Hilutungan Sanctuary - Bohol
Hilutungan Sanctuary, just off Bohol, is one of those spots we always make time for. It’s not the dramatic drop-off type of dive, but rather a shallower, gentle slope that’s just packed with activity. We love drifting along here, keeping an eye out for the smaller stuff – those Bloodspot Pipefish are surprisingly common if you know where to look. The real show, though, is the sheer density of fish. Big schools of Orbicular Batfish hang out near the mooring lines, almost like they’re waiting for you. And the angelfish, especially those striking Midnight Angelfish, are everywhere. It’s a great site for photographers, especially macro fans, and ideal for divers who prefer a more relaxed pace without sacrificing interest. We’ve had some of our best nudibranch finds here, too. The visibility can vary, but generally, it’s a calm, easy dive, perfect for a second dip of the day.
- Location
- Bohol, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 10.210365, 123.986990
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Best Time to Dive in Bohol
The warmest water temperatures in Bohol occur in May, averaging 30.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C
- February: 27.6°C
- March: 28.3°C
- April: 29.3°C
- May: 30.2°C
- June: 30.2°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.6°C
- September: 29.7°C
- October: 29.6°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 28.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Bohol
- Acro Point
- Alcoy sanctuary (reef)
- Andres Reef (reef)
- Aquarium - 19m
- BALABAGON - 24m
- Baluarte
- Black Forest
- Black Forest Entry Point
- Black Forest Exit Point
- Bonifacio Reef (reef)
- Caceres North - 16m
- Caceres South - 17m
- Cambakis Point
- Cars dive (wreck)
- Cars Dive (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Hilutungan Sanctuary
Marine Life in Bohol
Home to 148 recorded species including 140 reef fish, 4 seagrass & algae, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Blackspine Unicornfish (Naso minor) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-scaled wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) - Reef Fish
- Barred Unicornfish (Naso thynnoides) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Blenny (Istiblennius dussumieri) - Reef Fish
- Bloodspot pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus) - Reef Fish
- Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-ribbon wrasse (Stethojulis trilineata) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Hilutungan Sanctuary
Based on average water temperature of 29.2°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories