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Cabilao, a charming island near Bohol's north coast, beckons divers with its stunning underwater landscapes. The island is encircled by coral reefs that dramatically descend to depths of about 50 meters/164 feet, making it a prime spot for wall diving. This diving haven caters to all skill levels, offering shallow areas for beginners and deep walls for the more experienced. In the shallower zones, divers can explore seagrass meadows and vibrant coral formations, home to intriguing creatures like stone fish and harlequin ghost pipefish.

For those who venture deeper, the walls of Cabilao reveal a thrilling array of marine life. Pelagic species such as barracudas, dogtooth tunas, and giant trevallies glide by, while frogfish, large groupers, and snappers add to the spectacle. The presence of sea snakes and napoleon wrasses further enriches the diving experience. With a mix of shore and boat diving opportunities, Cabilao's diverse environments ensure a memorable underwater journey, making it a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts.

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Diving in Cabilao

Cabilao, a stunning island in the Philippines, is a hidden gem for dive enthusiasts, offering a mix of vibrant coral gardens and fascinating marine life. The Lighthouse Reef is a popular shore dive, known for its enchanting night dives where divers can witness the mesmerizing dance of bioluminescent plankton. The site is a haven for macro photography, featuring unique critters like pygmy seahorses and ornate ghost pipefish.

For those seeking wreck dives, Cabilao provides liveaboard diving options, allowing exploration of deeper sites like the historic wrecks off Panglao Island. These trips offer a balanced experience, combining the convenience of shore dives with the adventure of liveaboard excursions. With its diverse underwater landscapes and marine biodiversity, Cabilao promises unforgettable diving encounters.

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The best Months to dive in Cabilao

Cabilao offers excellent diving conditions throughout the year, with water temperatures ranging from 27°C to 30°C/81°F to 86°F. This makes it suitable for diving all year. However, the best time for diving is from November to May, when the seas are calm and visibility is optimal, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet. From June to October, the southwest monsoon can bring stronger winds and currents, slightly affecting diving conditions. Despite this, diving remains possible, though visibility might decrease to around 20 meters/66 feet. Divers should be aware of these seasonal changes when planning their trips.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Cabilao

Cabilao Island, nestled in the Bohol Sea, is a prime diving destination known for its rich marine biodiversity. The island's vibrant coral reefs host a variety of reef fish, including the ubiquitous clownfish and butterflyfish. Divers can also encounter parrotfish and angelfish, which are common in these waters. Seasonal highlights include sightings of blacktip reef sharks and green sea turtles. These are more likely to be encountered from March to June, when water temperatures range from 26°C–30°C/79°F–86°F, offering ideal conditions for these species to thrive. Occasionally, eagle rays can also be observed gliding through the deeper waters, especially near the drop-offs.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

410 Sightings
J
62
F
61
M
45
A
78
M
16
J
19
J
19
A
18
S
4
O
13
N
33
D
42

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

163 Sightings
J
15
F
32
M
15
A
41
M
2
J
2
J
3
A
8
S
1
O
6
N
9
D
29
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

60 Sightings
J
7
F
17
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
6
J
2
A
4
S
5
O
2
N
9
D
4

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

30 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
8
D
7
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

21 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
7
A
5
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
2
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle

15 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
4
A
2
S
0
O
4
N
2
D
0

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

359 Sightings
J
48
F
43
M
24
A
87
M
8
J
20
J
17
A
15
S
7
O
11
N
37
D
42

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

241 Sightings
J
26
F
40
M
16
A
55
M
0
J
6
J
9
A
5
S
6
O
14
N
27
D
37

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

157 Sightings
J
22
F
24
M
8
A
36
M
0
J
12
J
6
A
6
S
3
O
8
N
18
D
14

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

135 Sightings
J
22
F
20
M
8
A
8
M
1
J
10
J
9
A
9
S
3
O
9
N
18
D
18

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

124 Sightings
J
22
F
6
M
10
A
32
M
1
J
5
J
6
A
4
S
2
O
9
N
14
D
13

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

113 Sightings
J
13
F
20
M
10
A
24
M
0
J
10
J
8
A
6
S
2
O
7
N
4
D
9

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

100 Sightings
J
18
F
19
M
1
A
12
M
0
J
1
J
6
A
11
S
4
O
7
N
10
D
11

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

97 Sightings
J
13
F
12
M
13
A
18
M
1
J
2
J
5
A
6
S
0
O
6
N
15
D
6

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

90 Sightings
J
6
F
15
M
15
A
18
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
2
O
7
N
5
D
13

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

81 Sightings
J
7
F
7
M
9
A
17
M
0
J
9
J
5
A
4
S
2
O
6
N
5
D
10

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

79 Sightings
J
6
F
16
M
4
A
28
M
2
J
7
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
4
N
2
D
6

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

78 Sightings
J
9
F
18
M
7
A
14
M
1
J
4
J
4
A
5
S
1
O
3
N
9
D
3

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

75 Sightings
J
7
F
9
M
0
A
30
M
0
J
6
J
1
A
2
S
2
O
7
N
0
D
11

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

67 Sightings
J
6
F
14
M
2
A
23
M
1
J
4
J
0
A
4
S
2
O
3
N
7
D
1

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

62 Sightings
J
5
F
17
M
3
A
10
M
0
J
2
J
5
A
6
S
1
O
2
N
8
D
3

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

60 Sightings
J
2
F
6
M
5
A
30
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
2
O
5
N
2
D
4

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

60 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
10
A
10
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
4
S
3
O
7
N
6
D
3

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

47 Sightings
J
8
F
4
M
7
A
10
M
2
J
2
J
3
A
2
S
2
O
3
N
3
D
1
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

46 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
14
A
4
M
9
J
1
J
4
A
3
S
1
O
4
N
2
D
2
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

38 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
0
A
10
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
8
D
2

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

Total number of species approx.: 1500

Hard Corals

Hard Corals

33 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
33
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Soft Corals

Soft Corals

32 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
32
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 1900

Starfish

Starfish

29 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
29
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

25 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
1
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
6
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
3

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

17 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
15
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

16 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
1
J
3
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
3

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

16 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
4

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

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
5
N
0
D
5

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

14 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

14 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
1
O
4
N
3
D
0

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

13 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
5
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
1
A
5
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0