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.

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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.

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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.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Bohol

The underwater landscape in the Bohol area is known as one of the most beautiful and diverse in the world. Located in the Coral Triangle, the selection of hard and soft corals plays host to an abundance of fish and reef life. Colourful fish like anemonefish, parrotfish, lionfish, soldierfish, angelfish, damselfish and butterfly fish are common on most every dive. Other common sites include moray eels, reef sharks, octopus, cuttlefish and frogfish. The healthy reefs are great for underwater photographers as the macro life is abundant. It is also possible to see schooling hammerhead sharks in this region, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

7.7k Sightings
J
857
F
891
M
770
A
736
M
611
J
527
J
566
A
555
S
316
O
461
N
693
D
712

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

3.1k Sightings
J
328
F
400
M
362
A
241
M
262
J
185
J
219
A
168
S
112
O
230
N
299
D
339

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

1.2k Sightings
J
122
F
100
M
140
A
69
M
140
J
92
J
77
A
69
S
56
O
92
N
109
D
116
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

1.2k Sightings
J
116
F
181
M
159
A
91
M
123
J
34
J
81
A
75
S
32
O
54
N
115
D
111

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

7.2k Sightings
J
790
F
784
M
734
A
708
M
611
J
522
J
578
A
464
S
288
O
426
N
654
D
605

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

3.5k Sightings
J
346
F
408
M
389
A
287
M
343
J
266
J
316
A
179
S
117
O
234
N
327
D
243

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

3.4k Sightings
J
375
F
376
M
333
A
307
M
368
J
264
J
245
A
162
S
137
O
225
N
290
D
323

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

3k Sightings
J
290
F
355
M
340
A
241
M
284
J
234
J
271
A
137
S
108
O
221
N
293
D
229

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

2.5k Sightings
J
286
F
294
M
176
A
218
M
289
J
187
J
186
A
128
S
122
O
148
N
246
D
236

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

2.3k Sightings
J
246
F
252
M
248
A
185
M
297
J
209
J
180
A
113
S
83
O
149
N
204
D
166

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

2k Sightings
J
264
F
270
M
252
A
175
M
244
J
141
J
84
A
71
S
31
O
69
N
157
D
236

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.6k Sightings
J
107
F
159
M
175
A
124
M
177
J
151
J
135
A
101
S
76
O
100
N
125
D
174

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

1.5k Sightings
J
142
F
136
M
164
A
102
M
183
J
125
J
133
A
75
S
64
O
113
N
129
D
114

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

1.4k Sightings
J
158
F
148
M
187
A
126
M
140
J
73
J
121
A
85
S
44
O
114
N
160
D
82

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.3k Sightings
J
137
F
166
M
161
A
91
M
113
J
106
J
102
A
98
S
49
O
76
N
148
D
101

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

1.2k Sightings
J
82
F
114
M
111
A
138
M
152
J
111
J
95
A
63
S
57
O
101
N
79
D
89

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

1.1k Sightings
J
88
F
121
M
121
A
100
M
153
J
94
J
105
A
79
S
49
O
63
N
103
D
71

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

1.1k Sightings
J
108
F
140
M
140
A
105
M
162
J
105
J
71
A
55
S
24
O
41
N
67
D
80

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

1.1k Sightings
J
123
F
87
M
139
A
88
M
148
J
109
J
119
A
50
S
40
O
65
N
47
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

921 Sightings
J
86
F
151
M
108
A
76
M
72
J
82
J
30
A
36
S
27
O
37
N
87
D
129

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

910 Sightings
J
46
F
109
M
94
A
77
M
74
J
95
J
52
A
53
S
41
O
85
N
98
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

764 Sightings
J
38
F
55
M
67
A
72
M
126
J
81
J
71
A
33
S
25
O
70
N
82
D
44
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

656 Sightings
J
85
F
110
M
102
A
70
M
64
J
50
J
7
A
14
S
7
O
13
N
50
D
84

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

542 Sightings
J
66
F
76
M
91
A
43
M
28
J
44
J
13
A
15
S
17
O
33
N
52
D
64

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

477 Sightings
J
25
F
54
M
46
A
49
M
38
J
58
J
61
A
29
S
31
O
31
N
38
D
17
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

300 Sightings
J
62
F
41
M
41
A
38
M
18
J
4
J
1
A
5
S
19
O
15
N
26
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

273 Sightings
J
2
F
28
M
17
A
17
M
4
J
52
J
36
A
5
S
13
O
34
N
30
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

272 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
39
A
21
M
47
J
47
J
9
A
6
S
13
O
47
N
9
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

249 Sightings
J
0
F
19
M
9
A
12
M
85
J
31
J
17
A
12
S
13
O
23
N
9
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

246 Sightings
J
43
F
19
M
39
A
36
M
18
J
11
J
17
A
25
S
3
O
2
N
13
D
20

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