BIGBOSS Bohol House reef - Dumaguete

Okay, so you’re in Dumaguete and everyone’s buzzing about Apo Island. Fair enough. But honestly, for a chilled-out afternoon dive that still delivers, we often find ourselves back at the BIGBOSS Bohol House reef. This isn't some deep, dramatic wreck. It’s a deliberately scuttled fishing boat, sitting upright at a friendly 14 metres, making it perfect for beginners or anyone who just wants to potter about without the pressure. We love how the light catches the superstructure, illuminating the schools of juvenile batfish that weave in and out of the wheelhouse. You can easily poke around the deck, peer into the holds where glassfish shimmer like sequins, and if you’re patient, you’ll spot a moray eel peeking from a pipe or a crab scuttling across the growth on the hull. It’s less about a grand exploration and more about observing the smaller dramas playing out as the wreck slowly becomes part of the reef. Go late afternoon if you can; the light is softer, and the colours are just richer.

Location
Dumaguete, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
9.546500, 123.752500
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
14m
Difficulty
Beginner

Wreck History - BIGBOSS Bohol House reef

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
scuttled

The BIGBOSS Bohol House Reef is a charming and accessible dive site, likely a purpose-built feature for a local dive resort. While not a historic shipwreck, it serves as a fantastic underwater attraction and a nursery for marine life. Located on the house reef, this 'wreck' was intentionally placed to enhance the diving experience right off the shore. Its shallow depth of around 14 meters makes it an ideal spot for training dives, newly certified divers, macro photographers, or a relaxing final dive of the day.

Divers exploring this site can expect to find a small, interesting structure that has blossomed into a lively artificial reef. The area around Dumaguete is renowned for its 'muck' diving and incredible biodiversity, and this site is no exception. The structure is likely encrusted with corals and sponges, providing a perfect habitat for a variety of critters. Keep your eyes peeled for colorful nudibranchs, camouflaged frogfish, juvenile reef fish, and a host of invertebrates that have made this man-made object their home. It's a testament to how quickly nature can colonize and transform even the smallest structures into a vibrant underwater world.

Marine Protected Area: Dauis, Tagbilaran Bohol

Best Time to Dive in Dumaguete

The warmest water temperatures in Dumaguete occur in January, averaging 26.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 26.8°C (air: 26.7°C)
  • February: 26.8°C (air: 26.6°C)
  • March: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • April: 26.8°C (air: 28.1°C)
  • May: 26.8°C (air: 28.5°C)
  • June: 26.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
  • July: 26.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
  • August: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
  • September: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
  • October: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • November: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • December: 26.8°C (air: 27.0°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Dumaguete

Nearest Dive Centres to BIGBOSS Bohol House reef

Marine Life in Dumaguete

Home to 522 recorded species including 440 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 15 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 9 seagrass & algae, 9 hard corals.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BIGBOSS Bohol House reef

Based on average water temperature of 26.8°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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