Sherwood Bay Resort
Home - Latest News arrow Dive Spots
PDF Print E-mail

Dive Spots Surrounding Bohol Panglao Island 

                 

                                                                                            BALICASAG ISLAND

Balicasag Island is one of the larger islands just off Panglao Island and approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Sherwood Bay Resort by motor banka. It has a wide variety of marine life and different scopes for all levels of divers and snorkelers.

       There are shallow coral covered areas where even snorkelers can enjoy swimming along together with the schools of fish. 

Many areas are suitable for the 1st time divers and still many more to fascinate the experienced divers deep down along the beautiful coral covered reefs. Balicasag Island is particularly famous for schools of Barracuda, Jack fish and Turtles – a diver’s paradise!

 Image    Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALICASAG BLACK FOREST

 ImageAttraction:  Wide variety of corals on the upper sections, but as the name suggests the deeper you go, the more amazing black corals (called Antipathies) you can find around the 30 – 40 meter depth. Enjoy the experience of  finding so many different species of fish and marine life. Enjoy too, the sensation of a strong current from time to time according to the season.      

Composition: Steep Sloped Reef from 8 – 40 meters depth.  Divers often find Eels, Turtles, Frogfish, and ImagePipefish as well as schools of Snapper and Banner fish. Scorpion fish, Emperor, Barracuda, Moorish Idol, Flute mouth, Tuna, Batfish and  Trevellies. Some of the more unusual creatures to be spotted include Pygmy Sea Horses, Parrotfish, Lionfish, Triggerfish, Unicorn fish, Trumpet fish, Wrasse, and Mantis Shrimps.

 

Snorkeling: Attractions too deep for snorkelers but still nice to swim in this area
Diving Condition : Excellent for Open Water Divers and upper levels
 
 

BALICASAG FISH SANTUARY

ImageAttraction: Enjoy this spectacular destination for its shallow water “table corals” and lose yourself in time among the widely recognized tropical colorful fish. They are well a custom to entertaining the divers & snorkelers.

 

Composition: Beach Entry possible and the shallow coral area extend about 50 meters to the drop off from the Beautiful White Sandy Beach. But divers can also hop on the banka boat if they wish. The drop off reef is fairly straight but has the caverns and over hangs which gives this area a positively adventurous dive experience. This drop off is from 3 – 35meters depth. Look for the schools of silvery Jack fish, the big eyed Trevally, Midnight Snappers, varieties of Sweet lips, Batfish, Tuna, Pipefish, Moorish Idols, and circling Barracuda drift by the coral covered walls! 

Snorkeling: Excellent
Diving Condition: Excellent for all diving levels

 

 

DIVER'S HEAVEN

ImageAttraction:
              True to its name with a heavenly picturesque array of enormous corals, like the Brown Daisy, and amazing big Bucket Sponges, where the fish plays hide and seek. You can see the famous Gold Band Fusilier, Midnight Snapper, big mouth Mackerel, Crown Fish – the famous “NIMO” and be sure to look out for the Balicasag “trade mark Turtles”.

 

Composition: A combination of the deep sharp reef and the shallow white sandy slopes - find yourself in the deep 1 minute and in the shallow the next. Area to area, a wide Image variation between 8-40 meters depth .  

Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling when little closer to the beach area.

Diving Condition: Excellent for Open Water Divers and upper levels


 

 

 

 

 

 

ROYAL GARDEN & CATHEDRAL

ImageAttraction: 2 separate locations but fairly close by each other and similar in their appearance. As you would imagine from their names, and particularly in sunshiny weather, the reflections among the corals reminds us of stained glasswindows and colorful gardens, the most elegant home to Midnight Snappers, Pyramid Butterfly Fish, one-spot Snappers, Golden Sergeant Fish, Crown Fish and big mouth Mackerels.

Composition: Drop off wall type areas between 3-40 meters depth are covered with colorful and prominent sea fans and large areas of yellow bucket sponges. There is seasonal change in the current which may be strong at times.

Snorkeling: Excellent  

Diving Condition : Excellent for Open Water Divers and upper levels except when the current is strong, then recommended for experienced divers. This current is seasonal and your professional guides will be able to advise you. 

 


SNAKE ISLAND

ImageAttractionWow! Adventure for the brave ones! A glimpse of the underworld. Sea Urchins around the upper areas, Lion Fish, Moray Eels, Nudi Branches and Starry Moray Eels at the lower areas. And not forgetting the amazing colorful striped sea snakes hence, the name of this dive spot!

