If you’ve been to the Philippines, you know it has some of the most epic reefs on the planet. What’s even better is that these reefs are easy and fun to snorkel, and Napaling Reef is a perfect example of that.
Napaling Reef sits along the cliffs of Panglao in Bohol and stretches along a steep underwater cliff. The marine life here is incredible—there’s so much colorful coral, fish, and a massive sardine ball that we think is even better than the one in Moalboal.
If you are looking for a guided snorkeling experience you can check out the top-rated Napaling Reef Snorkeling Tour, which includes snorkeling gear and a guide that takes underwater photos and videos.
Napaling Reef Snorkeling Complete Guide
Napaling Reef is located on the island of Panglao in Bohol, Philippines. It’s a popular spot for snorkeling and diving since the clear waters around the reef make it easy to see the colorful corals and fish that inhabit the area.
After paying the entrance fee, go to the cliff area where you’ll find tables and hammocks set up near the shore. It’s like a park and a great place to relax between snorkeling sessions.
When you’re ready to snorkel, head down the steps to a concrete ramp that goes into the ocean. The ramp makes it easy to get in and out of the water, which is a huge plus for beginner snorkelers.
The snorkeling area is big and roped off, so you don’t have to worry about boats. To give you an idea of its size, we spent almost two hours there and still didn’t cover the whole reef.
As you swim along the reef, you’ll see a steep drop-off that creates an underwater wall. This wall attracts lots of marine life, including a huge sardine run just offshore.
When you’re finished snorkeling, just walk or climb back up the concrete ramp. The ramp makes it easy for everyone to get out of the water, no matter their skill level.
The waters around Panglao are incredibly rich in marine life. We heard that the island has more marine species than the entire country of Japan, and it certainly felt that way—every time we looked in a different spot, we discovered a new type of fish or coral.
How to Get to Napaling Reef
Location: Napaling Reef – Google Maps
Napaling Reef is on the northern side of Panglao Island. It’s one of the easiest reefs to reach in Bohol because it’s close to where most visitors stay in Panglao. The best way to get there is by motorbike, which takes about 15 minutes from Alona Beach, the main tourist area.
You can also reach Napaling Reef by tuk-tuk, but be aware that tuk-tuk drivers in Panglao often charge up to 500 pesos per trip. I only recommend this option if you have a group to split the cost.
Napaling Reef Snorkeling: Our Experience
Snorkeling at Napaling Reef was our kind of beach day—no sand! Just rocks, reef, and lots of colorful fish.
After parking our motorbike at the entrance, we paid 300 pesos each for the entrance and guide fee. Even though we didn’t need a guide, we found out the guide fee wasn’t optional.
As we headed toward the stairs leading to the ocean, we saw a steep drop-off where the stairs went down the cliff to the water. Once we walked down the stairs, it was easy to get into the water thanks to the concrete ramp.
As soon as we got into the water, we saw so much marine life—coral, fish, and a huge sardine run. I got caught up swimming through the sardines, while Chloe went off to explore. When she came back, she told me about an artificial reef she found underwater and signaled for me to follow her to check it out.
We swam through the sardine ball to reach the artificial reef. It’s made of square-shaped boxes on the ocean floor, with blue corals growing on them. The boxes weren’t far from where I had been swimming, but they were hard to see because of all the sardines everywhere!
Snorkeling was tiring, so after an hour in the water, we took a break. We climbed back up the stairs and relaxed in a grassy area with benches and hammocks. It was a nice, cozy spot to rest between snorkeling sessions.
After resting for a bit, we got back in the water for more snorkeling. Whenever I snorkel, I like to stay still for a moment and just float to take everything in. As soon as I stopped moving, tiny fish began to slowly appear from the cracks in the reef. I’m not sure if I just missed them earlier, or if they were hiding because I was swimming, but it was magical to see all kinds of life come out from the reef around me.
Napaling Sardine Run
Most people don’t know that thousands of sardines swim together underwater just off the shore of Napaling Reef. This massive school of fish is just as impressive as the famous sardine run in Moalboal, and swimming with them was one of our favorite experiences in Bohol.
When people think of large schools of fish, they usually imagine them in deep water. But these sardines stay close to shore and hang out right in the reef. The sardine balls were so huge! At times, I was completely surrounded by fish and couldn’t see the reef below me.
Napaling Reef Photos
Where to Stay in Bohol
Depending on how long you stay in Bohol we recommend splitting your stays between Panglao and Anda. If you are in Bohol for less than 4 days we recommend basing yourself out of Panglao, but if you are staying longer I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Anda. Here are recommendations on places to stay:
- Luxury: Amorita Resort (Panglao)
- Mid-range: Casa Amihan (Anda)
- Budget: Bluewaves Apartment (Panglao)
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Bohol.
What to Pack for Bohol
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Bohol.
- Crocs: During our time in Bohol, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Bohol, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Bohol.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Bohol! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Are You Following Our Bohol Blog Series?
During our 11-day adventure in Bohol, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—epic waterfalls, caves, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Bohol Travel Guide
- Our Bohol accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Bohol
- Our Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 24 Awesome Things to Do in Bohol
- How to plan your Bohol vacation: Bohol 3 Day Itinerary
- Interested in chasing waterfalls?: 5 Best Waterfalls in Bohol During Dry Season
- Our favorite hike in Bohol: Alicia Panoramic Park Hike
- Our favorite day tour in Bohol: Balicasag Island Snorkeling
- Our favorite waterfall in Bohol: Dimiao Twin Falls (Pahangog Falls)
- Our favorite place to swim in Bohol: Cabagnow Cave Pool
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to snorkeling Napaling Reef in Panglao, Bohol.
