Explore Panglao

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.

Places to Explore

Balicasag

5 Divesites

Balicasag is a small island off the coast of Panglao Island which is in the Bohol Sea. Located in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, Balicasag offers some excellent, off-the-beaten-track 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
Mares

★★★★☆ Turtle Point

Balicasag is one of the most famous Marine sanctuaries in the Philippines. This site is the main reason people go to Balicasag Island due, where large numbers of sea turtles congregate.

443
Logs
322
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★★ Black Forest

A steep slope that is considered one of the must see dive sites in the area. The huge forest of black coral is practically unseen in other places around the world.

6,985
Logs
4,887
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★★ Divers Heaven

Divers Heaven is located in Balicasag Island , on the South side, it is about 30 minutes banka ride from Alona Beach. It a slope going to about 30 meters covered with hard and soft corals starting at ten meters.

3,237
Logs
2,502
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Royal Garden

One of the best known spots on Balicasag, this site is famous for its coral gardens and is set on an underwater plateau full of colorful and diverse marine life; a perfect spot for macro diving.

1,407
Logs
1,138
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Cathedral Wall

Cathedral Wall is a wall dive in Balicasag Island on the north side. Usually it is dived as a drift dive, starting at Cathedral and ending up at east or west, depending on the current.

1,686
Logs
1,373
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ Habagat, Wreck

Located in front of Alona Beach, usually within 10 minutes by speedboat from a resort, the Habagak wreck point is a yacht that sank due to heavy rain during the Habagak season. The yacht is lying on the sandy bottom at a depth of about 34m, so the no-decompression limit time is short, but it is not a large ship,

737
Logs
534
Divers
31.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★☆ Danao Wall

Danao Wall on Panglao Island, Bohol is a top dive site with vibrant corals, sponges, and sea fans on a dramatic wall that drops beyond 60m. Most dives stay around 15–25m, where visibility is excellent and volcanic rock formations add to the beauty. A must-dive in the Philippines.

3,151
Logs
2,113
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Alona Reef

Wreck dive locally called the Hagabat Wreck or Bohol Divers Wreck. Usually starts with a descent down a line close to a wall and then down the slope to the wreck. The top of the wreck is at 28M and the bow of the wreck is at 37M.

8,389
Logs
3,069
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Kalipayan, Bohol

Kalipayan is a wall dive located close to Alona Beach-Bohol Panglau within 4-5 minutes to the closest dive centers. The dive begins in a sandy aera at five meters and then proceeds by dropping over the vertical wall.

5,516
Logs
2,966
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Gak-Ang

A beautiful wall dive located with coral gardens and a then a wall with depth between 25-40 meters. Normally done as a drift dive from banca boats, currents can vary from slight to quite strong depending on the tide.

437
Logs
353
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★☆ Arco Point

A wall drift dive with good visibility and medium to strong current. A wonderful spot for both advanced and beginner divers. This spot will ease you into wall diving.

1,649
Logs
1,205
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Doljo House Reef

This dive site is found at Barangay Doljo, the most northwest point and ultimate tip of Panglao Island. This is a beautiful wall dive with vast amounts of coral and great macro sightings.

4,220
Logs
1,585
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Napaling Reef - Left

Ideal freedive training site, sheer coral wall dropping down straight to twenty five meters, infrequent currrent, lovely colors on the wall and loads of fish schooling.

1,272
Logs
784
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ Napaling Reef - Right

Napaling Point is a point that can be reached by driving about 15 minutes northeast from Kasam Dive Resort. You can mainly enjoy freediving, snorkeling, and scuba diving. When you first enter the water, you go down the cliff to 20 meters. After 20 meters, it is a slope.

1,293
Logs
792
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

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.

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.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

BIGBOSS DIVE - BOHOL

PUROK 4, DANAO, Bohol - PHL

KESAM DIVE RESORT

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

Honu Dive Center

The Bellevue Resort, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Almira Dive Center

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

French Touch Diving Panglao

Bolod Purok 6, 6340 Panglao Island, Bohol - PHL

Brother’s dive center

Central Visayas, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL

Freedive Panglao

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

Valm Divers

Pyramid Beach Resort, 6340 Panglao Island, Bohol - PHL

LET’S GO DIVING

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

Freedive Academy Panglao

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

MOON LIGHT DIVING

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

GO Scuba Bohol Dive Center

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

GO2DIVE dive resort

GO2DIVE Resort, 6340 Panglao, Bohol - PHL