Going snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao is possibly one of the main reasons that brought you to this corner of the Philippines. With little more than a mask and a snorkel, you’ll be able to enjoy colorful reefs teeming with life. Both Bohol and its annexed island, Panglao, are a true underwater paradise and one of the best places to go snorkeling in the Philippines.
As sea lovers, we’ve been lucky enough to explore this island since 2010. Here we want to sum up the best spots to go snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao. We’ll also tell you about excursions to nearby islands and share tips so you can enjoy it even more. At the end you’ll find recommendations for accommodations by the sea if what you want is to step out of your room in your swimsuit and feel like the Little Mermaid.
What is snorkeling in Bohol like?
To be concise, snorkeling in Bohol is wonderful. Like the rest of the Philippines, Bohol and Panglao sit right in the Coral Triangle—that is, the place with the greatest marine biodiversity in the world.
The south coasts of both islands have rich reefs just a few meters from shore. You can easily swim out to them. The shallow section is not very deep (around 5 or 6 meters), but then the coral wall drops down to depths between 33 and 56 meters. This means you can snorkel in Bohol on your own and really enjoy it.
Of course, if you feel like it and already have your certification, you can also opt for diving in Panglao. If you’re not yet an Open Water Diver and think you’ll like scuba diving, don’t hesitate—taking the diving course in Bohol is one of the best options.
If you can choose, it’s much better to snorkel in Bohol when the tide is low. This way you’ll have those underwater wonders much closer to you. You can check the status here.
Oh! In addition, the water temperature in the Philippines hovers around 25-29ºC. So it’s rare you’ll feel cold even if you spend hours kicking your fins.
What can you see when snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao?
Bohol’s seabeds are packed with hard and soft corals. It will be extremely hard not to see lots of kinds of starfish (please remember not to touch them), clownfish (the typical “Nemos”), moray eels, nudibranchs and even turtles. You’ll see these especially in Balicasag, as we explain in Snorkeling trip to Balicasag.
With a bit of luck, you can even spot the beautiful whale sharks without needing to go to places as harmful to them as Oslob or Lila.
What’s more, one of the stars of snorkeling in Panglao, specifically in the north of the island, is the Napaling sardine run. If you’re not going to include Moalboal in your trip, you definitely shouldn’t miss it.
Best snorkeling spots in Panglao
You’ve already got an idea of what this activity is like in the area, but now we’re going to tell you about the main spots for snorkeling in Panglao.
Remember that, as we explain in How to get to Panglao, this is a small island connected to Bohol by a couple of bridges. Therefore, it’s the base for many who visit Bohol. You can read much more information in Things to do in Panglao and Where to stay in Panglao.
1. Napaling
How would you like to jump in the water and find yourself surrounded by thousands of sardines? In the north of Panglao there’s a small reef barely 3 meters from shore where this happens every day.
Napaling has become the best place to snorkel in Panglao. It’s truly amazing to watch how these animals move in unison, to dive down deeper and see how they block the sun’s rays. You’ll also find some coral, complete with our beloved anemones and clownfish.
They say that early in the morning, whale sharks sometimes come by hungry for sardine breakfast. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to verify it, but hopefully you’ll get lucky.
How to get to Napaling?
The snorkeling spot is right in front of the Mojave Cliff Diving Resort.
You can do it in 3 ways:
- By rental motorbike: you’ll find them from 350 pesos per day. Remember to be careful and check everything we tell you in Renting and riding a motorbike in the Philippines.
- By taking a tricycle: the cost will vary depending on where you are. If you’re in Alona Beach, which is the usual, negotiate a little under 100 pesos per ride.
- On a tour: there are tours that include Napaling on their route. The most recognized Filipino agency, KLOOK, has this one.
Once there, it’s a little confusing because each place will try to charge you something different. At Molave Cliff they’re charging 300 pesos per person, but at the nearby café (Dominggo) you can get in for 200. Other travelers tell us there’s a path on the left side (where Google Maps shows Xander’s Place) where you can go in for free. In any case, we recommend going very early to avoid large groups.
From Molave Cliff you can get into the water by jumping from the cliff’s diving board or via some easy stairs.
2. Snorkeling at Alona Beach
Napaling is wonderful, but if you’re staying around Alona Beach, don’t miss the chance to spend some time in the water with your mask.
As we mentioned above, all of southern Panglao has a wonderful reef and that includes Alona Beach. Snorkeling, you’ll be able to see the shallowest part of the coral platform, and starfish, clownfish, nudibranchs and even the uncommon frogfish are rarely missing.
The catch? You’ll have to swim a bit to reach the reef. The prettiest section is the one where the buoys are. Be very careful because lots of boats pass through due to the diving.
We always go in from the section in front of the La Sirenita hotel, which is also our favorite part of the beach.
3. Momo Beach
You already know Momo Beach is one of the best beaches in Bohol and Panglao, but it also stands out for its marine life. Without needing a tour and just a few meters from shore, Momo Beach has a pretty reef dotted with sandy patches where it’s not hard to run into sea turtles.
