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Conditions: Calm with some current. You would not normally make the journey if conditions were rough, but the current can be strong on spring tides. Usually done as a drift-dive with visibility up to 100ft.

This dive starts as a shallow coral shelf that is a rich coral garden, great for snorkellers and underwater photographers. There is small amount of blast-fishing damage, but not that much.

The wall has everything one would expect of such a site - good visibility, colorful soft corals, large sponges and crinoids, nudibranchs, flat worms, sea cucumbers and sea stars.

Duljo

Location: Located at the southwest point of Panglao Island.

Access: 35-50min by banca from Alona Beach west around the southwest end of Panglao Island to its southwest tip, which is Duljo Point. (At low tide the bancas have to make a wide sweep around the reef edge at the southwest end of Panglao island, adding up to 15min to the journey.

Average Depth: 65ft

Maximum Depth: 115ft

Conditions: Usually calm with a strong current, but can be rough with fierce currents with visibility up to 130ft.

A drift-drive takes you along the edge of a sandy slope with coral heads to 36ft, and then drops off to a wall. Currents are usually strong

Pungtud Wall

Location: Located at the outer edge of Pungtud Islet.

Access: 35min west by banca from Alona Beach to the western edge of the reef at the southwest end of Panglao Island.

Average Depth: 33ft

Maximum Depth: 65ft

Conditions: Normally dived only in calm conditions, though there can be strong currents. Snorkellers should have banca cover when the currents are running with visibility up to 100ft.

This beautiful coral garden slopes from 2m (6'/zft) to 20m (65ft). There are good soft, leathery and stony corals with lots of small fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins, anemones with clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, puffer fish and wrasse.

Kalipayan

Location: Just off Alona Beach.

Access: 6min by banca from Alona Beach.

Average Depth: 33ft

Maximum Depth: 65ft

Conditions: Calm with no current with visibility up to 80ft.

Known as the "Happy Wall", this is a pleasant short wall from 3m (10ft) to 20m(65ft) m with soft, leathery and stony corals, some small gorgonian sea fans, lots of small reef fish, small groupers and small barracuda.

Arco Point (The Hole in the Wall)

Location: Off Arco Point

Access: 12min by banca northeast

Average Depth: 33ft

Maximum Depthv 80ft

Conditions. Calm with little current. Visibility up to 100ft.

Sometimes called the "Hole in the Wall" because there is a vertical funnel, which you can enter at 60ft and exit at 30ft.

Balicasag Island - Southwest Wall/Rico's Wall

Location: Located at the southwest wall of Balicasag island, 6km (4 miles) southwest of Panglao Island

Access: 45min by banca from Alona Beach to the south- west of Duljo Point.

Average Depth: 50ft

Maximum Depth: 165ft

Conditions: Calm with variable currents but it can be rough and have fierce currents. You would not normally make this journey in rough weather, unless you were staying at the Balicasag Dive Resort. Visibility up to 130ft.

At Rico's Wall there is a coral garden on a shelf from 7m (23ft) to 11m (36ft); beyond that a wall drops to 35m (115ft). The coral garden is rich in soft, leathery and stony corals, hydroids, nudibranchs, sea stars, sea cucumbers, crinoids, all the smaller reef fish, anemones and clownfish.

At the eastern end, where this dive joins Rudy's Rock, there is a huge shoal of Big Eye Trevally that you can get in amongst. They will circle you for several minutes before becoming bored.

Rudy's Rock is a continuation of Rico's Wall and much the same, except that large Green Turtles are often seen there. These are both world-class dives.

Balicasag Island - Southeast Wall/Rudy's Rock

Balicasag Island - Northeast Slope/Black Forest

Location: Located at the northeast of Balicasag Island, 6km (4 miles), northwest of Panglao island

Access: 45min from Alona Beach by banca, southwest of Duljo Point.

Average Depth: 65ft

Maximum Depth: 130ft

Conditions: Calm with strong currents but can get really rough with fierce currents with visibility up to 130ft.

The shallower waters have garden eels, moray eels, Titan and Orange striped Triggerfish, shoals of surgeonfish, Moorish Idols, banner fish and jacks, Emperor and Royal Angelfish, puffer fish, trumpet fish and cornet fish. There are also many Linckia sea stars, Choriaster cushion stars, Bohadschia sea cucumbers and colorful crinoids.

This is an advanced dive and novices should stay close to their dive master.

Cervera Shoal (Spaghetti Shoal)

Location: Located 15km (9 1/2 miles) east of Balicasag Island.

Access: 50min by banca southeast of Alona Beach.

Average Depth: 50ft

Maximum Depth: 200ft

Conditions: You would not normally dive here in rough weather and you should aim for slack water. Normally calm with currents with visibility can reach 100ft.

Often called "Snake Island" because it harbors several black-and-white-banded sea snakes (hence the "Spaghetti"), this sunken island is a seamount rising to 40ft. It is not too good for corals for corals but recommended as a dive into the blue, with lots of snakes and the chance of seeing some large pelagic fish. Novices should always be with their dive masters.

Northwest Side - Pamilacan Island

Location: Located 23km (14 miles) east of Balicasag Island.

Access: 60min by banca southeast of Alona Beach.

Average Depth: 65ft

Maximum Depth: 100ft

Conditions: Calm with medium-strong currents. You would not normally make this journey in bad conditions with visibility up to 130ft.

Known as "nesting place of Manta Rays", these impressive creatures are occasionally seen here. There are some good gorgonian sea fans, and Flashlight Fish inhabit some of the caves.

Northwest Point - Hammerhead Point

Location: Located at the northwest point of Cabilao Island, by the Lighthouse.

Access: 2 hr by banca from Mactan Island.

Average Depth: 100ft

Maximum Depth: 130ft

Conditions: Usually calm with strong currents; can get really rough with fierce currents. You would not normally make this journey in bad conditions with visibility up to 130ft.

An interesting double drop-off, first to 100ft then deeper. With strong currents, this dive is noted for small shoals of Hammerhead Sharks in December and January. There are lots of small gorgonian sea fans, large barrel sponges, good soft corals, sea stars and crinoids.

This dive has everything, but most divers would want to go deep in the hope of seeing Hammerhead Sharks, large groupers and large Napoleon Wrasse.

Southwest Point - Drifting North

Location: Located at the southwest point of Cabilao Island.

Access: 2hr by banca from Mactan Island.

Average Depth: 65ft

Maximum Depth: 130ft

Conditions: Calm even during rain, with strong currents; can get really rough with fierce currents. You would not normally make the journey in bad conditions with visibility up to 130ft.

Drifting north with the current, you are taken along a typhoon-damaged reef-top at 13ft, from which a wall goes down in two steps to beyond 130ft.

Southwest Point - Drifting South and East

Location: Located the southwest point of Cabilao Island.

Access: 2hr by banca from Mactan Island.

Average Depth: 65ft

Maximum Depth: 130ft

Conditions: Calm even during rain, with strong currents; can get really rough with fierce currents. You would not normally make the journey in bad conditions with visibility up to 130ft.

A good wall drops to 130ft plus. Different underwater species with profuse fish and invertebrate life, make this a good dive. There are many species of sea cucumbers and sea stars, anemones with clownfish and tube anemones.