CompositionCompared to an underwater island with a sandy bottom referred to as a “shoal” dive location. Depth is around 8-30 meters with a relatively strong current through all seasons.

 

Snorkeling: Not advisable (attractions too deep)

Diving ConditionRecommended for Open Water Divers and upper level. Be aware that you will need to do a mid water safety stop on accent – nothing to hang on to! Except your guide / instructor!
 

 

MOMO, NAPALING

ImageAttractionExciting dive locations close to each other and are possible to dive on the same day. Both have a variety of different species and excellent for macro diving. Easy to find Leaf Fish, Pajama Cardinal Fish, Brown Barred Goby, Harlequin Filefish, Nudi branches and many kinds of Juvenile Wrasse. The Red Spot Cardinal Fish can also be seen in these areas only. 

Composition20 minutes from Sherwood Bay Resort, located at the west side of Panglao. Likewise, the west side of Panglao is protected from “Habagatat” (monsoon) and a suitable location for diving any time in the year. Depth is 5 – 40 meters. There is a combination of steep reef and sloped sections.

Snorkeling: Good; especially around 3 – 4 meters depth. Ideal for underwater photography enthusiasts
Diving Condition: Good for all levels. Perfect for first time divers.                                     




CRYSTAL SANCTUARY

ImageAttractionThis is the sanctuary of Alona Beach, a protected area of beautiful hard and soft corals. Of course with a wide variety of marine life including Big Eye Trevally, Big Mouth Mackerel, Coral Pipe Fish, Nudibranches, Surgeon Fish, Gobbies, Snappers, Damsels, School of Jacks, Bat Fish and sometimes Barracudas, Mantis Shrimp and Frog Fish. This place is recommended for Macro dives.

CompositionOnly 400 meters from Alona Beach, beginning at a depth of 3 meters to 30 meters and a combination of drops offs and slopes. A stunning array of fan corals, hard & soft corals and sponges.

Snorkeling:  Good for snorkeling when a little closer to the beach.
Diving Condition: Excellent for beginners and divers with cameras.

 


SHERWOOD BAY HOUSEREEF

Image  Attraction:   Try walking around at certain points close to the reef at low tide! Quite a novel experience as there is a sandy bar where we can see Star Fish, Shell Fish and Crabs even before entering the water! Once in the sea, look for Nudibranches, Leaf Fish, small Barracudas, Moorish Idols, Regal Angelfish & Clown Fish. Good location for macro diving and photography!

CompositionDepth is averaging between 3 – 40 meters. Both drop off areas and narrow slopes make this quite a unique under water structure. Located 400 meters directly in front of Sherwood Bay Resort.

 

Snorkeling: Good
Diving Condition: Good for all levels of divers, especially good for check dives and / or skill training! And to concentrate on improving dive techniques as this is also a deep area for the advanced divers. Safe & convenient location for night dives to experience the amazing difference in the under water world at night.
 
 

CABILAO ISLAND (offers several excellent dive spots) 

Image Image One of the most spectacular dive locations in the Philippines - Cabilao Island is about 1 hour boat ride from Sherwood Bay Resort. Divers will find awesome walls, stunning coral gardens & prolific fish life in the numerous spots! Experienced divers know Cabilao Island for “muck” diving where you can discover unusual & juvenile creatures like tiny transparent Shrimps, Neon Nudibranchs & Huge Basket Sponges adorned with hundreds of colorful Imagecrinoids. This island used to be known for the Hummerhead Sharks but it is still possible to see them when the water temperature is lower around December and January.
Attraction: There are so many dive spots around Cabilao Island to choose from that we usually go by the weather and current conditions, whether to dive east or west of the island. The PADI professionals will decide where you will find the dives to suit your interests and experience.The great advantage is that the locations are close by each other so we can do multiple dives on the same day and see so many interesting features.  ImageThere are abundant species of both small and large tropical fish, Barracudas, Butterfly Fish, Tuna etc… and of course the beloved Turtles, too!

CompositionThe wall is a vast combination of steep reefs and slopes and goes down to more than 50 meters. There is a wide array of sea-fans, hard & soft corals and sandy slopes. 

Snorkeling: Excellent

Diving Conditions: Excellent for all levels of divers, underwater photographers and macro divers and really, something for everyone.