Alona Divers

Located in the heart of Alona Beach on Panglao Island, Alona Divers has been a fixture of the local diving community since 1996. As a Filipino-owned PADI Dive Resort, the centre is positioned to provide direct access to some of the most diverse marine environments in the Bohol region.

The operation is built around a focus on safety and high-quality underwater experiences. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are an experienced diver seeking drift dives and wreck exploration, the centre's infrastructure is designed to support a wide range of diving styles.

The team is composed of experienced professionals, including owner and PADI Divemaster Joey Jayme. The crew provides technical and operational support through specialists like Jun Jun, a lead Divemaster and compressor technician, and Manny, a Divemaster and GoPro photographer.

Guiding is handled by a versatile team including PJ, who manages culinary duties on board, and Lutoy, a Divemaster with a specific expertise in macro photography. The staff communicates in English and Filipino, ensuring clear briefings and guidance for international divers.

The centre provides a complete spectrum of PADI training, starting from the Bubble Maker and Discover Scuba Diving programmes for beginners. Divers can progress through the standard Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications, as well as the PADI Scuba Diver course.

For those looking to advance their skills or career, Alona Divers offers the PADI Adventure Course, Rescue Diver, and the full Divemaster programme, with durations ranging from two weeks to two months. Specialty courses are also available, including Nitrox, with various options for theory-only or combined theory and dive training.

The centre operates a spacious dive boat capable of carrying 25 divers and up to 80 cylinders. The vessel is equipped with two cabins and a roof deck, which serves as an ideal vantage point for observing pelagics like dolphins or whale sharks while transiting to dive sites.

Onboard facilities include a kitchen, toilets, and a BBQ lunch service for full-day trips. Safety equipment such as life jackets and lifebuoys is always available, and the boat is prepared for various excursions, including morning trips to Balicasag Island or night dives.

Alona Divers offers a full range of equipment hire for divers who prefer not to travel with their own kit. This includes regulators, BCDs, and fins, as well as specialized items like GoPro camera rentals for capturing underwater footage.

For safety and gas management, the centre provides Nitrox and maintains on-site oxygen and a first aid kit. The facility is equipped to handle the technical needs of the fleet, with dedicated staff managing compressor operations and regulator maintenance.

The reefs around Panglao are characterised by a rich variety of hard corals and soft corals, including delicate sea whips and various coral heads. You will frequently encounter schooling fish such as fusiliers, cardinalfish, and various species of snapper and rabbitfish.

Larger pelagics are a highlight of the area, with sightings of Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), batfish (Platax), and occasional manta rays (Mobula alfredi). Whitetip sharks and various species of grouper are also part of the local ecosystem.

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to observe, including ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), various nudibranchs, and the giant frogfish (Antennarius). Look closely among the corals for scorpionfish, shrimp, and the harlequin ghost pipefish.

Diving conditions vary by site, with currents ranging from calm (0–1) at the Habagat Wreck to stronger drift conditions (1–3) at Pamilacan. Divers should be prepared for varying water movement depending on the specific location and tide.

Visibility is generally good across the region, typically ranging between 8 and 25 metres. Some sites, such as the Shark Cave, offer deeper profiles reaching up to 45 metres, requiring careful planning and appropriate certification levels.