Divers heaven

District: Balicasag Island

Distance: 10,5k from Alona Beach

Travel time + -: 30m

Baring: From Alona beach

GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.31.105 E.123.41.273 / Exit point Black Forest = N.09.30.985 E.123.41.316 / Exit point Cathedral = N.09.31.218 E.123.41.166

Composition: Step Slope dive

Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling

Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher.

Visibility + -: 15 - 25m

Deep: 8 to 40m

Current: 0 - 3

Interest: More interesting at 15m, not interesting below 25m

Dive direction: Start the dive with a steep slope on the left shoulder going to Cathedral in the north west direction. At the end of the dive the slope becomes steeper in the north. In the other direction slope on your right shoulder going to Black Forest in south direction, depending on where the current is going.

Description: Steep slope with top at 10m it is the north east side of Balicasag. You see Panglao Island in the North direction.

Marine life: A true aquarium with many Gold Band Fusilier (Caesio Caerulaurea), Big Mouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger Kanagurta), Midnight Snapper (Macolor Macularis), Redtooth Trigger Fish (Odonus Niger) and Turtle (Caretta Caretta). On the reef edge between 10 and 15m are great corals like the Brow Daisy Coral (Tubastrea Nicrantha) and some Big Bucket Sponges (Xetospongia Testudinaria).

Balicasag Island

Balicasag is an island 30 minutes by boat from Panglao where you can enjoy one of the most amazing dives in the Philippines. With a population around 300 people, Balicasag (native language means "upside-down crab") is the perfect place for beginners or experienced divers to have one of the better dives in your life.

Black forest

District: Balicasag Island

Distance: 10k from Alona Beach

Travel time + -: 30m

Baring: From Alona 

GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.30.890' E.123.41.336' / Exit point = N.09.30.779' E.123.41.182'

Composition: Steep slope dive

Snorkeling: Deep for snorkeling

Experience: Dive site for good Open Water Divers or higher

Visibility + -: 15 to 30m

Deep: 8 to 40 m

Current: 1 - 3

Interest: Most interesting at 15m. Not interesting below 40m.

Dive direction: Start the dive with the slope on the right shoulder, going south

Description: Many coral heads in the shallow part and a forest of black coral (antipathes) at 35 to 45m. Normally the dive starts against the current, stay low over the sandy bottom and after 20 mininutes, the current will change and so you can drive dive the second part. This is the best dive side in the Bohol Triangle.

Marine life: An Aquarium with all kind of Anthias, Rockcods Groupers (serranidae), Scorpion Fish (Scorpaenidae), Squirrel Fish (Holocentridae), Parrot Fish (Scaridae), Wrassel (Labridae), Damsel Fish (Pomacentridae), Anemone Fish (Amphiprioninae). The Trigger Fish are aggressive in the months of May, June and July.

Rudy's rock

District: Balicasag Island

Distance: 11,5k from Alona Beach

Travel time + -: 31m

Baring: From Alona beach

GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.30.890' E.123.41.336' / Exit point = N.09.30.779' E.123.41.182'

Composition: Steep slope dive

Snorkeling: Deep for snorkeling

Experience: Dive site for good Open Water Divers or higher

Visibility + -: 15 to 30m

Deep: 8 to 40 m

Current: 1 - 3

Interest: Most interesting at 15m. Not interesting below 40m.

Dive direction: Start the dive with the slope on the right shoulder, going south

Description: Many coral heads in the shallow part and a forest of black coral (antipathes) at 35 to 45m. Normally the dive starts against the current, stay low over the sandy bottom and after 20 mininutes, the current will change and so you can drive dive the second part. This is the best dive side in the Bohol Triangle.

Marine life: An Aquarium with all kind of Anthias, Rockcods Groupers (serranidae), Scorpion Fish (Scorpaenidae), Squirrel Fish (Holocentridae), Parrot Fish (Scaridae), Wrassel (Labridae), Damsel Fish (Pomacentridae), Anemone Fish (Amphiprioninae). The Trigger Fish are aggressive in the months of May, June and July.District: Balicasag IslandDistance: 11,5k from Alona BeachTravel time + -: 31m.Baring: 251GPS Coordinates: N.09.30.828' E.123.40.838' Entry point = N.09.30.780' E.123.40.932' / Exit point = N.09.30.910' E.123.40.782'Composition: Wall diveSnorkeling: Good for snorkelingExperience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higherVisibility + -: 12 to 30mDeep: 3 to 35mCurrent: 0 - 2Interest: Most interesting at 15m. not interesting below 30m.Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left shoulder going in the direction of exit point from Black Forest, or wall on your right should going in the direction to the resort Rico's WallDescription: Deep drop off wall in the southwest side of Balicasag Island. The land orientation is the big rock marked with the stick in front of the beach in shallow water. Marine life: Soft and hard corals, small caverns and crevices. Often school of "Jacks", the Big Eye Trevally (Caranx Sexfasciatus) swimming in circles like a tornado, Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) are swimming among Sweet Lips (Haemulidae)

Rico's wall

District: Balicasag Island

Distance: 11k from Alona Beach

Travel time + -: 30m

Baring: From Alona beach

GPS Coordinates: N.09.31.048' E.123.40.843'

Composition: Wall dive

Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling. The reef top is very shallow with a few corals.

Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher.

Visibility + -: 15 to 30m

Deep: 5 to 40m

Current: 0 - 1

Interest: Most interesting at 10m, not interesting below 30m

Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left going south or right shoulder going north

Description: Drop off wall in front of the resort on the west side of the island. Dive site has many small caverns, letges and reef over-hangings. If you are going in the North direction you probably finish the dive in the dive site Cathedral and if your dive is in the South direction you finish at the dive site Rudy's Rock)

Marine life: Large schools of vlamming's Unicorn Fish (Naso Vlammingii), and Silver Jacks Big Eye Trevally (Caranx Sexfasciatus) swims in circles like a tornado. Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) and many different kinds of big size sweetlips (Haemulidae)

Cathedral

District: Balicasag Island

Distance: 10,5k from Alona Beach

Travel time + -: 30m

Baring: From Alona beach

GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.31.244 E.123.41.076 / Exit point = N.09.31.216 E.123.40.953

Composition: Wall dive

Snorkeling: Excellent for snorkeling

Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher.

Visibility + -: 15 - 25m

Deep: 3 to 40m

Current: 0 - 3

Interest: Most interesting at 20m, not interesting below 30m

Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left shoulder, going south west.

Description: Wall with big overhangs, letges and gaps. On bright day beautiful light reflexions inside the Cathedral.

Marine life: Among the overhangs are yellow bucket sponges, the walls have big and colorful sea fans. Often Barracudas and Angler Fish, among the shallow water the Snubnose Drummer (Kyphosus Cinerascens). Of the wall in the blue water the Big Mouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger Kanagurta). Close to the wall many Golden Surgeon Fish (Amblyglyphidodon Aureus), Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) and many Pyramyd Butterfly Fish (Emitaurichthys Polylepis). Also seen is the One Spot Snapper (Lutjanus Monostigma).