Alona and Visayas scuba
diving features

Black corals

Ornate ghost pipefish

Pristine hard corals

Anemones and clownfish

DESTINATION OVERVIEW
In a country that has over 7,000 islands all ringed by coral reefs, you can safely assume there will be some outstanding diving. The Philippines is now recognised as having one of the most bio-diverse marine environments on the planet and the scuba diving can be outstanding in many parts of the country.

The Central Visayas region was one of the first to become recognised as a major diving destination in the Philippines and Alona Beach on tiny Panglao island – an extension of larger Bohol – is definitely one of the best. The beach has many small hotels dotted beneath coconut palms. The pace of life is extremely relaxed. Rows of dive boats are moored offshore and these native bancas – outrigger canoes – are about 50 foot long and are easy to dive from, with bamboo stabilisers making useful hand holds.

There are masses of dive sites. Apart from the coastal dives near Alona itself, nearby Balicasag Island is a designated marine sanctuary. The reefs are in excellent condition, with nudibranchs, small fish and sea stars, schooling jacks, barracuda and huge fans. Just to the north is Cabilao, where the hard corals are in the most amazing condition and, it is said that hammerheads can be seen at certain times of year.

Seasons
All year round
Visibility:
10 – 40 metres
Water temperature:
25 – 29º C.
Deco chambers:
Manila and Cebu City

Flights to Cebu City then 2-3 hours by ferry and road

Dive operators and accommodation options are plentiful in this area, search online for up-to-date options

PROS AND CONS
The Philippines are a long way from Europe or the USA but everything is cheap once you arrive so it's well worth the trip. Getting to Alona Beach on Bohol takes some stamina: from Cebu airport to the ferry terminal by taxi; a ferry to Bohol then drive to the resort, but it is worth it. Accommodation is not high-end luxury but there are good resorts and most dive centres are run by Europeans.

SCUBA DIVING
This part of the Visayas is a typical but delightful tropical destination. Tiny sandy islands are ringed by pretty reefs. Conditions are mostly easy-going with currents only likely on some of the plateau dives. Visibility is excellent too, it felt like we could see for miles but we reckoned it was probably close to 40 metres.

OPINION
No crowds, few boats, almost no divers! This is a delightful area with a good variety of diving as it's easy to access the nearby islands. We went one year and loved it so much we went back the next. There are a lot of great diving destination in the Philippines but this small place will always hold special memories for us.