Doljo House Reef

Overview

Doljo House Reef sits off the western coast of Panglao Island in Barangay Doljo. The dive wall is covered with hard corals with sandy patches in the shallower zones, accessible to divers of all certification levels, with visibility that holds up as excellent across most conditions.

The site records an unusually diverse macro fauna for its depth range.

Location

Off Barangay Doljo, western coast of Panglao Island, Panglao municipality, Bohol. The house reef fronts the resorts and guesthouses in Barangay Doljo, which is on the northwest side of Panglao Island.

[FACT NEEDED: GPS coordinates of the dive entry point and depth profile of the reef wall not in source.]

Getting There

From Tagbilaran City, cross the causeway to Panglao Island and continue northwest to Barangay Doljo (approximately 30–40 minutes by tricycle or private transport). Shore dives are possible directly from the beach; boat entry is also available from Doljo-based operators.

[FACT NEEDED: Whether shore entry is possible at all tides and current boat hire rates in Doljo.]

Practical Info

• Depth range: 3–25 m; the most productive zone is no deeper than 15 m
• Wall type: hard coral wall with sandy inter-reef patches
• Suitable for: all diving levels
• Visibility: excellent
• Snorkelling: likely possible given shallow zone sandy patches

[TO ENRICH: minimum certification requirement, current conditions, and whether the site is within a protected marine area — not resolved by research.]

What to Expect

The hard coral wall hosts a wide range of fish and invertebrate species: clown frogfish, harlequin ghost pipefish, purple queen anthias, Moorish idols, regal angelfish, gobies, basket stars, nudibranchs, crabs, shrimps, and barracudas. Whale sharks pass through occasionally, though sightings are unpredictable rather than seasonal.

The combination of coral wall, sandy patches, and species diversity makes this a productive macro photography site.

Notes

Listed in BPTO Table 11 under tourism type “Nature,” category “Dive site.” The reef is described as a house reef, implying it lies directly offshore of Doljo’s accommodation cluster. See also Doljo Point (entity: doljo-point) for the separate point dive site further along the northwest Panglao coast.

• Doljo House Reef dive site in Panglao, Bohol Island, accessed 2026-07-17 — depth 3–25 m, most interesting zone no deeper than 15 m, excellent visibility, accessible to all levels.