In this area of Panglao the water is quite shallow, so at low tide it’s a bit tricky to get in. Even so, they’ve set up a kind of sandy “path” to make it easier to reach the deeper area. If you have water shoes, bring them—they’ll be very useful.
4. Dumaluan – White Beach – Libaong
If we had to choose one beach on this island, we’d have no doubt and it would be this one. Well, this is also where you can enjoy several of the best spots for snorkeling in Panglao.
In the Dumaluan area, right in front of the Bohol Beach Club hotel, you have a sandy zone where you’ll also see some nice corals and anemones with plenty of marine life.
However, if we have to choose, we might stick with the White Beach/Libaong section. Here you’ll find one of the area’s best dive sites: Arco Point. Although it’s a very deep coral wall, you’ll be able to see the shallowest part while snorkeling. You can even see from above the best-known part of the dive and the reason for its name: a rock arch.
Best snorkeling spots in Bohol
Bohol is one of the largest islands in the Philippines and, despite being one of the most touristy, it isn’t known for beach‑oriented tourism. Loboc, the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers are its best‑known spots. Even so, if you’re looking for places to snorkel in Bohol, then you should head to Anda.
Snorkeling in Anda
You could say Anda is a small peninsula to the east of Bohol. While it isn’t as well‑known as the Alona Beach area and is still a very untouristed enclave, it’s another of the most interesting places if you’re thinking of diving in the Philippines.
As in the case of Panglao, the south coast of Anda is full of interesting reefs where—take note—it isn’t rare to see turtles. If you’re a good swimmer, you can reach them just fine. It’s advisable to wear fins because it’s a little way from shore, but nothing exaggerated.
In our opinion, the best snorkeling spot in Bohol is right in front of the Magic Oceans Dive Resort or the Blue Star Dive Resort. Right in front of the latter, a few steps from shore, it’s common to see turtles—only that at the moment they’re charging a 100‑peso entrance fee.
If you’re traveling with children or don’t feel comfortable swimming that much, you also have the option of a boatman taking you out to the reef itself. They’re usually very handy, act as guides, take photos and so on.
If you’d like a contact for this, we’ll be happy to share the one we have.
Snorkeling excursions from Bohol
As you can see, you won’t be short of options for snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao, but you also have two stunning coral islands that will give you magical underwater moments.
1. Balicasag
Home to one of the best marine sanctuaries, this is a diving mecca. While it’s true that with a tank you’ll be more relaxed and able to admire its imposing coral walls, mask‑and‑snorkel snorkeling is wonderful too. This is mainly because it’s one of the places where spotting sea turtles (green and hawcksbill) is almost guaranteed.
Balicasag is located about 40 minutes by boat from Alona Beach. Therefore, you won’t be able to snorkel on your own. You’ll need to hire a bangka or join a snorkeling or diving excursion. In our experience, the latter is much better, as they’re far more respectful of the animals and don’t try to scam you by saying you have to pay several fees.
If you like, you can leave us a comment and we’ll give you the contact for our trusted company.
You can read much more about this snorkeling activity in Bohol in Snorkeling in Balicasag. If you have a dive certification, don’t hesitate and read Diving in Balicasag.
If by the rarest chance you don’t see turtles here, other places with a high chance of swimming with them are Apo Island and Moalboal.
2. Pamilacan
Balicasag is the best known, but there’s a little gem that still flies under the radar. Located south of Bohol’s coast, Pamilacan is another fabulous destination for snorkeling. Its population of turtles, while not as large as the former’s, has grown exponentially in recent years, so it won’t be unusual to come across them.
Meanwhile, Pamilacan’s coral is in fabulous condition and you’ll be able to enjoy thousands of colorful fish. With luck, you might also see the odd dolphin or even a whale.
To swim in the sanctuary area you have to pay for a guide and a government fee (250 pesos per person).
As a curiosity, you’ll also find here a fort made entirely of coral from the Spanish colonial period. It was used to watch for the arrival of “Moros.”
* You can read all about it in Things to do in Pamilacan
How to get to Pamilacan?
You have 3 options:
- Book a tour from Alona Beach. You can do it online with KLOOK (the Filipino Civitatis).
- Go to Baclayon (Bohol) and negotiate the price of a boat. This is usually 1,500 pesos per way.
- Try to take the public boat that runs from Baclayon to Pamilacan every day. There has to be one, but no one has been able to tell us what time. In this case, it will cost you 200 pesos per person.
In our opinion, the best thing is to stay at least a couple of nights on Pamilacan to enjoy the snorkeling and the island’s peace and quiet. The best accommodation option is Liwayway sa Bohol.
Tips for snorkeling in Bohol
- You can’t really talk about a best time to snorkel in Bohol, but it’s true that it’s better to avoid the months with a risk of typhoons in the area. These are roughly July, August, September, October and November. Although you’ll still be able to snorkel, there’s a risk the water will be rougher.
