Dive Sites
1. NAPALING - 4 star
Location: The center of the northwest face of Panglao Island.
Access: 1hr by banca from Alona Beach west around the wouthwest end of Panglao Island, then northeast along its northwest face to Napaling
Conditions: Usually calm with some current. Not advisable if conditions are rough because the current can be strong on spring tides. Usually done as a drift-dive. Visibility can reach 100ft.
Average depth: 50 ft
Maximum depth: 65 ft
The dive starts as a shallow coral shelf from 10ft to 23ft then drops as a vertical wall to 65 ft. The shallow shelf is a rich coral garden, great for snorkellers and underwater photographers. A multitude of very large Acropora table corals, pillar and leathery corals act as home to large shoals of anthias and smaller shoals of chromis, butterflyfish, razorfish, damselfish and anemones with clownfish.
The wall has everything one would expect of such a site - good visibility, colorful soft corals, large sponges and crinoids, nudibranchs, flat worms, sea cucumbers and sea stars. Overhangs and caves have soldierfish, squirrelfish and Tubastrea corals. There are small groups of fusiliers, jacks, tuna and Rainbow runners, as well as small Peacock groupers and coral trout. Deeper down you find groupers and Napoleon Wrasse. The many holes often contain moray eels or Royal Angelfish and there are blue-spotted Lagoon Rays on the sand.
The wall is patrolled by Whitetip Reef Sharks and is covered with hydroids, large sponges and gorgonian sea fans, a sign that the current can be very strong.
2. DULJO POINT - 4 star
Location; The southwest point of Panglao Island.
Access: 50 min by banca from Alona Beach west around the southwest end of Panglao Island to its west tip, which is Duljo Point.
Conditions: Usually calm with a strong current, but it can be rough with fierce currents. Visibility can reach 130 ft.
Average depth: 65 ft
Maximum depth: 115 ft
A drift dive takes you along the edge of a sandy slope with coral heads to 36 ft then drops off to a wall down to 130 ft. Currents are usually strong, leading to good fish action and the chance of seeing large pelagic species.
The wall is covered with large gorgonian sea fans, large Elephant Ear Sponges and barrel sponges, basket sponges, hydroids, colorful crinoids and soft corals.
There are shoals of surgeonfishs, fusiliers, razorfish, jacks, batfish, triggerfish, rabbitfish, catfish and squid. The prolific reef fish life includes angelfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, pufferfish, chromis, anthias, damselfish, wrasse, groupers, snappers, batfish, scorpionfish, lionfish and parrotfish. Deeper down are stingrays, moray eels, large groupers, Napoleon Wrasse and the occasional Whitetip or Grey Reef Shark.
In the shallows you find goatfish, lizardfish, some crown of thorns starfish, linchia, choriaster and fromia sea stars, pin cushion stars, nodular starfish, nudibrancs and anemones with clownfish, including the rarer Heteractis aurora anemone.
3. PUNGTUD WALL - 4 star
Location: The outer edge of Pungtud Islet.
Access: 35 min west by banca from Alona Beach to the western edge of the reef at the southwest end of Panglao Island.
Conditions:Normally dive only in calm conditions, Visibility can reah 100ft.
Average depth: 33 ft
Maximum depth: 65 ft
This beautiful coral garden slopes from 6 ft to 65 ft. There are good soft, leathery and stony corals with lots of small fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins, anemones with clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish and wrasse.
4. BALICASAG ISLAND - SOUTHWEST WALL/RICO'S WALL
5. BALICASAG ISLAND - SOUTHWEST WALL/RUDY'S ROCK- 5 star
Location: The southwest wall off Balicasag Island 6 km southwest of Panglao Island.
Access: 45 min by banca from Alona Beach to the southwest of Duljo Point.
Conditions: Normally calm with variable currents, but it can be rough and have fierce currents. You would not normally make this journey in rough weather, unless you at staying at the Balicasag Dive Resort. Visibility can reach 130 ft.
