5 Snorkeling Sites for Novices in Panglao Island, Bohol

After resting a bit at Panglao Regents Park Resort, you can visit the following snorkeling sites in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines and enjoy the underwater view with minimal effort.

1. Alona Reef

The reef is located about 120 m from the famous Alona Beach. This spot is composed of a steep slope and wall, with depths ranging from 3 to 24 m. Aside from snorkeling, the reef also serves as a great place for beginners and night divers. Small barracudas, stingrays, and angelfishes are but few of the creatures that can be found here at night.

2. Arco Point

Arco Point is located on the southern part of the island, some 4.5 km or 15 minutes by boat from Alona Beach. The spot is known as Hole in the Wall. Its shallowest point is 4 m, the deepest is 27 m. You can find angelfish and frogfish from the depth of 5 to 10 m.

3. BBC Reef

This steep slope is about 3.5 km from Alona Beach. It takes its name after Bohol Beach Club (BBC) and is home to brown daisy corals and black and blue nudibranchs. It is home to pygmy sea horses, sergeant majors, and black damsel fish. There are 2 wrecks of jeepneys in the area; one is at 8 m and another at 10 m.

4. Danao-Habagat Wreck

A 10-minute ride from Alona Beach will also put you close to the Habagat Wreck, which was sunk there in 2000. You'll be able to see a lot of corals on the top reef. Aside from the wreck, the wall also has interesting crevices and populations of cardinal fish, lionfish, and batfish.

5. Doljo Point

If you're looking for a great site for underwater photography, prepare for a 35-minute boat ride to Doljo Point. Set 14 km from Alona Beach, the spot is home to a lot of hard corals and sandy spots. Frequented by manta rays and hammerhead sharks from February to March and — on rare occasions — whale sharks and schools of barracuda, Doljo Point is a favorite place for deep dives.

Exploring the sites and observing underwater critters, while thoroughly fun and exciting, can be a little tiring. It's best that you book a resort in Panglao that will provide you and your group with comfortable accommodation. A location near top diving and snorkeling spots is also an advantage, since you'll save a bit of time traveling from one place to another. As it can also get crowded in the beach, it would be best if you consider a resort that has a pool, like Panglao Regents Park. Have a wet and fun holiday in Panglao.