Bohol

The island of Bohol offers options to explore both above and below the water. The western side of the island is known for its steep wall dives and is home to the dive sites of Alona Beach and the islands of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan. In recent years, the south-eastern region of Anda has come to prominence amongst discerning divers, offering exceptional biodiversity and quality dive sites away from the more touristed eastern region.

Diving Experience

Learning to dive

Bohol’s warm waters make a pleasant destination to learn to dive, with a full range of courses available.  

Qualified divers

Bohol's impressive hard and soft coral gardens create an excellent underwater world for divers. The region also offers dive sites more open to currents. This combination of coral gardens, walls and drift dives therefore offers something to divers of all experience. The eastern side of Bohol in particular is known for its exceptional biodiversity, notably smaller, rarer marine life, with whale shark encounters also possible. 

Diving Highlights

Anda

Anda, on the eastern side of Bohol, is something of a hidden gem for divers. The area is less crowded than other parts of Bohol, making it a perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy the amazing biodiversity of the local reef life.  Anda’s coastline stretches for around 17 kilometres and offers 28 local dive sites to enjoy. Habitats include muck diving sites, coral covered walls, sandy slopes, small caves and mangroves. Day trips to dive sites farther afield are also possible. 

Divers in Anda can expect to see a wide variety of marine life, including frogfish, ghost pipefish, sea snakes, black corals, turtles, barracuda, and eagle rays. Pygmy seahorse can be found on a number of the local dive sites, while a wide range of nudibranchs are also regularly encountered. The area sees the occasional manta ray, with whale sharks also seen reasonably regularly.  

For those not lucky enough to see a whale shark on a local dive, half day excursions are offered to dive or snorkel with whale sharks at a hotspot around one hours’ drive from Anda. 

BALICASAG ISLAND & marine sanctuary

Balicasag lies to the west of Bohol Island and has become a famous dive site, renowned for its dramatic coral walls. The island is most famous for encounters with turtles, however jacks, mackerel and barracudas are also seen in abundance. To manage visitor numbers, this area is a marine protected area, allowing two dives per day only with valid permits.

Pamilacan Island

Lying a 40-minute boat ride from Panglao in eastern Bohol, this area can offer amazing diving with thrilling drift dives and offers a good chance to encounter larger, current-loving pelagic species. There's a chance of spotting manta rays and whale shark between November to April with some luck as you cruise across the beautiful coral gardens. 

Things to do in Bohol

Topside

The Chocolate Hills are an unusual geological phenomena of grass covered limestone conical hills that turn brown in the dry season, hence the name, but can of course be visited year-round. Hundreds of them are scattered across Bohol, and they've become a signature attraction of the Philippines. 

Terrestrial wildlife

At only seven centimetres tall, if you spot a tarsier monkey in the wild, ensure you take a picture and let us know! This species is indigenous to the Philippines and mostly sighted nocturnally in Bohol's lush forests. For those with less patience or time, trips to a sanctuary may also be arranged.

Getting there

The island of Bohol can be reached by fast ferry from Cebu, or via a domestic flight from the Philippine's capital, Manila. The fast ferry from Cebu City takes you to Tagbilaran in around two hours, with the onward transfer to your resort by road. 

Flight connections to Cebu are offered by Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific, with numerous airlines offering flights to Manila. 

Depending on flight arrival times, it may be advisable to overnight in either Cebu or Manila before continuing your journey. Please speak to the Regaldive team to plan your adventure. 

DIVING SEASONS 

The Visayas area of the Philippines, including the island of Bohol, can be dived all year. The most pleasant months for diving are from December through to April, with less humidity and consistent sunny days. Outside these months, the area tends to have higher humidity and more changeable weather, but the diving experience remains exceptional. 

TWIN-CENTRE DIVING 

Diving in Bohol combines wonderfully with other areas in the Visayas region. Regaldive recommends pairing the Anda region of Bohol with Moalboal for an outstanding twin centre experience, while a ferry connection to Dumaguete makes for a highly enjoyable island-hopping adventure.  

Extended island hopping itineraries involving three or more locations can also be arranged. Please speak to the friendly Regaldive team to create your perfect Philippines’s diving holiday. 

