Rock point West - Bohol
Rock Point West, for us, is one of those sites you return to, not for the grand pelagic show, but for the quiet thrill of the small stuff. It’s a macro dreamscape. We love drifting along the sloping reef, eyes peeled for the incredibly camouflaged dwarf scorpionfish or the quirky big-spot anglerfish. Every coral head seems to host a tiny drama, like a painted spiny lobster peeking from a crevice or a red-streaked blenny darting in and out of its hole. Visibility is generally good here, often around 20 meters, making it easy to spot the subtle colours of an exquisite wrasse or the patterns on a cowry shell. Our favourite time to dive Rock Point West is late morning, just as the sun gets high enough to really illuminate the shallow sandy patches where you might find a point-head maori. There’s a gentle current most days, perfect for a relaxed drift, allowing plenty of time to really focus on the details. It’s a site that rewards patience and a keen eye. If you’re a photographer or just someone who enjoys slowing down and discovering the intricate beauty of the reef, this is your spot.
- Location
- Bohol, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.072741, 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
- 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 Rock point West
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 Rock point West
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