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.

Diving in Panglao caters to a variety of preferences with options ranging from exhilarating wall dives to intriguing muck and wreck dives. Each dive unveils a new facet of Panglao’s underwater treasures, ensuring that both novice and experienced divers find something captivating. The island's popularity as a dive destination is further enhanced by the abundance of dive centers, making it an ideal spot for those looking to undertake dive courses. With such diverse and spectacular offerings, Panglao stands out as a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts seeking unforgettable adventures beneath the waves.

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Diving in Panglao

Panglao offers lots of different dives, most of which are suitable for beginners. The oceans are warm, calm and clear and many dive sites are shallow enough to cater to open water divers. There are wreck dives and deeper walls for the more adventurous divers and muck dives for those hunting for macro.

There are many dive centers to choose from on Panglao, all of which do dive courses. There are also a few dive resorts which offer dive and stay packages. Though there are no dedicated liveaboards operating in Panglao, there are a few which pass through this area.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Panglao

Panglao can be dived all year round due to its constant warm air and water temperatures. Despite this, the best conditions for diving are found from February to May when the rainfall is lowest and the seas are calmest.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Panglao

The healthy reefs of Panglao play host to many varieties of hard and soft corals which provide homes for lots of marine animals. Looking deep into the reef you might find frogfish, seahorses and even a super rare blue ring octopus. In the blue, you can see school of mackerel, fusiliers and barracuda as well as bigger fish like tuna, trevally and reef sharks. In the deeper waters in spring time, you might even be lucky enough to spot hammerheads, dolphins, pilot whales, whale sharks and manta rays!

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

5.2k Sightings
J
516
F
499
M
442
A
441
M
415
J
421
J
454
A
582
S
315
O
318
N
408
D
367

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

2.3k Sightings
J
228
F
288
M
285
A
176
M
211
J
148
J
178
A
157
S
87
O
171
N
148
D
187

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

1.1k Sightings
J
108
F
97
M
130
A
63
M
139
J
80
J
72
A
118
S
59
O
76
N
95
D
82
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

812 Sightings
J
80
F
107
M
116
A
55
M
108
J
15
J
68
A
79
S
16
O
29
N
73
D
66

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

5.4k Sightings
J
558
F
560
M
544
A
507
M
489
J
437
J
467
A
504
S
293
O
301
N
401
D
347

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

2.5k Sightings
J
242
F
260
M
249
A
205
M
268
J
217
J
229
A
232
S
139
O
149
N
191
D
129

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

2.4k Sightings
J
248
F
232
M
240
A
206
M
270
J
224
J
196
A
196
S
152
O
145
N
140
D
147

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

2.2k Sightings
J
194
F
239
M
213
A
165
M
218
J
190
J
202
A
183
S
140
O
145
N
165
D
123

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

1.9k Sightings
J
204
F
212
M
144
A
174
M
220
J
155
J
138
A
173
S
126
O
92
N
152
D
116

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

1.8k Sightings
J
175
F
164
M
161
A
144
M
244
J
171
J
136
A
143
S
106
O
108
N
125
D
94

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

1.2k Sightings
J
66
F
108
M
139
A
107
M
130
J
116
J
96
A
124
S
90
O
63
N
87
D
94

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

1.2k Sightings
J
163
F
160
M
159
A
101
M
162
J
95
J
50
A
67
S
24
O
36
N
51
D
113

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

1.1k Sightings
J
100
F
101
M
100
A
77
M
144
J
107
J
88
A
125
S
58
O
78
N
75
D
68

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

1k Sightings
J
81
F
105
M
93
A
77
M
144
J
84
J
88
A
125
S
65
O
45
N
85
D
54

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

1k Sightings
J
114
F
97
M
135
A
88
M
105
J
57
J
101
A
72
S
54
O
87
N
80
D
29

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

930 Sightings
J
81
F
101
M
109
A
85
M
153
J
93
J
64
A
62
S
29
O
35
N
52
D
66

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

890 Sightings
J
56
F
87
M
51
A
81
M
128
J
95
J
65
A
99
S
70
O
61
N
55
D
42

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

864 Sightings
J
77
F
59
M
87
A
65
M
133
J
93
J
83
A
114
S
57
O
38
N
29
D
29

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

782 Sightings
J
76
F
107
M
90
A
57
M
72
J
91
J
78
A
74
S
27
O
50
N
49
D
11

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

577 Sightings
J
27
F
28
M
14
A
37
M
101
J
71
J
51
A
90
S
35
O
37
N
54
D
32

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

554 Sightings
J
18
F
57
M
48
A
39
M
41
J
62
J
32
A
73
S
43
O
48
N
53
D
40

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

455 Sightings
J
46
F
101
M
45
A
54
M
31
J
66
J
15
A
0
S
14
O
13
N
20
D
50
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

446 Sightings
J
71
F
83
M
65
A
54
M
52
J
39
J
0
A
16
S
0
O
0
N
6
D
60

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

389 Sightings
J
20
F
36
M
4
A
33
M
35
J
46
J
41
A
76
S
42
O
25
N
26
D
5
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

301 Sightings
J
62
F
41
M
41
A
38
M
17
J
1
J
0
A
11
S
20
O
14
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.: 7000

Crab

Crab

223 Sightings
J
27
F
40
M
35
A
25
M
18
J
27
J
6
A
0
S
3
O
13
N
12
D
17

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

173 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
12
A
16
M
41
J
39
J
0
A
13
S
4
O
28
N
4
D
15

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

164 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
11
A
0
M
44
J
49
J
6
A
31
S
1
O
6
N
14
D
1

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

154 Sightings
J
25
F
16
M
23
A
26
M
15
J
4
J
10
A
30
S
2
O
1
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

151 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
0
A
2
M
30
J
57
J
6
A
38
S
11
O
0
N
0
D
0

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