Magic Oceans Dive Centre 

Magic Oceans Dive Centre is a PADI-affiliated dive centre located in Anda, Philippines. The custom-built dive centre can accommodate up to 35 divers, and each diver has their own area and kit box. The centre also has showers, large rinse tanks, and camera tables with charge points and airguns. 

While macro diving is high on the agenda, you can also explore walls, caverns, and reefs teeming with marine life ranging from tiny critters to large pelagic species. Notable dive sites include Magic Point, the vibrant house reef, the deep cave and blue spotted stingrays at Neptune’s House, Mandarin Garden, Lamanok Island, and Dap Dap for its flying gunards and magnificent wall dive. 

DIVE PACKS 

We recommend that you book your dive packs with Regaldive prior to departure, in order to secure your diving or course and so that the dive centre is expecting you. Magic Oceans Resort provides two morning boat dives each day, and an optional third dive in the afternoon. Night dives can be arranged with the dive centre upon request, while guided house reef diving is also available. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your requirements. 

Both DIN and INT 12L tanks are available, as well as Nitrox. 

DIVE COURSES 

A full range of courses, daily boat and shore diving are available at Magic Oceans Dive Centre. The 30+ dive sites along the Anda coastline and beyond are varied and suitable for divers of all abilities. Snorkellers are also welcome. 

EXTRAS IN THE RESORT 

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change. 

• Marine Park Fees 100 PHP per dive + 15% VAT 
• Full equipment including computer: €29/day (multi day discounts available) 
• Divers with DIN regulators should take their own adaptor 
• Nitrox fills: €9 per fill (multi day discounts available) 

You will be requested to fill out a dive medical questionnaire. If you have any pre-existing condition that may affect your diving, please ensure you travel with a fit-to-dive certificate, valid within the last 12 months. Please note that not all localities will have access to a specialist diving medic close by for you to be assessed before diving. 

The Philippines is an island nation located in South East Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. These islands are home to spectacular scenery, pristine beaches, incredible sights and lively cities. Dramatic drop offs, wrecks, caves and a richly varied marine life also guarantee fabulous diving. Combined with the renowned Philippine hospitality and warmth, an unforgettable dive holiday awaits.

You will find a true blend of cultures; the people are generally of Malay descent, but Philippine history has introduced Chinese, Spanish and American elements as well. The Philippines is a predominantly Christian country where eight out of ten Filipinos are practising Catholics. Filipino hospitality is legendary and the Philippines is the fiesta nation of Asia. Fiestas celebrate harvests, births and victories, as well as religious events. The Filipinos like to party and celebrations are found in every ethnic group and may be large regional events or small local happenings.

Resorts have been hand picked, not only for their comfort and surrounding scenery but most importantly, for their proximity to incredible dives sites. Whilst out of the water guests can relax on some of the best beaches in the world, enjoy the local markets, festivals and sights or even spend a night in the exciting and bustling Manila or more laid back Cebu.

As the Philippines is a strong Catholic nation, festive holidays such as Easter are very busy. Either book well in advance, or avoid the main religious holiday periods where possible.

Climate

The climate of The Philippines can broadly be described as hot and tropical. Most people visit The Philippines during the dry season. However, many regular visitors attest that the best time to visit is during the wet season and that the proliferation and variety of marine life is best June, July and August.

Dry season: December to May
Wet season: June to November

During the dry season, easterly winds prevail and air temperature is in high 20s to mid-30's°C. February to May are generally the hottest. Wet season winds are from the west, with air temperature in mid to high 20's°C. You can often strike lucky and have weeks of brilliant blue skies and unlimited sunshine. On the other hand, the rains, when they come, are impressive and prolonged. There are few rivers, so run off and its effect on water visibility is not generally a problem.

Please note that the Philippines is a large country and has many climatic variations from east to west and south to north.

Best underwater visibility: April to July
Water temperature average: 24 - 30°C

Time

8 hours ahead of GMT.

Language

Filipino is Officially the national language of The Philippines. This language is based on Tagalog which is the most widely used of the 70 plus dialects used within the country. English is also prevalent throughout the country, especially in tourist destinations. English is also widely used as the medium for education, communication and business. Eight major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 Peso = 100 Centavos.

The US dollar is the most widely recognised foreign currency. Euros & GBP are also readily exchanged.

