Located approximately 6 kilometers southwest of Panglao Island, Balicasag Island is a circular marine sanctuary renowned worldwide as one of the premier scuba diving and snorkeling destinations in the Philippine archipelago.
Surrounded by a pristine reef shelf dropping steeply over 50 meters into the abyss, Balicasag offers encounters with giant green and hawksbill sea turtles, massive schools of big-eye trevallies (jackfish), barracudas, and flourishing hard and soft coral gardens.
Balicasag Dive & Snorkeling Hotspots
- Marine Sanctuary (Turtle Point): Shallow sandy seagrass plateau where sea turtles graze within arm's reach of snorkelers.
- Black Forest: A steep submarine slope populated by rare black corals, sea whips, and dense schools of pelagic fish.
- Cathedral Wall: Dramatic underwater cliff riddled with cavernous swim-throughs and sea fans.
- Diver's Haven: Calm drift-diving area with pristine barrel sponges and anemone colonies.
How to Get to Balicasag Island
Balicasag is accessed via motorized outrigger boats (bangkas) departing directly from Alona Beach or Dumaluan Beach in Panglao. The crossing typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Many Panglao boat itineraries pair the marine sanctuary with the nearby Virgin Island sandbar; check the tide before choosing the order of the two stops.
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Reserve Balicasag Snorkeling & Dolphin Tour
Includes early-morning dolphin watching in the Bohol Sea, sea turtle snorkeling gear, sanctuary environmental fees, and certified local guides.
Environmental Protection & Sanctuary Guidelines
To preserve Balicasag's fragile ecosystem, the local municipality of Panglao enforces strict carrying capacity limits:
- Visitors must be accompanied by licensed local Balicasag community guides.
- Touching, chasing, or feeding marine wildlife and turtles is strictly prohibited by environmental law.
- Only reef-safe mineral sunscreen (non-nano zinc oxide) is permitted within the sanctuary boundary.