Black Forest

Overview

Black Forest is a dive site off the northeast side of Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol, named for its defining feature: dense colonies of black coral (antipatharians) below 30 metres.

The profile runs in two zones — a reef top at 5–8 metres giving way to a steep slope beyond 40 metres — so open-water-certified divers can work the shallow section while the more advanced sections wait deeper down.

Local dive operators rank Black Forest among the top sites in the Bohol Triangle, the marine area spanning Balicasag, Panglao, and the surrounding waters.

Location

Northeast side of Balicasag Island, administratively under Panglao municipality, Bohol. Balicasag is a small island approximately 8 km southwest of Panglao Island. Boat transfers from Alona Beach (Panglao) are the standard access route.

Getting There

From Alona Beach, Panglao, arrange a banca (outrigger boat) to Balicasag Island. Travel time is approximately 20–30 minutes. Most dive operators based on Alona Beach include Black Forest in their Balicasag day-trip schedules. Day trips typically involve 2 dives on the Balicasag reef system.

Practical Info

• Minimum recommended certification: PADI Open Water (or equivalent)
• Reef top: 5–8 m; slope extends to 40+ m
• Black coral forest: 30–45 m (advanced/deep dive)
• Visibility: typically 15–30 m
• Currents: variable; the site can be dived as a drift dive
• No snorkelling at this site — depth profile is not suitable
• Marine sanctuary rules apply; no coral collection, no anchoring

What to Expect

The shallow reef top (5–8 m) holds smaller reef fish, schools of silver jacks, and sea turtles, usually visible on entry. Along the slope, diversity builds: gorgonians, groupers, barracudas, napoleon (humphead) wrasse, tuna, wrasses, snappers, batfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, garden eels, Moorish idols, angelfish, trumpetfish, and pufferfish are all recorded here.

Below 30 metres, the branching antipatharian colonies that give the site its name cover the slope wall — the black coral forest itself.

Notes

• This entry (black-forest) is the BPTO tourism-profile record. A second, more detailed source narrative is held in the black-forest-dive entity — review both before publishing; consider merging
• Triggerfish at Black Forest can be aggressive during their nesting season (May–July); divers should be aware
• Balicasag Island is also a marine turtle sanctuary — encounters with green and hawksbill turtles are common on the reef flat