Balicasag Island Diving
Coral walls, sea turtles and silver curtains of jackfish — Balicasag is Bohol's most famous dive site, and the reason most divers fly here in the first place.
Bohol's Marine Sanctuary — and Crown Jewel
Balicasag Island sits roughly 30–45 minutes by boat from Panglao, and has been a protected marine sanctuary since 1985. That protection shows: the coral cover here is some of the healthiest in the Bohol Sea, the resident green and hawksbill turtle population is reliable enough that sightings happen on almost every dive, and the walls drop dramatically from the shallow reef shelf into deep blue, often patrolled by large schools of jackfish, barracuda and the occasional passing pelagic.
It's a site that rewards every level of diver differently — Open Water divers get calm, current-light reef on the shelf with guaranteed turtle encounters, while Advanced divers can drop along the wall itself for a true big-blue wall-diving experience.
What You'll See
- Green & hawksbill sea turtles, often at close range
- Dramatic drop-off walls beginning around 5–10m
- Large schools of jackfish, barracuda & trevally
- Healthy hard and soft coral coverage
- Occasional sightings of reef sharks and eagle rays
How to Get to Balicasag Island & Best Time to Dive
All dive trips to Balicasag depart from Panglao Island by banca boat — a scenic 30–45 minute crossing included in every package. Visibility typically runs 15–30m, with the calmest seas and clearest water from November to May. Currents can pick up along the wall, so an Advanced Open Water certification (or diving with an experienced local guide) is recommended for the deeper sections. Water temperature stays warm year-round at 26–29°C, so a 3mm wetsuit is plenty.
Certification & Fees
Open Water certification is sufficient for the reef shelf; Advanced Open Water is recommended for the wall. A Balicasag marine sanctuary environmental fee of PHP 250 applies per visit, in addition to your dive package price — this fee goes directly toward reef conservation and is why the site stays this healthy.
Dive Balicasag from PHP 1,800
All Balicasag trips include full equipment, boat transfers and an expert local guide. Pick a single dive or save with a multi-dive package.
🤿 Book Your Balicasag DiveBalicasag Diving Questions
By boat — a 30–45 minute ride from Panglao Island. Transfers are included in every Balicasag package.
Yes on the reef shelf with a guide. The wall itself is better suited to Advanced Open Water divers due to current.
Sea turtles, coral walls, and large schools of jackfish — sightings are consistent on almost every dive.
From PHP 1,800 per dive plus a PHP 250 sanctuary fee. See all packages →