandigan.

The diving here is usually great for beginners, though there are some strong drift dives too. There is outstanding biodiversity here, in terms of both corals and animal life. From tiny colourful nudibranch to big hammerheads, these islands have them all.

Places to Explore

Cabilao

3 Divesites 2 Centers

Cabilao is a small island located about 30 km (18.6 miles) from Tagbilaran, just in front of Bohol’s north coast.

Panglao

15 Divesites 13 Centers

Panglao, nestled in the Bohol Sea within the central Visayas region of the Philippines, promises an exceptional diving experience enriched by its remarkable marine biodiversity. This vibrant island is renowned for its healthy, thriving coral reefs, which serve as a bustling hub for a myriad of marine species. Indeed, the underwater biodiversity here surpasses that of Japan and the Mediterranean combined, offering divers a chance to explore a colorful underwater world teeming with life.

Pamilacan

1 Divesite

Pamilacan Island is located in the Bohol Sea in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is 12.5km south of Bohol and is home to roughly 1,500 people. The people here have always made their living off the sea - it used to be hunting sharks and whales but more recently it is by taking whale and dolphin tours - and scuba diving.

Upcoming Events

Professional Level Programs / Courses

GO Scuba Bohol Dive Center

Assistant Instructor

17 Nov 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

French Touch Diving Panglao

Assistant Instructor

01 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

French Touch Diving Panglao

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

01 Dec 2025

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Brothers house reef

The point here is a shallow depth of about 7 meters with a cliff, making it easier for first-time diving visitors to dive, and it is impressive that there is a turtle point about 10 meters below the cliff.

189
Logs
67
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Chapel Point

The Lighthouse dive site in Cabilao Island, located west of Bohol, is a breathtaking diving destination known for its stunning coral formations, rich marine biodiversity, and excellent visibility. This site is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers who enjoy wall diving and drift diving.

665
Logs
467
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Lighthouse

The Lighthouse dive site in Cabilao Island, located west of Bohol, is a breathtaking diving destination known for its stunning coral formations, rich marine biodiversity, and excellent visibility. This site is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers who enjoy wall diving and drift diving.

1,039
Logs
548
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ FREEDIVE+ Freediving Playground

Freedive Plus playground is a beautiful freedive site with boat access. It allows all levels of freedivers to train and snorkel in the beautiful waters of Bohol. It has depth access up to 60 meters.

662
Logs
121
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ White House

Wall dive with a top at 5m and a sandy bottom around 20 to 30m. You’ll see some crack and overhang on this wall, like a canyon. The mooring buoy is located on the side of Vigen marin sanctuary.

103
Logs
87
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Licong

Front to Licong beach. This dive sive is a very nice drift dive along a beautifull wall. The pateau is around 4m and the drop off go until 30m. This spot is great for beguiners to advanced divers.

225
Logs
146
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Virgen East

Virgen East is a plateau that starts at 8 meters, with a drop off down to 25 meters to sand with excellent macro in the deep parts. A big corner on the wall is the place to watch pelagics passing by.

316
Logs
237
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Dapdap

Sloping wall to a muck bottom at about 25m/80ft. Great for macro photography along the bottom with plenty of nudibranchs and other small creatures.

201
Logs
141
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Anda Scuba Diving House Reef

This amazing house reef, right in front of the dive shop, is a wall starting at 5 m with a slope to 12 m, then a steep drop off to 30 m. Sandy canyons lead down to the depths.

450
Logs
243
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Bacong

Bacong is a wall dive. Starts with a sandy slope which turns into a nice wall. 5 meters on top, dropping down to 30 meters. Some cracks and crevices in the wall.

225
Logs
157
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Virgen Cave

Virgen Cave starts with a plateau at five meters, drop off to 32 meters. There is a large overhang at the bottom of the wall. The wall continues downwards in curves and canyons.

140
Logs
117
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Giant Clams Sanctuary

Inside the Virgen marine sanctuary, protected and no fishing in this area. Nice coral garden on the plateau around 5 to 10m. Then drop off to 30m with nice shape wall, like canyon.

59
Logs
46
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Virgen west

Virgen West is located in the middle of the Virgen marine sanctuary. The top of the reef starts around 5m and the drop off go down until 30m. On the bottom its interesting sandy slop.

145
Logs
114
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Talisay

Front to Talisay beach. Nice plateau with hard coral around 5m. Vertical drop of until 30m. Drift dive along this wall full of coral and sea fan. Two buoys for this spot East and west because is long site.

32
Logs
23
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Neptune House

Beautifull wall where you can find a cave with an opening around 29m. To go inside you until the room (26m depth), there is a narrow corridor for 20m.

38
Logs
25
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Bohol

As the diving in Bohol is spread over a large area, you can find your heart’s desire in the waters here. There are wall dives with caves and caverns to explore as well as more sedate sloping reefs. Most diving is ideal for beginners but some dive sites in the channels between islands have strong drifts. 

Some areas in Bohol, like Panglao, have lots of dive resorts and dive centers to choose from. Mostly spread across the tourist resorts of Danao Beach and White Beach, there will be something to suit every budget. Balicasag has no dedicated place to stay and dive so it is best explored by staying in Panglao or Anda. Pamilacan and Cabilao have limited options too, but it is possible to stay on the islands if you wish. 

The area is very popular with dive courses. The warm, clear waters with minimal current make this perfect for beginner divers. There are also lots of deep dives on which you can do an advanced course, or even specialist training like wreck diving, cave diving or technical diving. 

Some liveaboards operate in this area. Most leave out of nearby Cebu and pass through the Visayas region. As all the dive sites are close to shore, it may be easier to have a base on an island and explore out of it each day.

The best Months to dive in Bohol

Diving in Bohol is available all year round. The best time for diving is from November to April when the temperatures are consistently high (around 28°C/82°F), the rainfall is low, and the visibility is good. May, June, and July get very hot and humid but still have generally good conditions. From August to October, the weather becomes more unpredictable — alternating dry, sunny weather with rain storms. Around Cabilao Island, hammerhead sharks are more frequently sighted from December to June.

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Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Ander Divers Garden Resort

Poblacion Quinali Beach, 6311 Anda, Bohol - PHL

Honu Dive Center

The Bellevue Resort, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

GO Scuba Bohol Dive Center

Mayfair Resort, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Almira Dive Center

Purok 4, Napaling Point, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Valm Divers

Pyramid Beach Resort, 6340 Panglao Island, Bohol - PHL

amun ini dive

Candabong Bas dako, 6311 Anda, Bohol - PHL

Cabilao Divers

Cabilao Sanctuary Beach And Dive Resort, 6327 Cabilao, Bohol - PHL

Freedive Panglao

Freedive Panglao, Danao, Panglao, 6344 Bohol, Bohol - PHL

KESAM DIVE RESORT

in side cocotree resort P-6 Danao, 6340 Bohol, Bohol - PHL

Polaris Beach and Dive Resort

Cabilao Island Bohol, Pantudlan, 6327 Loon, Bohol - PHL

LET’S GO DIVING

Heartland Road, Tawala, Alona, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

GO2DIVE dive resort

GO2DIVE Resort, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Brother’s dive center

Central Visayas, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

BIGBOSS DIVE - BOHOL

PUROK 4, DANAO, Bohol - PHL

MOON LIGHT DIVING

Purok #8, Lag_itan, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Freedive Academy Panglao

Napaling Drive, Purok 4, Tangnan, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

ANDA SCUBA DIVING

Anda Scuba Diving, 6311 ANDA, Bohol - PHL

French Touch Diving Panglao

Bolod Purok 6, 6340 Panglao Island, Bohol - PHL