Diving in Bohol Province
CONSISTING OF THE ISLAND ITSELF and 75 minor surrounding islands, Bohol Province sits right in the middle of the so-called ‘coral triangle’, which spans Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Here, in the Philippine’s Central Visayas region, you’ll find over 75% of all coral species, and the highest marine biodiversity in the world.
BOHOL ATTRACTS ADVENTUREDIVE ADDICTS as well as beginner divers (10 years and up), and is routinely listed as one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world. The sea is generally calm and the currents manageable, coupled with excellent visibility. Beginners get to see a myriad of fish and coral even on their initial dives.
ALONA BEACH ON PANGLAO ISLAND is Bohol’s tourist mecca; accommodation options vary from local-style guesthouses to international-standard resorts. Numerous accredited dive operators offer PADI and SDI courses, and the reef sees different dive sites spaced out over the length of the beach.
A 30-MINUTE BOAT TRIP from Panglao, Balicasag Island is on many a diver’s bucket list. A narrow reef shelf (8 metres deep) surrounds the island, and over the edge of the shelf a perpendicular wall sinks down to depths of 80 metres and more. The shelf is home to a fantastic coral garden filled with all kinds of reef fish, as well as anemones and clownfish.
MAGNIFICENT TURTLES ARE A ROUTINE SIGHT on any dive off Balicasag – you are almost guaranteed to see a double digit number. These turtles are gentle reptiles whose size belies the gracious nature of their movements, and they generally ignore the groups of goggle-eyed divers attempting to get close for that picture-perfect moment.
DUE TO ITS MID-OCEAN LOCATION between Balicasag and Pamilacan islands, the currents at 18-metre-deep Snake Island are fierce and the waves are big. Brave this dive, and you’ll likely spot the colony of black-and-white sea snakes that live off the shoal. Snake Island also homes pelagic fish, scorpion fish and sturgeon.
RESTING PLACE OF MANTAS off Pamilacan Island is another magical dive site to visit. Teeming with colourful coral and marine life, it shelters a squadron of horned manta rays, the largest of which can reach 7 metres in width. Dive here and there’s also a good chance you’ll spot dolphins, particularly if you visit from March through July.
