After leaving Oslob, the next stop on my Philippines diving adventure in May 2025 was Anda, a quiet seaside town on the eastern tip of Bohol. With its laid-back atmosphere, white sandy beaches and lush green surroundings, Anda felt completely different from the busy tourist hubs elsewhere in the country.
Scuba diving in Anda is all about world-class biodiversity without the crowds. Sitting right in the heart of the coral triangle, this part of the Central Visayas is home to some of the richest marine life on the planet. There are more than 20 dive sites here, with a mix of vibrant walls, coral gardens and endless opportunities to find fascinating macro life. The reefs are healthy, colourful and absolutely teeming with life.
If you love critter spotting, beautiful walls and night dives full of surprises, Anda is definitely worth putting on your list. It’s not just the diving either. This is the kind of place where you can truly unwind, surrounded by rice fields, waterfalls and jungle while still being just a few minutes from the sea.
I had pre-booked the Apekoptravel high-speed ferry from Quartel Beach, Oslob, to Momo Beach, Panglao, using the 12Go website. The booking process was easy and gave me peace of mind knowing the crossing was sorted before I arrived.
The small port at Quartel Beach is pretty basic, but there is a little stall selling drinks and snacks while you wait. To reach the main ferry, you board a small boat from the beach. They do charge a small fee for larger luggage, which is fair enough.
The ferry itself was fine for the short journey. It has toilets on board, and you can also buy drinks, snacks and even a cold beer during the trip. The seats weren’t the most comfortable, but the crossing was quick, taking around an hour and a half to reach Momo Beach on Panglao.
From Momo Beach, the dive school and resort we had booked with, Ander Divers Garden Resort, gave me the contact details of a reliable transfer company called Palaweña Travel and Tours. I got in touch with them a few days before and arranged a private car to take us from Momo Beach to Anda. The driver was waiting when we arrived and we were soon on our way. The drive took about two and a half hours in a new, clean and very comfortable car… a great way to finish the journey.
I found Ander Divers Garden Resort online while planning the trip and it turned out to be a perfect choice. The resort is owned by Marlon, who is originally from Germany, and you can feel that little German touch in the menu, which was a nice bonus for me. The place is rustic and laid-back, with a mix of traditional huts and upgraded air-conditioned rooms, plus a pool, a small restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a friendly bar.
We chose one of the upgraded rooms with air con. The room was simple but just right for what we needed. This is a dive resort through and through, and that’s what we came for. No unnecessary bells and whistles, just a solid and comfortable base for a few days of diving.
The diving itself is run from The Old Castle Resort, which is owned by Marlon’s father Michael and his wife. This is where we collected our equipment and met the dive team before heading out. The Old Castle is right on the beach, with a great vibe and the same local menu with a German twist, plus pizzas if you fancy one. It’s also a brilliant spot for a cold beer after diving.
We did two full days of diving. The first day was shore dives, which were really good. It can feel like a bit of a walk out at low tide, but once you’re in the water and reach the reef, it’s well worth it. There are beautiful walls teeming with little critters and plenty of turtles cruising past.
Boat Diving and a Surprise Party
On the second day we went boat diving. After getting kit loaded up at The Old Castle, we drove a short way to Bitoon Beach, where the dive boat was moored. We did two dives here, just as impressive as the shore dives, with crystal-clear water, even more critters to photograph, and loads of turtles.
As we headed back, the boat crew mentioned that, being Sunday, there was a party on Bitoon Beach later that afternoon with live bands, food, drinks and plenty of beer. As we helped unload the boat, the divemaster grinned and said, “Fancy a drink?” One beer turned into an afternoon full of music, local dancing, fantastic bands and great food. It was such a brilliant atmosphere and a completely unexpected highlight of the trip.
Later on, we were driven back to The Old Castle Resort to freshen up, where the evening carried on with more drinks, more food and plenty of laughs. Both the diving and the hospitality here were excellent. I’d happily recommend it to anyone visiting Anda.
After an unforgettable few days of diving and enjoying the relaxed vibe in Anda, it was time to move on to the next stop. The same transfer company, Palaweña Travel and Tours, had already arranged our car from Ander Divers Garden Resort back to Panglao, where we planned to spend a couple of nights and fit in a bit more diving before continuing north to Malapascua.
Anda really delivered some fantastic diving and great memories, both underwater and on the beach.