The majority of larger towns have ATMs, however, facilities for money withdrawal or changing are far less widespread away from the main centres of population. There are bank machines at the airport. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in most towns, but you may be required to pay an extra 10-15% surcharge for their use. Outside of the main towns, not all places accept credit cards. Please refer to your individual destination notes for each resort, but as a guideline, please see below:

• Malapascua: Ocean Vida accepts credit cards. Elsewhere credit cards cannot be accepted, please ensure you carry sufficient cash. USD and GBP are accepted and Ocean Vida has a licensed exchange.
• Dumaguete: Banks and ATMs are available in Dumaguete town. Pura Vida and Atmopshere accept credit cards.
• Palawan: Accepts credit cards
• Sipalay: Accepts credit cards
• SY Philippine Siren: GBP, Euro & USD Currency. Credit card payment only possible when docking at the following ports: Cebu, Philippines. 3% charge applies.

Tipping

Tipping is expected for many services. The standard is 10% of the total bill or optional where there is a 10% service charge.

Flight Information

Regaldive can offer packages to the Philippines on a number of different airlines.

London - Manila: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and KLM all fly daily via their national hubs.

London - Cebu: Singapore Airlines via Singapore on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Emirates via Dubai daily and Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong daily. 

Carry-On Luggage Restriction: Effective July 1, 2015

Philippines Office for Transportation Security has issued new rules that include 'Scuba Diving Equipment' (including regulators) on the list of blunt instruments that are not to be in carry-on/cabin baggage on flights originating within the Philippines. Please ensure that all scuba equipment is secured within checked-in baggage on all domestic flights and on all departing international flights.

Internal flights:
Manila - Cebu: Multiple daily flights
Manila - Busuanga: 2 flights daily
Manila - Dumaguete: 2 flights daily

Baggage on internal flights:
The below only applies only to extra flights within the Philippines built into your itinerary, not if it is part of your international ticket.

Baggage allowance: Checked bag - 20kg / Hand baggage - 5 to 7kg. Please note that the internal flight to / from Busuanga (Palawan). This is a shorter air strip and the airline may not permit any extra weight.

Payment for extra kilos on check-in (guideline):
Cebu Pacific: Php 150 per kilo
Philippine Airlines: Php 169 per kilo

Transfers

Whichever island you are staying on, you are met at the airport/ferry port and transferred to your resort. Whether by flight, jeepney or banca boat, there are fantastic sights to enjoy on your journey there and back. Although some transfer can take up to a whole day, most clients pass feedback that this was a very interesting part of their overall trip.

The below information is to give you a general idea of transfer times between regions; actual transfer times may differ slightly according to individual arrangements and ferry timetables, tides etc.:

Cebu - Dumaguete: 4 - 5 hours by vehicle, ferry and hotel shuttle
Cebu - Bohol / Panglao / Cabilao: 3 to 4 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle
Cebu - Malapascua: 4 – 5 hours by vehicle and outrigger
Cebu – Moalboal: 3.5 hours by vehicle

Dumaguete - Bohol / Panglao / Cabilao: 3 hours by hotel shuttle, ferry and vehicle or 3 to 4 hours by Outrigger conditions permitting
Dumaguete - Malapascua: 8 - 9 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger

Panglao - Cabilao: 1.5 - 2 hour vehicle and boat
Panglao - Malapascua: 7+ hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger

Cabilao - Malapascua: 7+ hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger

Manila - Cebu: 1: 15 hour by internal flight
Manila - Coron, Palawan: 2.5 hours by internal flight and hotel shuttle
Manila - Puerta Galera: 3 hours by vehicle and boat
Manila – Anilao: 2.5 hours by vehicle
Manila – Caticlan, Boracay: 2 hours by internal flight, vehicle and boat

Passports

Please always check your own entry requirements regardless of your nationality. Your passport should always have at least 6 months validity on date of return from travel. Always check for last minute changes in entry requirements and other nationalities should check with their consular office.

Visas

British nationals can enter the Philippines without a visa for an initial period of 30 days. You can also get a tourist visa from the Philippine Embassy before you travel, which will allow an initial 59 day stay. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate.

Vaccinations

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or GP. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider. We recommend protection, as a minimum, against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio.

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Alona Vida Beach Resort

Alona Vida Beach Resort