Katipanan - Bohol

Katipanan often gets overshadowed by some of Bohol's flashier dive spots, but for those who know, it's a quiet star. We love it for its utterly ridiculous density of tiny, weird critters. The site itself isn't a dramatic wall or a sprawling garden, more a gentle slope of rubble, small corals, and sponges that just begs for a slow, methodical search. This is a muck diver's dream, really. Drop down, get low, and prepare to spend an hour barely moving. You'll spot Flaming Blennies popping out of their holes, Freckled Anglerfish doing their best impression of a lump of coral, and the delightful little Ambon Pullers darting about. We’ve found cowries inching along and Short-head Sabretooth Blennies eyeing us with suspicion. Even the common stuff, like the Yellowstriped Cardinalfish, seem to have more personality here. Keep an eye out for Stonefish, though – they blend in a little too well. This site is perfect for photographers, or anyone who just enjoys a relaxed hunt for the unusual. Come here when you’re not in a rush, ideally mid-morning when the light is good and you can really settle in.

Location
Bohol, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
9.075116, 123.267044

Marine Protected Area: Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Katipanan

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

Recommended Packing List for Katipanan

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