The Other Side of Paradise: Why This 3-Dive Day Trip is Bohol’s Best-Kept Secret
When divers dream of Bohol, their minds often drift to the world-famous walls of Balicasag Island. And for good reason—it’s a spectacular marine sanctuary. But what if we told you that some of Panglao’s most breathtaking, unique, and awe-inspiring underwater adventures lie in the opposite direction?
For those in the know, the northern coast of Panglao Island offers a completely different, yet equally magnificent, diving experience. It’s a world of dramatic topography, stunning coral gardens, and a thrilling sense of exploration. This is why we at Sierra Madre Divers have crafted a special 3-dive day trip to the magnificent sites of Doljo and Napaling—an itinerary we believe no passionate diver visiting Bohol should miss.
This isn’t just another day of diving; it’s a journey to the other side of paradise.
Dive 1: The Majestic Walls of Doljo
Your adventure begins at Doljo Point, located on the northwestern tip of Panglao. As you descend, the seascape immediately reveals its grandeur. Doljo is famous for its spectacular, deep walls that plummet into the abyss. The visibility here is often exceptional, creating a feeling of infinite blue and immense scale.
Gliding along the wall is like flying alongside an underwater skyscraper teeming with life. The wall itself is a vibrant tapestry of hard and soft corals, with huge gorgonian sea fans filtering nutrients from the gentle currents. Look closely into the crevices and you’ll find a host of macro treasures—from colourful nudibranchs to reclusive moray eels.
But the real magic of Doljo often happens when you turn your gaze away from the wall and out into the blue. This is where you have the chance to spot larger pelagic visitors cruising past. Keep an eye out for schools of jacks and trevallies, tuna, and the occasional graceful eagle ray. The sheer scale of the wall combined with the possibility of big fish encounters makes Doljo an exhilarating start to the day.
Dive 2: The Sardine Superstorm of Napaling
After a relaxing surface interval, we head to Napaling, a site that offers one of the most immersive and unforgettable underwater spectacles in the entire Philippines: a massive, resident school of sardines.
Forget what you’ve seen in aquariums. This is the real thing. As you approach the reef, you’ll see it—a shimmering, silver cloud of millions of fish, moving as one single, fluid organism. The school is so dense it can block out the sun.
The true thrill of Napaling is swimming into the school. You can glide right through the heart of the vortex as the fish part around you, creating a swirling tunnel of silver. It’s a completely surreal and breathtaking experience. The school will pulse, shift, and create mesmerizing patterns as it tries to evade hunting trevallies that dart in from the blue. It’s a dynamic, high-energy drama, and you have a front-row seat. Napaling is more than a dive; it’s an event.
Dive 3: A Deeper Exploration
After the high-energy spectacle of the sardines, your third dive offers a chance to explore another facet of this incredible coastline. Depending on the conditions and the group’s interest, we might revisit the magnificent walls of Doljo from a different perspective, or explore another one of the beautiful nearby reefs.
This third dive is the perfect opportunity to slow down and appreciate the rich biodiversity of the area. It’s a chance to hunt for the macro critters you might have missed, spend more time with the healthy coral gardens, or simply relax and enjoy a final, peaceful glide along a stunning reef. It’s the perfect, serene conclusion to a day of incredible contrasts.
Why This Day Trip is an Essential Bohol Experience
- A Journey of Contrasts: This itinerary is a perfect study in contrasts. You experience the grand, deep-blue scale of Doljo’s walls and the intense, immersive energy of Napaling’s sardine storm, all in one day.
- See a Different Side of Panglao: It showcases the incredible diversity of Bohol’s dive sites, proving there’s so much more to explore beyond the usual routes.
- Perfect for Photographers: From the breathtaking wide-angle opportunities at Doljo and Napaling to the macro treasures you’ll find throughout the day, this trip is a dream for underwater photographers.
- An Unforgettable Spectacle: While a turtle sighting is beautiful, the experience of being completely enveloped by a million swirling sardines is a unique, visceral, and powerful memory that will stay with you forever.
While a trip to Balicasag is a must-do, your Bohol dive logbook is simply not complete without the epic entries from Doljo and Napaling. This 3-dive day trip is a journey into the wilder, more dynamic side of Panglao’s underwater world.
Ready to see the other side of paradise? Contact our team at Sierra Madre Divers to book your spot on our next Doljo and Napaling adventure.