- Be a responsible tourist: don’t touch or chase turtles or any other animals. Don’t touch or step on any other marine life such as starfish or corals either. Please, if you see people doing this, politely explain why they’re causing harm.
- Remember to take out good travel insurance that covers this kind of activity. There aren’t very good hospitals in Panglao and, if needed, you’ll have to be urgently transferred to Tagbilaran or Cebu. Take a look at the one we use: Travel insurance for the Philippines.
- Avoid putting on sunscreen; if you can’t, use a biodegradable one (like this one) or wear sun‑protective clothing. Almost all creams harm corals and animals.
- Bring your own snorkel gear for comfort, hygiene and savings. A good set is this one. It’s more comfortable if you have fins, but we know it’s a bit heavy to travel with them. If you want them, you can rent fins at many dive shops for 150 pesos, as well as a mask.
- You’ll surely want to capture the beauty of what you see while snorkeling in Bohol. We always carry a GoPro. If you have one of the newer ones, remember they’re only waterproof down to a certain depth. For snorkeling it’s fine, but you’ll need a dive housing if you’re going to scuba dive.
- Go with as little as possible. Many of you ask us what we do with our valuables when we go snorkeling. Well, it depends. If it’s a little‑known place or if the reef is very close to shore, we usually leave our wallet there and little else. Otherwise, we take turns. The Philippines is a very safe country, but you never know.
And please, don’t go to Oslob or Lila. From Alona Beach itself and many agencies in Bohol you’ll see outings advertised to swim with whale sharks at these two sites. The first is in Cebu and the second is Bohol. In both, the same barbarity is committed: the sharks are fed artificially and thousands of people gather around them, causing harm. You can read much more in Where to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines.
Where to stay for snorkeling in Bohol and Panglao
Although in Where to stay in Bohol and Where to stay in Panglao we talk at length about accommodation on both islands, here we wanted to recommend beachfront hotels so you only have to step out of your room with your mask and snorkel and enjoy.
Oceanica Resort Panglao – Dumaluan Beach (Panglao)
For an epic treat and to snorkel in Panglao without any hassle, Oceanica is your place. It’s located on the island’s best beach, Dumaluan Beach. You can choose between rooms, suites and sea‑view cabins, as it’s right on the beach. The facilities are wonderful and include a pool and a fabulous bar.
Amarela Resort – Libaong Beach (Panglao)
Located on wonderful Libaong Beach—the natural continuation of Dumaluan—if you stay here you’ll be able to enjoy one of Bohol’s best snorkeling spots: Arco Point. Amarela Resort is a boutique hotel decorated with local materials and great taste. Both the restaurant and some rooms have direct sea views, and there’s also a fantastic pool set in the jungle.
Check Amarela Resort availability here
La Sirenita – Alona Beach (Panglao)
This is where we usually stay when we go to Panglao. Located in the quietest part of bustling Alona Beach, you’ll have the beach literally a few steps away. Rooms are spacious, fitted with new furniture, and the staff are super friendly. Oh, and they have fiber‑optic internet. It’s blazing fast!
You can read much more about our experience in Staying at La Sirenita Resort.
Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort-Panglao – Alona Beach (Panglao)
This is the new addition to Alona Beach’s hotels. With Best Western’s standards, you’ll fall in love with its colorful, soundproofed rooms, many with sea views. You’ll have a gym, several pools, loungers on the beach and a beach‑facing restaurant‑bar.
Panglao Sea Resort Tagnan – Napaling (Panglao)
If what you want is to step out of your room, jump into the water and let the magic happen, this is your place. This new resort is geared toward divers who want to truly enjoy the island’s seabeds. Newly opened, they have very simple yet clean and well‑equipped rooms. If you sleep here, you’re much more likely to see the fabulous whale shark doing its thing, as they have their own stairs down to Panglao’s snorkeling area.
Search for your room at Panglao Sea Resort
Amun Ini Beach Resort and Spa – Anda (Bohol)
This is the most luxurious hotel in the Anda area and one of the best on the island. Honestly, few higher‑level options come to mind in Bohol. All rooms have balconies with sea views and are decorated with exquisite taste. The pool is wonderful—as are all the common areas.
Check Amun Ini Beach Resort availability
Blue Star Dive Resort – Anda (Bohol)
As we mentioned, right in front of this resort there are usually lots of turtles, so if you’re dying to see them often, this is your place. They also have bungalows with sea views and a pool.
Check the calendar for Anda Cove Beach Resort
Snorkeling map of Bohol and Panglao
Here you can get an idea of where the snorkeling spots in Bohol and Panglao we’ve mentioned are located. We’ve also included the accommodation suggestions.
We hope this roundup of snorkeling spots in Bohol and Panglao has helped you. We’re sure you’re going to enjoy them a lot. Remember that in our Bohol Guide you have everything you need to enjoy your stay on the island.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’ll be happy to read you in the comments.
