Pamilacan Island: Dive Sites - Spanish Tower & Santuary
Video taken: June 2025
Location Spanish Tower: The beautiful beach at the tower is a great place to spend some time snorkeling or just taking in the outstanding scenary. Dive images taken at Dakit Dakit and Sanctuary
Images taken: April 2024 | June 2025
Diver's Guide to Pamilacan Island, Bohol
Pamilacan is a small, inhabited island in the Bohol Sea, located about 18 kilometers east by southeast of Panglao—roughly an hour away by bangka. It falls under the municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, and is home to around 1,400 residents who primarily rely on fishing and tourism. Visitors are drawn to the island’s quiet beaches, vibrant snorkeling, and excellent diving.
The island is part of the Bohol Marine Triangle (BMT), a recognized conservation zone that also includes Panglao and Balicasag Islands. This area is celebrated for its exceptional marine biodiversity and plays a key role in preserving coral reef ecosystems in the central Visayas.
Made up of three main dive sites, Dakit Dakit, Spanish Tower, and Sanctuary, it offers a great range of diving—from the more sheltered coral shelves and walls found at both Spanish Tower and Sanctuary to the contrast of Dakit Dakit, a long sandy slope going down to 24m. With its exposed sea conditions and strong currents, it can be challenging diving.
All sites offer great reef, highlighting the walls and coral gardens at the Spanish Tower and Sanctuary, the ever-present large green turtles, and—with the right conditions—schools of jackfish on the 24m drop-off at Dakit Dakit.
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Dive Map - Pamilacan Island
Featuring Panglao’s main arrival points, top accommodation areas, and the key dive sites around Pamilacan Island.
Pamilacan island: Dive Site Map - Click the map pins for location snippets
Map Source: John Hawkins | Leaflet | 2025
Pamilacan Island: Dakit Dakit dive site – Off the east side of the ilsand and known for it big schools of jackfish, it can be a challenging dive due to exposed sea conditions and strong currents.
Video taken: July 2025
Diving Highlights & Final Thoughts – Pamilacan Island
Living in the region, I’m lucky to dive at the island throughout the year and in all conditions. It really is a great day out—from the boat ride and the beautiful island scenery to the mix of coral reef, wall, and sandy slopes, all covered across just three dive sites. On the right day, it can be spectacular. My favorite dive site here is Dakit Dakit; it offers something different, with its scattered coral outcrops, big fish sightings, and challenging currents.
The Pamilacan Island dive trip—along with Balicasag—is a staple offering from dive operators based in Panglao. Most shops provide a three-dive trip: two dives at the island, followed by a third at one of the local Panglao sites, such as the Danao Wall. If you're coming to Panglao as part of a multi-site dive trip, or using it as your base, Pamilacan stands out as one of the must-dive highlights in the region.
Reaching Pamilacan Island: Routes & Options
Bohol Region Diving Hub – Panglao
Unless you're a local diver, your starting point for diving at Pamilacan Island will likely be Panglao. Panglao serves as the diving hub for the region and is home to most of the dive operations covering the reefs of the Bohol Marine Triangle.
Panglao is one of the most accessible dive locations in the Philippines. For international travelers, the most convenient route is to fly into Manila and then take a domestic flight directly to Bohol–Panglao International Airport. If you're arriving in Cebu, you’ll need to catch the OceanJet ferry to Tagbilaran, followed by a short tuk-tuk or van ride to Panglao.
While Bohol–Panglao International Airport doesn’t handle major long-haul routes, it does receive direct international flights from South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong—making it a viable entry point for regional travelers looking to dive the Central Visayas.
Where to Stay: Panglao
The Panglao area really does offers a wide range of accommodation options, from dedicated dive resorts with in-house gear and guides to more traditional hotels and guesthouses. Whether you're traveling on a budget or looking for comfort, there are choices to match every price point.
When choosing accommodation in Panglao, consider how close it is to your dive operator. If you're planning to dive daily or take a course, staying far from the shop can quickly become inconvenient. With a bit of planning, you can book a place nearby or stay at a dedicated dive resort to make things easier.
Alona Beach: A lively stretch with beachfront hotels, easy access to dive shops, and vibrant nightlife.
Images taken: 2024 - 2025
Recommendations & Advice
Alona Beach is the go-to destination for most visitors to Panglao. It offers a good mix of hotels, dive shops, and a lively nightlife scene.
If you're planning to dive from here or take a dive course, it's worth doing a bit of research before booking. There are plenty of operators, but not all offer the same standards—some focus more on the regional market, while others are geared toward international divers.
Walk along the beach, visit the shops, and don’t hesitate to ask the right questions before committing.
Donao Beach: Is the main mooring point for the Panglao bangka fleet and one of the main pick-up point for divers heading out to the reefs
Images taken: 2024 - 2025
Danao Beach is located about 2 km south of Alona. While it doesn’t have the same beachfront charm, it’s home to a growing number of well-regarded resorts and dive operators.
My first choice for diving in this area is Haka Dive Center. They offer resort accommodation, PADI training, and are well-supported by tenders, two large bangkas, and a team of first-class instructors and dive guides.
July - September: Low Season Advice
Visitor numbers tend to drop between early July and late September. This coincides with the transition from the Amihan to the Habagat monsoon season. The southwest Habagat brings hot, humid conditions, heavier rainfall, and is responsible for most typhoon activity in the Philippines.
While the central Philippines are relatively sheltered from the direct effects of the southwest monsoon and Pacific typhoons, there is still local impact. If you're planning to dive during this period, be prepared for occasional rougher sea conditions and fewer divers, which may affect dive schedules and site access.
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