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Fantastic Reef

3.3 — based on 12 community signals
4.1 5 species 7 contributors

Fantastic Reef is a year-round Philippine dive site near Bongot Island with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
ReefExplorationHealthyCoralsYearRound

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Marine life
Green sea turtle

Top operators here

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Map

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Fantastic Reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
7.4 kn
Wave
0.36 m
Water
30.6°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SSE (53%)
Now: SSE (151°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.11m

Next: High at 02:00 (+1.31m)

+1.4 m+0.3 m
▲ 02:00 · +1.31m ▼ 12:00 · +0.32m ▲ 03:00 · +1.31m ▼ 13:00 · +0.32m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.35 · high Air PM2.54 · good 05:52 18:01
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 9.1 0.46 6 9mm
09-20 3.6 0.44 8 4mm
09-21 3.8 0.38 8 12mm
09-22 4.2 0.34 8 16mm
09-23 3.6 0.3 7 19mm
09-24 2.3 0.24 5 16mm
09-25 3.8 0.2 9 25mm

About this spot

Fantastic Reef sits near Bongot Island in the Philippines and offers diving throughout the year. The site features coral in good health with no bleaching stress, making it a solid choice for reef exploration. Five documented species observations give you a sense of what to expect underwater, and community videos show real diver experiences at the spot. The reef supports a variety of marine life and draws divers looking for healthy coral ecosystems. Being outside a marine protected area, it follows standard Philippine diving regulations. Water conditions remain stable enough for year-round access, though planning around local weather patterns is always smart. Community footage helps you understand the site before you go. Whether you're a returning visitor or planning your first trip, the documented species and video evidence show an active diving destination. Check with local operators near Bongot Island for current conditions, boat access, and any seasonal preferences.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Philippines: 119 Sites, Wrecks & Walls Worth the Flight

Marine life

Green sea turtle

Dive types

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B/C · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11036km · ~2538kg · €46

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 11h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Fantastic Reef?

Fantastic Reef is diveable year-round, so you can plan visits almost anytime. Local weather patterns and sea state do shift seasonally, so check with operators in the area for the calmest windows and best visibility during your preferred months.

What depth and difficulty level is Fantastic Reef?

Specific depth and difficulty data for Fantastic Reef are not documented, so contact local dive operators near Bongot Island before booking. They can advise on what skills suit the site and typical depth profiles.

What marine life will I see?

Five documented species observations are available for Fantastic Reef, confirming an active reef ecosystem. Community videos show real diver footage of the site, so watch those to preview the marine life and coral you're likely to encounter.

Do I need permits or special access?

Fantastic Reef is not inside a marine protected area, so standard Philippine diving rules apply. Work with a local dive operator near Bongot Island to arrange boat access and confirm any regional or municipal requirements.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Sunset Divers PADI Dive Centre

5.3 km
4.7 (209 reviews) closed
Dive centre PADI
Verified PADI 5★ Booked 54+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Aquaholics Dive Center

4.9 km
4.4 (37 reviews)
Dive centre

Bubble Diver Center

5.2 km
4.7 (108 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 30+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

77 records · 49 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Terebra

Gastropoda · Terebridae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Oct 2011
×6records

Cerodrillia jerrywallsi

Gastropoda · Drilliidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2011
×1records

Eucithara novaehollandiae

Gastropoda · Mangeliidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2010
×1records

Horaiclavus julieae

Gastropoda · Horaiclavidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2010
×1records

Macrorhynchia philippina

Hydrozoa · Aglaopheniidae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Apr 1995
×1records
Depth:
1 m

Littorina

Gastropoda · Littorinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Apr 1995
×1records
Depth:
1 m

Amphimetra laevipinna

Crinoidea · Himerometridae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Apr 1995
×1records

Cypraeidae

Gastropoda · Cypraeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 1989
×1records

Drupella margariticola

oyster drill
Gastropoda · Muricidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 1989
×1records

Barbatia

Bivalvia · Arcidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 1989
×1records

Pseudodaphnella barnardi

Gastropoda · Raphitomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 1989
×1records

Ervilia bisculpta

Bivalvia · Semelidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 1989
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

The Gorgeous Underwater World of the Philippines | Tales of Tiny Treasures | Free Documentary Nature

Free Documentary - Nature
💬 3 top comments
  • The documentary delves into the delicate balance between human activity and marine life, revealing both positive transformations and looming environmental threats. Anilao's marine gems have become ambassadors of conservation, yet the region faces challenges like plastic pollution, illegal fishing, and anchor damage. Highlighting the profound impact of these minuscule creatures on Anilao's resident

    @FreeDocumentaryNature · 👍 51
  • Beautiful country and beautiful people 🤗 God bless & long live Philippines 🇵🇭

    @PeacePlease7 · 👍 28
  • Perhaps the most beautiful islands and especially people of the world!

    @carollee594 · 👍 36

Diving Dauin AWESOME Start of the year - Sea Explorers Philippines

Sea Explorers Philippines
💬 3 top comments
  • Awesome start with a big smile

    @chrisheim99 · 👍 5
  • A well filmed tribute , to what diving with Sea Explorers Philippines , can offer ! Kudos !!

    @waynehenry · 👍 3
  • Great footage, which cameea and setup did you use for this? Best regards, Hans

    @hansdebel1805 · 👍 0

Reefs of the Visayas I - Diving in the Philippines

Devocean Pictures
💬 1 top comments
  • Amazing :-)

    @charlottehesterman45 · 👍 1

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