If you ask a scuba diver about Bohol, they will almost always mention the same locations: the turtle sanctuary of Balicasag, the sweeping currents of Pamilacan, or the vibrant macro walls right off Alona Beach. These sites are world-famous for a reason, and they absolutely deserve a spot on your Panglao itinerary.
But what if you are planning an extended trip to our beautiful island and want to explore beyond the main tourist hubs? What if you are looking for a pristine reef where your group is the only one in the water?
To find that, you have to pack up your gear and head east. Located about a two-to-three-hour scenic drive from our dive center in Panglao lies the quiet, coastal municipality of Anda. With its powder-white beaches and absolute tranquility, Anda feels like Bohol 20 years ago. But the real magic lies beneath the surface.
As passionate Bohol locals, we love profiling the incredible diving across our entire island. Here is why the hidden reefs of Anda are a great place to explore, and why you should consider visiting them during your Philippine vacation.
The Vibe: The Uncrowded Frontier
The defining characteristic of diving in Anda is the sheer isolation. In the peak season, the famous dive sites of the Visayas can get busy.
In Anda, you are completely off the beaten path. It is incredibly common to execute a spectacular wall dive and never see another diver outside of your own group. There is no jostling for position to photograph a sea turtle, and no waiting in line to enter a swim-through. The ocean is quiet, relaxed, and entirely yours. It is the ultimate destination for divers who want to disconnect and dive at their own pace.
The Topography: 14 Kilometers of Continuous Reef
Unlike some destinations where dive sites are isolated pinnacles requiring long boat rides, the coastline of Anda is fringed by a continuous, 14-kilometer-long coral reef.
This massive structure means the diving is incredibly accessible. The topography typically starts as a shallow, sunlit sandy slope covered in seagrass and coral bommies, which then abruptly plunges into a sheer drop-off. These walls are heavily textured, featuring massive overhangs, shallow caverns, and deep crevices. Because the reef sees so little boat traffic, the enormous hard coral formations—especially the fragile branching corals and massive table corals—are spectacularly intact.
A Macro Photographer’s Dream
If you are an underwater photographer with a macro lens, Anda is going to blow your mind. The walls and sandy muck-diving slopes are a treasure trove of rare, bizarre, and highly photogenic critters.
- Pygmy Seahorses: Anda’s deep sea fans are heavily populated with Bargibanti and Denise pygmy seahorses. These creatures are the size of a grain of rice and perfectly match the color and texture of their host corals.
- Nudibranch Nirvana: The sheer variety of sea slugs here is astonishing. From the neon-colored Nembrotha species to the elusive “Shaun the Sheep” nudibranch (Costasiella kuroshimae) grazing on algae leaves in the shallows, it is a macro hunter’s paradise.
- Crustaceans and Cephalopods: Night dives in Anda reveal a completely different world, featuring Blue-Ringed Octopuses, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, and the incredibly complex Skeleton Shrimp.
Lamanok Island: Diving Through History
One of the most unique sites in the Anda region is Lamanok Island. Topside, this small, uninhabited limestone outcrop is steeped in local mysticism, known for its ancient burial caves and hanging wooden coffins.
Underwater, Lamanok is equally fascinating. The water here takes on a slightly emerald hue, and the dive feels like exploring a sunken, ancient ruin. The walls are covered in massive barrel sponges and black coral bushes. It is a fantastic place to spot schooling snappers, passing eagle rays, and giant frogfish tucked into the limestone crevices.
How to Fit Anda Into Your Bohol Itinerary
Because Anda is located on the far eastern edge of Bohol, it is simply too far for us at Sierra Madre Divers to run daily boat trips there from our base in Panglao.
However, we are huge advocates for exploring every inch of our beautiful province! If you have the time, the absolute best way to experience Bohol is to spend a day exploring outside of Alona Beach. We highly recommend spending your first few days with us in Panglao to dive the world-class pelagic walls of Balicasag and Pamilacan, and enjoy the lively restaurants of Alona Beach.
Afterward, rent a car or hire a van to drive up the scenic coastal road to Anda. Spend a day or two at a quiet resort, dive with one of the fantastic local operators in that region, and experience the untouched macro frontier.
If you need advice on how to structure your ultimate Bohol dive safari, or want to book the Panglao leg of your adventure, contact the team at Sierra Madre Divers today. We are always happy to help you explore the absolute best of our island home!
