Snorkelling at Panglao Sea Resort
Bohol, Philippines

After arriving last night from Manila and a good night’s sleep, our day started early. We woke at 6.30, donned our snorkelling gear and were in the ocean by 7. The water was crystal clear, the tide was high, so off we went. I tried out my new reef shoes and my 22-year-old snorkel and mask.

The sandy bottom was covered almost completely by sea grass until I reached a bommie covered in corals. There were starfish I had never seen before. Pale orange to light tan with dark brown spots. There were hundreds of them. I kept going until I reached the reef.


The drop off was vertical and the bottom was way down out of sight. Schools of tiny fish rushed past and a few reef fish hung around the coral. The sun’s rays pierced the water’s surface and the water shone bright blue.


Tiny blue fish in schools that I’ve seen in Vanuatu and Fiji were swimming leisurely but when I clicked my fingers they didn’t change direction. The corals were beautiful.
Brain coral in different shades and wavy coral in shades of green. Occasionally a bright purple coral would show itself.

On the way back to shore, I spotted two bright blue starfish. These are the ones that I’ve seen hundreds of in Pacific Islands. We emerged from the water and sat at the bar in the pool where we drank a beer last night.


We each ordered an American breakfast. The best breakfast I’ve eaten so far. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, butter, and apricot jam served with an unusually flavoured but delicious coffee. Then fresh fruit. Mango, banana and watermelon. The only disappointment was the orange juice – obviously one of the 200% vitamin C but no actual oranges. 😊
What a great way to start the day!

Panglao Sea Resort – some luxury for our first night. We were treated like a Queen and a Princess – we were their only guests! One of the joys of unexpectedly travelling in low season.