Showing posts with label panglao island accommodation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label panglao island accommodation. Show all posts

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Five Amazing Dive Sites in Bohol for Beginners

Dive sites in Bohol, particularly near Panglao Island where many resorts are located, are perfect for beginners because of their shallow depths, beautiful coral walls, and gentle slopes. Here are 5 spots where newbies can practice their diving skills and experience plunging down a wreckage, fish sanctuaries, and a site known as the "Hole in the Wall".

1. Balicasag Fish Sanctuary
Located southeast of Bohol is Balicasag Island, home to a stretch of great dive sites that include Balicasag Fish Sanctuary. Established by the local community as a protected marine area, the sanctuary features a number of various fish species such as silver jack, bigeye trevally, midnight snappers, and sweetlips. Here, beginners can measure their buoyancy control for wall diving, since the site has a depth of 3 to 35 meters. The area is also ideal for snorkeling since the reefs are shallow.

2. Arco Point
Another easy dive site for newbies is Arco Point, which is situated just 12 minutes by boat from the southern portion of Panglao Island. This amazing dive site is called by many as “Hole in the Wall” because it features a small cave composed of soft and hard corals. Surrounding the cave are snake eels, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps, mackerels, and the giant frogfish. Since the wall is made up of fragile coral, passing through the hole is discouraged especially for inexperienced divers. The better way is to dive around it since the depth of the site is only from 4 to 27 meters.

3. Habagat Wreck
Also located south of Panglao Island is Habagat Wreck. This dive site ranging from 8- to 35-meters deep is an exciting spot for beginners because they can easily reach the wreck that sunk around year 2000. To put their fundamental diving skills to the test, there's an S-shaped wall and a slope a few feet from the wreckage. The area is also great for underwater photography, since the S-shaped wall has an overhang of colorful corals.

4. Doljo Point
Just minutes from various Panglao Island accommodations like the Bohol Bee Farm, Doljo Point offers a range of beautiful marine life such as big sea fans, bucket sponges, leather corals, manta rays, and barracudas. This dive spot is ideal for beginners learning to control diving into deeper depths because it can go as far as 40 meters. On some occasions, whale sharks may appear at lower levels.

5. Crystal Sanctuary
If there's one diving spot in Bohol advisable for newbies, it has to be Crystal Sanctuary. Its shallow depth of 3 to 25 meters makes it easy for those divers feeling out their equipment for the first time. In addition, the sanctuary has imposed restrictions to keep them on the safe distance. The Crystal Sanctuary is the closest dive spot from Alona Beach and other Panglao Island resorts.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

South Palms Resort Panglao: Top Accommodation Choice in Bohol, Philippines

There's no better way to experience a beach holiday in Bohol, Philippines than by staying at South Palms Resort, a Panglao Island accommodation that presents unparalleled pleasure and relaxation in a secluded paradise. Boasting an array of delightful travel treats and advantages, this luxurious hideaway is, undoubtedly, a wonderful place any discerning traveler must not miss out on. Among the offerings that you will enjoy here include:

Tropical-Inspired Lodgings
Panglao Island's tranquil atmosphere reflects the calming ambience inside the resort's 90 rooms and villas. These accommodations are draped in earth tones, soothing lights, and accentuated with wooden furnishings crafted by the locales. You can choose between the deluxe rooms, which offer garden and pool view, and the villas where you can behold the beauty of the sea.

Dining Options
South Palms Resort is also known for providing guests with the freshest seafood and the best dining experience. Here, you can relish a delightful gastronomic treat in 2 dining venues: the Oceanica Seafood Restaurant and the Coast Pool Bar. The former serves a slew of seafood specialties, ala carte fares, and an all-day buffet spread, while the latter boasts intimate dinner, signature concoctions, and a fine menu. Oceanica is open daily from 6 am to 10:30 pm. The bar, on the other hand, operates from 9 am to 12 am.

Events Venues
If you're planning to hold an important affair on the island, South Palms Resort will surely lend a hand. This hotel houses a number of function rooms where you can celebrate special occasions and corporate meetings. The Green Palm function hall can comfortably seat 300 guests with its 320 sqm of space, while the Blue Palm is ideal for small gatherings. Both event venues are fitted with top-of-the-line audio-visual equipment for presentations.

Practical Amenities
Ensuring that you'll enjoy comfort at all times, this Panglao resort in Bohol also affords a bevy of useful facilities and reliable services. This include a concierge, shuttle service, 24-hour room service, valet parking, safety deposit boxes, and laundry service. There is also an outdoor pool, which opens at 7 am and is conveniently situated at the Garden Level adjacent to the shoreline. Plus, Wi-Fi Internet access is available in public areas.

Idyllic Location

  • Set along the southern coast of the island, South Palms Resort is a great jump-off point for a tour. Some key destinations and nearby attractions that you must see while billeted in this hotel include the following:
  • Tarsier Botanika Park
  • Hinagdanan Cave
  • Monument of the Blood Compact
  • Loboc River
  • Chocolate Hills


Visitors will also be pleased to know that this Panglao Island accommodation is approximately 30 minutes from the airport and pier.