3 Major Challenges of Running a Dive Shop in Bohol, Philippines
Bohol in the Philippines is a world-renowned dive destination that divers simply can't stop talking about. It's famous for the nearby Balicasag Marine Sanctuary, where visitors can witness breathtaking schools of jackfish, and in recent years have had increasing chances to encounter swirling tornadoes of barracuda and sardine balls as well.
White-sand beaches, the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, ATV rides, and Whale Shark encounters are just some of the well-known land attractions that draw non-diving visitors from all over the world.
But do you know what challenges await anyone trying to run a legitimate dive shop in the Philippines? Just obtaining the proper licenses alone involves a travel agency permit, business registration, a dive shop license, and even membership in local industry associations. When all of these hurdles collide with the famously easygoing Filipino spirit, it's hard not to picture that endlessly spinning loading icon on your computer screen.
This time on the BlueTrend Lounge, we invited 小瑛姐, the owner of 海島瘋, for an in-depth conversation about the many challenges and frustrations she and her team have encountered over the years running dive travel operations in the Philippines.
Challenge 1: Staying Legitimate
The very first challenge mentioned at the opening of the video is natural disasters — because no matter where you are in the world, they can strike at any time. Beyond burning a little extra incense and managing your risks carefully, you really can only hope for divine protection.
So let's turn our attention to the other major challenge: staying legitimate.
Every country has its own regulations governing business operations. Running a legitimate dive business in the Philippines requires multiple licenses, including business registration, a dive operation license, and — if you also help clients arrange land tours, accommodation, and dining — a legal travel agency license on top of that.
Each license represents a mandatory process of legal compliance, financial auditing, and other checks. Put simply, it demands significant investment in both manpower and capital, all of which translates directly into operating costs.
The biggest difference from Taiwan is that in the Philippines, all of the above licenses must be renewed every single year. For a fully compliant operator, that means sending staff back and forth between the business premises and government offices at the same time each year just to complete the renewal process. Because this process is somewhat tedious, it has led some operators to run their dive businesses without being fully licensed.
The adage "nothing happens until something happens — and then it's a very big deal" rings true everywhere. Diving carries inherent risks, and freelance instructors or shops that operate in a grey area are, in effect, quietly shifting those risks onto their clients — a fact that is ultimately reflected in the lower prices they can offer.
We often meet clients who come in to compare prices, and we can only shrug helplessly. The costs of running a legitimate business are real — yet clients frequently chase the absolute lowest price without stopping to consider the hidden risks.
小瑛姐, 海島瘋
Challenge 2: Efficiency
We just briefly touched on the many licenses required to run a legitimate operation. So what happens when you add the naturally laid-back Filipino temperament into the mix?
The Philippines is the perfect place to practice patience. No matter how impatient you are by nature, you'll gradually become a very patient person here.
小瑛姐, 海島瘋
For those of us accustomed to Taiwan's high-efficiency administrative environment, the easygoing nature of Filipinos is something we simply can't imagine. Beyond the sluggish pace of government paperwork, the local population's cheerfully relaxed attitude also makes life quietly difficult for foreign operators.
Because 雞蛋花旅宿 (Frangipani Resort) is located on Panglao Island — a small satellite island just off Bohol — the already challenging logistics of getting supplies in the Philippines are amplified several times over.
From the moment construction on 雞蛋花旅宿 broke ground, it was hit by a string of delayed material deliveries, which in turn prevented the construction crew from proceeding on schedule. The end result was prolonged timelines and a ballooning budget.
The very same nightmare repeated itself with Building 2 of 雞蛋花旅宿, slated for completion in 2024 — even after hiring an ethnic Chinese contractor, the same problems arose.
Challenge 3: Policy
Most divers choose Bohol because they want to visit the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary. Beyond the chance to witness the legendary jackfish tornado, the dramatic wall formations and rich marine biodiversity add yet another dimension to the dive travel experience.
However, precisely because Balicasag is a strictly controlled protected area, the surge in visitor numbers has led to regulations that keep changing — and this has become a major challenge for dive operators in the area.
When the Editor first visited Balicasag in 2022, the process for operators to apply for dive permits within the sanctuary was relatively straightforward. But at the end of 2023, the local association held a meeting and announced on the spot that applications would henceforth need to be submitted 2 months in advance by email — with no way for applicants to check whether their request had been approved or how many slots remained.
By the time this article was written, the lead time had already been extended to 3 months, with a whole raft of additional rules that kept changing with every successive meeting: whether unused slots could be reallocated, penalties for no-shows, fines for operators who entered the sanctuary without a permit, and so on. 小瑛姐 of 海島瘋 advises: "If you want to dive Balicasag now, book at least 3 months in advance to make sure your trip actually happens." This kind of policy uncertainty significantly increases the communication burden and risk for both operators and their clients.
The uncertainty of Philippine policy is a risk that anyone running a business there absolutely must factor in.
小瑛姐, 海島瘋
Why Dive in the Philippines?
After hearing all of the above challenges from an operator's perspective, you might wonder: why do so many people still choose to open a business in the Philippines?
The short answer: exceptional value for money.
- Most dives are boat dives — easy entry, easy exit, and very affordable.
- Rich biodiversity, with the chance to explore stunning coral reef ecosystems and massive fish aggregations.
- Low cost of living in the surrounding area, making the overall trip cost highly competitive compared with other destinations.
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