Average depth: 50 ft
Maximum depth: 165 ft
At Rico's Wall there is a coral garden on a shelf from 23 ft to 36 ft beyond that a wall drops to 115 ft. The coral garden is rich soft, leathery and stony corals, hydroids, nudibranchs, sea stars, sea cucumbers, crinoids, all the smaller reef fish, anemones and clownfish. Shoals of fusiliers, surgeonfish, jacks, snappers, wrasse, batfish, Moorish Idols, anthias, chromis, damselfish, pennantfish and bannerfish frequent the reef edge and shallower parts of the wall.
There are many angelfish, butterflyfish, Titan and Orange-striped triggerfish, Vlaming's Unicornfish, trumpetfish, cornetfish, snappers, pufferfish and some crown of thorns starfish. At the eastern end, there is a huge shoal of Big eye Trevally that upon sighting a diver encircles one for several minutes until it gets bored.
The wall itself has everything - small caves, overhangs and crevices with soldierfish, squirrelfish, lionfish and moray eels. There are sea cucumbers, nudibranchs and huge gorgonian sea fans, plus Elephant Ear Sponges, barrel sponges and basket sponges all with alabaster sea cucumbers. Flatworms, Feather Duster Worms and crinoids are everywhere. Deeper down there are larger groupers, Napoleon Wrasse, the occasional Grey or Whitetip Reef Shark and tuna. Barracuda and Rainbow Runners often appear out of the blue.
Rudy's Rock is a continuation of Rico's Wall and much the same, except that large Green Turtles are often seen there.
These are both world-class dives.
6. BALICASAG ISLAND - NORTHEAST SLOPE/BLACK FOREST - 5 star
Location: The northeast of Balicasag Island 6km southwest of Panglao Island.
Access: 45 min from Alona Beach by banca, southwest of Duljo Point.
Conditions: Normally calm with a strong current, but can get really rough with fierce currents. Visibility can reach 130 ft
Average depth: 65 ft
Maximum depth: 130 ft
A fast drift-dive with the strong current. This is a steep sandy slope from the beach to 130 ft plus, with coral heads, whip corals, soft corals and small gorgonian sea fans on the sand, until you get down below 100 ft where you find forests of black corals. The deepr waters have large groupers, Napoleon Wrasse, barracuda, tuna, batfish and snappers.
The shallower waters have garden eels, moray eels, Titan and Orange striped Triggerfish, shoals of surgeonfish, Moorish Idols, bannerfish and jacks, Emperor and Royal Angelfish, pufferfish, trumpetfish and cornetfish. There are also many Linckia sea stars, Choriaster cushion stars, Bohadschia sea cucumbers and colorful crinoids.
This is an advanced dive and novices should stay close to their divemaster.
7. KALIPAYAN - 3 star
Location: Just off Alona Beach.
Access: 6 min by banca from Alona Beach.
Conditions: Normally calm with no current. Visibility can reach 80 ft.
Average depth: 33 ft
Maximum depth: 65 ft
Known as the "Happy Wall", this is a pleasant short wall from 10ft to 65 ft with soft leathery and stony corals, some small gorgonian sea fans, lots of small reef fish, small groupers and small barracuda.
8. ARCO POINT(THE HOLE IN THE WALL) - 3 star
Location: Off Arco Point.
Access: 12 min by banca northeast of Alona Beach.
Conditions: Normally calm with little current. Visibility can reach 100 ft.
Average depth: 33 ft
Maximum depth: 80 ft
On a short wall where fish are regularly hand fed there are small groupers, wrasse, triggerfish, butterflyfish, moray eels and sea snakes. This site is sometimes called the "Hole in the Wall" because there is a vertical funnel which you can enter at 60 ft and exit at 30 ft.
9. CERVERA SHOAL(SPAGHETTI SHOAL) - 4 star
Location: 15 km east of Balicasag Island.
Access: 50 min by banca southeast of Alona Beach.
Conditions: Normally calm with currents, aim for slack water. Visibility can reach 100ft.
