Buceo Alona Beach Dive
Balicasag
Balicasag is an island 30 minutes by boat from Panglao where you can enjoy one of the more amazing dives in the Philippines. With a population around 300 people, Balicasag (native languaje means "crab upside-down") is the perfect place to beginners or experimented divers to have one of the better dives in your life.
BLACK FOREST
District: Balicasag Island
Distance: 10k from Alona Beach
Travel time + -: 30m
Baring: From Alona 251
GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.30.890' E.123.41.336' / Exit point = N.09.30.779' E.123.41.182'
Composition: Steep slope dive
Snorkeling: Deep for snorkeling
Experience: Dive site for good Open Water Divers or higher
Visibility + -: 15 to 30m
Deep: 8 to 40 m
Current: 1 - 3
Interest: Most interesting at 15m. Not interesting below 40m.
Dive direction: Start the dive with the slope on the right shoulder, going south
Description: Many coral heads in the shallow part and a forest of black coral (antipathes) at 35 to 45m. Normally the dive starts against the current, stay low over the sandy bottom and after 20 mininutes, the current will change and so you can drive dive the second part. This is the best dive side in the Bohol Triangle.
Marine life: An Aquarium with all kind of Anthias, Rockcods Groupers (serranidae), Scorpion Fish (Scorpaenidae), Squirrel Fish (Holocentridae), Parrot Fish (Scaridae), Wrassel (Labridae), Damsel Fish (Pomacentridae), Anemone Fish (Amphiprioninae). The Trigger Fish are aggressive in the months of May, June and July.
RUDY'S ROCK
District: Balicasag Island
Distance: 11,5k from Alona Beach
Travel time + -: 31m.
Baring: 251
GPS Coordinates: N.09.30.828' E.123.40.838' Entry point = N.09.30.780' E.123.40.932' / Exit point = N.09.30.910' E.123.40.782'
Composition: Wall dive
Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling
Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher
Visibility + -: 12 to 30m
Deep: 3 to 35m
Current: 0 - 2
Interest: Most interesting at 15m. not interesting below 30m.
Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left shoulder going in the direction of exit point from Black Forest, or wall on your right should going in the direction to the resort Rico's Wall
Description: Deep drop off wall in the southwest side of Balicasag Island. The land orientation is the big rock marked with the stick in front of the beach in shallow water.
Marine life: Soft and hard corals, small caverns and crevices. Often school of "Jacks", the Big Eye Trevally (Caranx Sexfasciatus) swimming in circles like a tornado, Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) are swimming among Sweet Lips (Haemulidae)
RICO'S WALL
District: Balicasag Island
Distance: 11k
Travel time + -: 30m
Baring: 253
GPS Coordinates: N.09.31.048' E.123.40.843
Composition: Wall dive
Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling. The reef top is very shallow with a few corals.
Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher.
Visibility + -: 15 to 30m
Deep: 5 to 40m
Current: 0 - 1
Interest: Most interesting at 10m, not interesting below 30m
Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left going south or right shoulder going north
Description: Drop off wall in front of the resort on the west side of the island. Dive site has many small caverns, letges and reef over-hangings. If you are going in the North direction you probably finish the dive in the dive site Cathedral and if your dive is in the South direction you finish at the dive site Rudy's Rock)
Marine life: Large schools of vlamming's Unicorn Fish (Naso Vlammingii), and Silver Jacks Big Eye Trevally (Caranx Sexfasciatus) swims in circles like a tornado. Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) and many different kinds of big size sweetlips (Haemulidae)
CATHEDRAL
District: Balicasag Island
Distance: 10,5k
Travel time + -: 29m
Baring: 254
GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.31.244 E.123.41.076 / Exit point = N.09.31.216 E.123.40.953
Composition: Wall dive
Snorkeling: Excellent for snorkeling
Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water Divers or higher
Visibility + -: 15 - 25m
Deep: 3 - 45m
Current: 0 - 3
Interest: Most interesting at 20m, not interesting below 30m
Dive direction: Start the dive with the wall on the left shoulder, going south west.
Description: Wall with big overhangs, letges and gaps. On bright day beautiful light reflexions inside the Cathedral.
Marine life: Among the overhangs are yellow bucket sponges, the walls have big and colorful sea fans. Often Barracudas and Angler Fish, among the shallow water the Snubnose Drummer (Kyphosus Cinerascens). Of the wall in the blue water the Big Mouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger Kanagurta). Close to the wall many Golden Surgeon Fish (Amblyglyphidodon Aureus), Midnight Snappers (Macolor Macularis) and many Pyramyd Butterfly Fish (Emitaurichthys Polylepis). Also seen is the One Spot Snapper (Lutjanus Monostigma).
DIVERS HEAVEN
District: Balicasag Island
Distance: 10k
Travel time + -: 29m
Baring: 254
GPS Coordinates: Entry point = N.09.31.105 E.123.41.273 / Exit point Black Forest = N.09.30.985 E.123.41.316 / Exit point Cathedral = N.09.31.218 E.123.41.166
Composition: Step Slope dive
Snorkeling: Good for snorkeling
Experience: Easy dive site for Open Water diver or higher
Visibility + -: 15 - 25m
Deep: 8 - 40m
Current: 0 - 3
Interest: More interesting at 15m, not interesting below 25m
Dive direction: Start the dive with a steep slope on the left shoulder going to Cathedral in the north west direction. At the end of the dive the slope becomes steeper in the north. In the other direction slope on your right shoulder going to Black Forest in south direction, depending on where the current is going.
Description: Steep slope with top at 10m it is the north east side of Balicasag. You see Panglao Island in the North direction.
Marine life: A true aquarium with many Gold Band Fusilier (Caesio Caerulaurea), Big Mouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger Kanagurta), Midnight Snapper (Macolor Macularis), Redtooth Trigger Fish (Odonus Niger) and Turtle (Caretta Caretta). On the reef edge between 10 and 15m are great corals like the Brow Daisy Coral (Tubastrea Nicrantha) and some Big Bucket Sponges (Xetospongia Testudinaria).