Snorkeling at Alona Beach 🥽 Philippines
Welcome to the tropical paradise of Alona beach, a coveted haven nestled on Panglao Island in the Philippines. With its powdery white sands, azure waters, and lush surroundings, Alona beach beckons travelers seeking a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
The beach boasts crystal-clear turquoise waters teeming with vibrant marine life and intricate coral formations. Dive into this guide to uncover the top snorkeling spots directly from the beach, and some handy tips for an unforgettable experience. The captivating underwater beauty that awaits beneath the waves at Alona Beach explains why it remains a jewel of the Philippines’ coastline.
Hotel options around Alona Beach
Getting to Alona beach
After spending 3 days in Pangangan (Bohol) we traveled down to Panglao to try out the beaches there. Alona in Panglao is best known for its white sand and weekend animations, but the local snorkeling at Alona beach is also worth checking out.
Get to Alona Beach from Manila
Snorkeling from the beach
You can rent a mask and fins for 250 pesos for the day from any of the dive shops on the front strip. Then, you need to make your way to the left-end of the beach. The sea depth here is very shallow to about 100 meters out, then gradually deepens.
Snorkeling at Alona Beach: It’s sandy to start with
From the shore, you can see a large area sectioned off by white buoys. This is the area you need to reach (initially around 3 meters deep).
It’s safe to snorkel here as boats aren’t allowed inside the buoy area, however you are expected to follow the buoy line closely, and not venture far from it.
After the sand, the weeds…
Stay close to the buoy line
At one point, I drifted away from the buoy line, and was surprised to hear a siren go off (audible underwater). It was only then that I noticed a group of 3 or 4 lifeguards high above on the cliff.
Once they got my attention, they used a loudspeaker to instruct me (in English) to stick to the buoy line. I was quite impressed!
Snorkeling at Alona Beach – Watch out for the sea snakes
The buoy line extends quite a distance in a semi-circle, eventually leading to the next bay. It approximately follows the reef drop off. The only problem is that at this depth (around 6 meters) the water is already becoming murky.
Not ideal if you’re using a simple camera with no flashlight.
Snorkeling at Alona Beach
Don’t forget your camera!
I was using my trusty old ultra-compact Cannon camera, carefully fitted into a very simple DICAPack waterproof case. Secured with a strap around the neck, this is an unobtrusive and handy combination for snapping pictures, and even taking short videos.
Snorkeling at Alona Beach
I was taking photos and video, and got best results in shallower water. I filmed some very bold and colorful ‘Nemo’-style fish, as well as one of the famous Philippines sea snakes.
Tiny and colorful fish!
It rained quite often in the afternoons on Alona beach, so snorkeling was also a useful alternative to sitting out one of the showers on the beach.
Snorkeling at Alona Beach – View above water
Other snorkeling locations
A week earlier, we had enjoyed a couple of days snorkeling in Moalboal, Cebu. Alona beach is a busier place, but it is well worth spending an afternoon under water with a mask.
Alternatively, if you are looking for something a little more low-key than Alona beach, try Dumaluan beach a little further south down the coast.
All hotel options around Alona Beach
If you enjoyed Snorkeling at Alona Beach, check out Central Philippines – Cebu & Bohol. You may also like:
Dive into our Newsletter!
… with discounted hotel deals & underwater travel adventures
(no spam, we promise 😇)
