When is the best time to dive Balicasag?

The best months to dive Balicasag are November, December, January, February, March, April, May, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Balicasag?

Balicasag requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically moderate and the maximum depth reaches 40 m.

How much does it cost to dive Balicasag?

A 2-tank dive at Balicasag averages around $65 USD. The destination is in our budget tier.

What will I see diving Balicasag?

Balicasag is known for jackfish, barracuda, hawksbill turtle, sea snake, giant trevally, with 15–35 m visibility and 26–30°C water temperatures.

Why does Balicasag score 69.3/100 on OkToDive?

Balicasag earns a 69.3/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 350 operator reviews.

Balicasag Diving — Score: 69.3/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Intermediate

Balicasag

PhilippinesSoutheast Asia

69.3

SCORE

9.5167°N

123.6833°E

Balicasag Island is a tiny marine sanctuary off Bohol's Panglao coast, famous for its resident jackfish tornado — a swirling column of thousands of big-eye jacks. The island's walls drop steeply from a shallow reef flat, offering dramatic profiles in clear water. Daily diver limits protect the reef, but the small size means the best sites can feel busy.

Philippines' Marine Sanctuary Icon

Visibility15–35 m

Temperature26–30°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$65

Best MonthsNovember, December, January, February

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

82.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine Life Diversity

82.0

Coral & Reef Health

78.0

Visibility & Conditions

78.0

Dive Site Variety

55.0

Water Temperature

85.0

Depth & Access

72.0

Operator Quality

72.0

Topside Experience

35.0

Getting There

62.0

Value & Cost

82.0

Crowding

50.0

Social Proof

80.0

Key Species

jackfishbarracudahawksbill turtlesea snakegiant trevally

Dive Types

wallreefdrift

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Great news for traveling couples and families — this is a budget-friendly destination with plenty of affordable topside activities to keep non-divers happy while you explore below the surface.

Activities for Non-Divers

dolphin watching toursnorkelingbeach relaxation

Nearby Cultural Sites

Balicasag lighthouse

Non-Diver Partner Score

3/10

Dedicated dive destination — not ideal for non-divers.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber80 km — VISCOM Hyperbaric Chamber, Cebu

Nearest Hospital20 km

No facilities on island; boat transfer to Panglao then ferry to Cebu for chamber

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Sierra Madre Diving

PADI

4.7

200 reviewsNITROX

Balicasag Island Dive Resort

PADI

4.5

150 reviews

Compare This Dive Site

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

40+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Variable visibility
→Deep profiles

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Permit-restricted access. Daily cap: 200 divers. Book 6+ months ahead through a licensed operator.
→Balicasag has more marine life variety than most divers expect
→Local operators know spots the guidebooks miss

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
peak
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Feb	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Mar	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Apr	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
May	30–35	30	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jun	30–35	30	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jul	30–35	30	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Aug	30–35	30	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Sep	30–35	30	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Oct	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Nov	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Dec	15–25	26	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects66

Wide angle79

Viz stability72

Hover friendliness55

Natural light55

Recommended kit

→Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,550–$2,200

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $720–$880
Accommodation / day: $25–$50
Diving / day: $60–$70
Food / day: $25–$50
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$2,500–$3,700

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $60–$120
Diving / day: $70–$80
Food / day: $55–$100
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$4,250–$6,750

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Accommodation / day: $150–$300
Diving / day: $80–$110
Food / day: $110–$220
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Balicasag Diving — Philippines

Score Breakdown

Marine Life

Key Species

Dive Types

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Activities for Non-Divers

Nearby Cultural Sites

Non-Diver Partner Score

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Top Operators

Sierra Madre Diving

Balicasag Island Dive Resort

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

7-day trip, per person

Build a trip around it