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Cliff Dive is one of the few places in the world where you can experience a “Sardine Run” at snorkeling depth. At the foot of the island’s cliffs, you will snorkel amidst thousands of small silver fish schooling together, just below the surface. Do not miss this beautiful and spectacular phenomenon if you are visiting Bohol.

Reef drop off at Cliff Dive

How to get to Cliff Dive for snorkeling?

Cliff Dive (also known by scuba divers as Napaling) is located on the northwestern coast of Panglao Island, south of Bohol. From Alona Beach, you can reach the spot in approximately 15 minutes by taxi (10 minutes from Panglao Beach).

The entrance fee is 300 pesos per person and allows you to enjoy cliff diving and the huts set along the cliffs. Several hotels (including Panglao Kalikasan Dive Resort and Alexis Cliff Dive Resort) are located in front of the spot, with direct sea access.

Cliff Dive - Napaling snorkeling map

Entering the water at Cliff Dive

The cliffs are equipped with stairs, and a concrete platform allows to enter the water safely. It is also possible to jump off the cliff straight into the sea from a diving platform set some 22 feet above the surface.

Cliff Dive snorkeling tips

Cliff Dive is first and foremost famous for its Sardine Run, the name given to the spectacular aggregation of millions of sardines along this section of the coast. The sardines gather in massive shimmering shoals, usually found right after the reef drop-off.

Cliff Dive is the perfect place to snorkel with the sardines, as they can be seen at very shallow depths at this spot, sometimes just under the surface. Swimming among these mesmerizing waves of small silverfish is an incredible experience.

Snorkeling Cliff Dive sardine run
A school of sardines in Cliff Dive.

If the sardine run is Cliff Dive’s main underwater attraction, the reef is also nice to explore. Located 5 to 40m from the cliffs, a reef wall falls steeply towards the depths. The reef is covered with multicolored soft corals, sponges and sea lilies.

Hundreds of chromis and sea goldies surround the reef wall, where surgeonfish, butterflyfish, Moorish idols, and pufferfish are also common.

Leafy coral at Cliff Dive
Some areas of the ref hosts fine, leafy corals.

To avoid accidents, do not snorkel the area located right under the diving platform. Sea conditions are usually good at Cliff Dive, but the area can be choppy some days. Do not get in the water if the sea is too rough.

Restaurants and accommodation at Cliff Dive

Several hotels and restaurants are located around the spot, including Panglao Kalikasan Dive Resort, Alexis Cliff Dive Resort, Ocean View Rooms & Resto Bar and Molave Cove Resort. You’ll find in Alona Beach, about ten kilometers from Cliff Dive, many other accommodations and restaurant options.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth6ft/2m on the reef flat, >10m on the reef wall
  • Water entranceFrom a concrete platform
  • Visitor numbersMedium to high
  • Access costs300 pesos pp.
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.