Average depth: 50 ft
Maximum depth: 200 ft plus
Often called Snake Island because it harbours several black and white banded sea snakes(hence the Spaghetti), this sunken island is a sea mount rising to 40 ft. It is not too good for corals but recommended as a dive into the blue, with lots of snakes and the chance of seeing some large pelagic fish. Novices should stay close to their divemaster.
10. PAMILACAN ISLAND - NORTHWEST SIDE - 4 star
Location: 23 km east of Balicasag Island,
Access: 60 min by banca southwest of Alona Beach.
Conditions: Normally calm with medium-strong currents. Visibility can reach 130ft.
Average depth: 65 ft
Maximum depth: 100 ft
Pamilacan translates as a nesting place of Manta Rays, these impressive creatures are occasionally seen here. A good drift-dive, the reef is a sandy 45 degrees slope with many coral heads, anemones with clownfish, Napoeleon Wrasse, schools of fusiliers, mackerel, barracuda, jacks and Dogtooth Tuna. There are some good gorgonian sea fans, and Flashlight Fish inhabit some of the caves.
11. CABILAO ISLAND - HAMMERHEAD POINT - 5 star
Location: The northwest point of Cabilao Island , by the lighthouse.
Access: 2 hr by banca from Mactan Island or 3 hr by banca from Panglao Island.
Conditions: Usually calm, but could get rough with fierce currents. Visibility can reach 130 ft.
Average depth: 100 ft
Maximum depth: 130 ft plus
An interesting double drop-off, first
To 100 ft and then into deep water. With strong currents this dive is noted for small shoals of Hammerhead Sharks in December and January. Grey and Whitetip Reef Sharks are common, as are barracuda. There are lots of small gorgonian sea fans, large barrel sponges with Alabaster Sea Cucumbers, whip corals, good soft corals, Leopardfish Sea Cucumbers, Linckia sea stars and crinoids. The numerous small shoals include fusiliers, jacks, needlefish, Moorish Idols, pennantfish, butterflyfish, snappers and sweetlips.
This dive has everything, but most divers would particularly want to go deep in the hope of seeing Hammerhead Sharks, large groupers and large Napoleon Wrasse.
12. CABILAO ISLAND - SOUTHWEST POINT - 5 star
Location: Southwest point of Cabilao Island.
Access: same as no. 11
Conditions: Normally calm even during the rain, with strong currents. Not advisable during bad conditions. Visibility can reach 130 ft/
Average depth: 65 ft
Maximum depth: 130 ft plus
There are lot of small gorgonian sea fans, large barrel sponges, smaller Elephant Ear Sponges, basket sponges, good soft corals, whip corals and more fire coral than is normal in the Philippines,. Many varieties of nudibranchs, various Bohadschia sea cucumbers, Linckia sea stars and colorful crinoids nestle between the corals. There are a few crown of thorns starfish, Ribbon Eels, garden eels and stingrays are also found on the sand.
The reef is teeming with angelfish, butterflyfish, chromis, anthias, needlefish, various fusiliers, soldierfish, squirrelfish, scorpionfish, lionfish, snappers, sweetlips, Moorish Idols, trumpetfish, cornetfish, wrasse and groupers, with large groupers and napoleon Wrasse in deeper water.
13. CABILAO ISLAND - SOUTHWEST POINT - 5 star
Location: The southwest point of Cabilao Island.
Access: 2 hr by banca from Mactan Island.
Conditions: Normally calm even during rain, with strong currents; can get really rough with fierce currents. You would not normally make the journey in bad conditions. Visibility can reach 130 ft.
Average depth: 65 ft
Maximum depth: 130 ft plus
A good drop wall drops to 130 ft. Huge gorgonian sea fans, lots of black coral and Elephant Ear Sponges covered in Alabaster Sea Cucumbers, together with profuse fish and invertebrate life, make this a fine dive. There are many species of sea cucumbers and sea stars, anemones with clownfish and the rarer tube anemones.