Cabilao Shark Point (Lighthouse)

Cabilao Shark Point (Lighthouse)

Prepare for an exhilarating advanced dive at Cabilao Shark Point (Lighthouse), located off the northwestern tip of Cabilao Island. This dive site is renowned for its dramatic underwater topography and the incredible pelagic encounters it offers, making it a must-visit for experienced divers in Bohol.

Dive Conditions and Topography

Divers will find a challenging yet rewarding experience here, characterized by a vertical wall and a significant drop-off. The dive typically begins in the shallows, leading to a prominent plateau at approximately 22 to 30 meters, from which the reef plunges steeply to depths that can exceed 45 meters. Strong tidal currents are a defining feature of this dive site, often sweeping along the wall and funneling in a rich array of marine life. Due to these strong currents, combined with potential cold-water upwelling and the significant depths, we recommend this dive site for divers holding an Advanced Open Water certification.

Water temperatures generally range from 25°C to 29°C. However, be prepared for cooler thermoclines, especially during the winter months (December to April), when cold-water upwelling can bring deeper, colder water closer to the surface, attracting specific pelagic species.

Marine Life Encounters

Cabilao Shark Point lives up to its name, offering incredible shark encounters. From December to April, divers have the best chance to witness impressive schools of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks, often found at depths of 40 to 45 meters, drawn in by the cooler, nutrient-rich waters. It's not uncommon to see dozens, or even hundreds, of these magnificent creatures. Beyond the hammerheads, divers can also expect to encounter graceful Whitetip Reef Sharks patrolling the deeper sections of the wall.

The strong currents also attract large schools of pelagic fish. Keep an eye out for impressive aggregations of Bigeye Trevally and Bigeye Barracuda, which frequently cruise the blue.

While the big fish are a major draw, we encourage divers to also appreciate the vibrant reef ecosystem. The wall itself is a spectacle, adorned with some of Bohol's most impressive gorgonian sea fans and soft corals, creating a picturesque backdrop. Look closely among these corals and fans, especially the red sea-fans, and you might spot the elusive Pygmy Seahorse, a true delight for macro photographers. Other reef inhabitants include curious Hawksbill Turtles, often seen gliding along the reef or resting in crevices.

Cabilao Shark Point (Lighthouse) promises an unforgettable drift dive experience, combining dramatic wall formations with the thrill of encountering large pelagics and fascinating macro life. It's a truly dynamic dive site that showcases the rich biodiversity of Cabilao Island.

What current sources say about Lighthouse

Operator guides describe Lighthouse as a slope in front of the beach and the lighthouse, near the north end of Cabilao's west coast. Bohol Divers Club lists it at 3 to 30 metres: a shallow area of seagrass and corals, then a steep slope with gorgonian sea fans and a deep drop-off with a platform at 22 and 30 metres. Its marine-life notes mention sea fans that may hold pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, frogfish and many kinds of scorpionfish. Dive The World describes a platform at around 25 metres from which the reef drops steeply, with soft corals, elephant ear sponges and sea fans, frogfish among the sponges, pygmy seahorses in the fans and, in the shallow hard-coral garden at the end of the dive, nudibranchs, orangutan crabs, cowries and pipefish.

Other accounts describe a gentler site. Sea Explorers calls Lighthouse a combination of sandy areas, seagrass, coral formations and a gentle slope to approximately 20 metres, good for macro life during the day and after sunset. DumagueteInfo describes a very wide slope with a seagrass meadow and coral formations about 20 metres deep, best on the island for muck diving. Nomadic Diver's 2018 trip report describes a slope of seagrass and corals to about 15 metres, a five-minute boat ride from its resort, with a green turtle, a frogfish, scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, sea snakes, shrimps and crabs. Eco Divers Panglao lists separate Light House 1 and Light House 2 sites. These depths describe different routes, not a surveyed site maximum.

Shark Point and what remains unverified

Some sources treat the deeper northwest corner as a separate site. DumagueteInfo names the plateau of about 30 metres after the Gorgonia Wall Shark View Point and lists thresher, blacktip, whitetip and hammerhead sharks there. Sea Explorers describes Current View Point as a sandy plateau at approximately 25 to 30 metres with barracuda, jacks, pygmy seahorses and whitetip reef sharks. This listing joins that shark area to Lighthouse, so its name and hammerhead account may cover more than one named site. Dive Worldwide reports shoals of hammerhead sharks close to the lighthouse between December and June, often at some depth, and Dive The World gives December to June for hammerheads at Cabilao.

No reviewed source confirms the earlier text's hammerhead depth of 40 to 45 metres, the dozens or hundreds of sharks, the December-to-April window, depths beyond 45 metres, the water-temperature range, bigeye barracuda or hawksbill turtles at this site. Live Life The Philippines describes the west-coast sites as far as Lighthouse 1 as generally calm and accessible to divers of all experience levels, which differs from the advanced, strong-current listing. Current, difficulty and certification remain unverified; confirm them with a local operator before diving.