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- A Diving Newbie? Don't Want Diving to Be Your Only Activity Abroad? Want to Bring the Family Along? Panglao Island, Philippines, Is Perfect for You!
- A World-Class Dive Site Accessible to Beginners — Balicasag Island
- A Dive Site Right in Front of a Five-Star Resort — BBC (Bohol Beach Club)
- Pamilacan Island
A Diving Newbie? Don't Want Diving to Be Your Only Activity Abroad? Want to Bring the Family Along? Panglao Island, Philippines, Is Perfect for You!
Balicasag Island diving in the Panglao area of the Philippines has long ranked among the world's best. The underwater ecosystem is rich, the surface conditions are relatively calm, the temperature is comfortable both above and below water, and the costs are reasonable. Land-based sightseeing is also well developed (see: 【Philippines · Panglao Island】 How to Spend a Day? A Slow Island-Hopping Ride Around Panglao and 【Philippines · BOHOL】 Explore Bohol in 18 Hours! The Ultimate Bohol Attractions Guide feat. 海島瘋), making it a wonderful destination for family dive travel.
Panglao Island is most famous for its wall diving, which has drawn numerous freediving competitions and training camps. Dive sites surround Panglao Island, with the majority clustered on its southwestern side. We visited in December; due to the influence of the monsoon, most of our dives were arranged at Balicasag Island and Pamilacan Island.
A World-Class Dive Site Accessible to Beginners — Balicasag Island
Balicasag Island is a world-class dive site that is relatively easy to visit
"Balicasag is a coral island surrounded by rare black coral reefs. It has been designated a marine protected area (MPA) by the United Nations, and is home to the world-renowned great drop-off — a wall that plunges vertically from 20 ft straight down to an unfathomable 3,000 ft below the surface." — 海島瘋
Balicasag — highly recognizable on any map thanks to its round shape — is an island designated as a marine protected area (MPA). Boat dives require payment of a conservation fee and a mooring fee, and only 150 dive permits are issued per day, with a maximum of two scuba tanks per permit. There's no need to worry about overcrowding or divers packed in like dumplings.
If you're planning to dive here, we recommend confirming your dive itinerary with the dive shop at least two weeks in advance. Visiting in winter carries a reasonable chance of a heavy-rain warning causing same-day dive cancellations, so stay in close contact with your dive shop to confirm.
Balicasag is renowned for its rich marine life and wall diving. The terrain extends briefly from the surface to the outer edge of the island, then drops vertically at 90 degrees down to a platform at 80–100 m, before continuing into the abyss below. It is precisely this topography that allows nutrient-rich currents and plankton from the deep to be carried up to shallower waters, giving this small island its extraordinary underwater ecosystem.
The wall's dense coral coverage and thriving marine life are natural wonders you simply must witness when visiting
At Balicasag you can encounter gorgonian / sea fans exceeding 2 m in size, a symphony of barracuda schools and jacks weaving together in alternating formations, and even flatfish and garden eels hiding in the sandy shallows — they're regulars here!
Massive gorgonian / sea fans are found all over the wall — mind your neutral buoyancy and depth when going in for a closer look
What a spectacular sight — I could barely believe my eyes!
Dive sites:
- Black Forest: Water temp: 28.2°C ∣ Avg. depth: 14.1 m ∣ Dive time: 47 min
- Diver's Heaven: Water temp: 28.4°C ∣ Avg. depth: 15.2 m ∣ Dive time: 42 min
- Rudy's Rock: Water temp: 28.2°C ∣ Avg. depth: 14.6 m ∣ Dive time: 53 min
- Cathedral Wall: Water temp: 28.2°C ∣ Avg. depth: 14.2 m ∣ Dive time: 55 min
A Dive Site Right in Front of a Five-Star Resort — BBC (Bohol Beach Club)
On this trip we joined 海島瘋's dive program. The departure point was BBC (Bohol Beach Club) beach, and it takes approximately 40 minutes by boat to reach Balicasag. Don't forget to snap a stunning photo on BBC's gorgeous beach when you board and disembark!
BBC's 100-metre stretch of pristine white sand is perfect for visitors of all ages
"BBC is one of Bohol's largest resorts, and its most distinctive feature is its private white-sand beach stretching over 100 metres, fronted by crystal-clear, glass-like waters. The beach is lined with tropical palm and coconut trees — an evening stroll along the shore, gazing out at the deep-blue sea while watching the sky blush red in the sunset, is simply unforgettable." — 海島瘋
If you arrange your dive trip through 海島瘋, you'll pass through BBC's beautiful beach every time you board and disembark. Beyond taking gorgeous photos, BBC's restaurant is also a great option for resting and recharging after each day's dives.
During the midday surface interval, you can temporarily use BBC's facilities and restaurant
The dive sites near BBC resort include beginner-friendly sites such as an underwater aircraft wreck and a cave dive. The terrain is fairly similar to Xiaoliuqiu in Taiwan — the seabed slopes gently down from the surface to a depth of 7–8 m, then drops vertically at 90 degrees to around 20 m. Don't forget that macro creatures may be lurking on the wall as well, including pipefish and Frogfish!
Bohol Beach Club — Underwater Aircraft Wreck
The cave dive entry begins at 10 m and leads directly into the cavern, exiting at around 15 m. The passage is quite spacious, so there's no need to worry about getting stuck. Beginners should pay particular attention to their dive computer depth readings and ear equalization.
Bohol Beach Club — Cave Dive
Inside the caverns on the wall, you can search for all kinds of macro marine life
After the day's dives, pick a shallow sandbar for a group photo
Dive sites:
- Bohol Beach Club — Underwater Aircraft Wreck: Water temp: 28.3°C ∣ Avg. depth: 11.6 m ∣ Dive time: 51 min
- Bohol Beach Club — Cave Dive: Water temp: 28.3°C ∣ Avg. depth: 12.2 m ∣ Dive time: 52 min
Pamilacan Island
Spotting sea turtles while diving in the Philippines is quite easy. Beyond the Green Sea Turtles more commonly seen in Taiwan, you can also encounter Loggerhead Turtles here
The name Pamilacan Island is said to derive from "resting place of the manta ray" in one account, or from the word pamilac, meaning harpoon, in another — suggesting that in earlier times these waters were roamed by substantial numbers of whales, dolphins, and Stingrays. Our dive guide mentioned that if you visit Pamilacan Island during the right season, you might even have a chance to encounter a Whale Shark underwater.
Visiting Pamilacan Island during the low season in December means not only reduced visibility, but also the need to be mindful of the perpetually strong currents. However, because the topography and current direction are consistent, as long as you listen carefully to the dive briefing and follow the dive guide's instructions, it's actually a great place for beginners to experience drift diving.
The underwater terrain here is slightly different from Balicasag Island. The overall topography slopes at 45 degrees from the surface down to the seabed, with sparser coral coverage along the way, though you stand a good chance of encountering schools of barracuda and jacks.
Dive sites:
- Pamilacan Island North Point: Water temp: 28.1°C ∣ Avg. depth: 14.9 m ∣ Dive time: 49 min
- Pamilacan Island West Point: Water temp: 28.3°C ∣ Avg. depth: 15.4 m ∣ Dive time: 50 min
Beginners, don't forget to use your dive computer app's log function to record every moment of your dives
Further reading:
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
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