Magic Oceans Dive Resort

Magic Oceans Dive Resort was great for my first visit to the Philippines, and I love the country! The location is wonderful and quiet, the bungalows were clean and very nice, and the food was great, though I would’ve liked more seafood. Staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional, and management spent time socializing with guests. They also offer great excursions, and I suggest doing one or more. The diving was amazing, especially with the great guides Larry and JR. If you’re looking for a place to dive in the Philippines, this is it!

The diving near the resort is high quality, with both muck and wall dives, and the guides are helpful and knowledgeable. My cousin is a photographer and was setting up new equipment, so they assigned a guide just for him, which was really nice. That might not always be possible depending on how many guests are there, but it’s great that they do it when they can. Food is high quality, with a daily special as well as a standard menu. I recommend the Sotanghan soup, a tasty Filipino soup with rice noodles and different kinds of seafood. The staff can also arrange trips to Bohol’s land attractions, including the chocolate hills and tarsiers. They have several island tours, and some include the chocolate hills. If you head north just for the hills, the 1-1.5 hour trip may not be worth it on its own, so make it a full day trip. It’s a cool place for photos. Anda is a fun local spot about 15 minutes away, with things to do on a diving rest day if you’re interested: the market, nightly pickleball, and a limestone cave attraction. Ask staff for details, as the town sometimes has an event like a farmer's market, depending on the day. Most, if not all, of the staff live in Anda. It’s a fantastic dive resort with great service all around. Tagbilaran is a bit of a drive, but the location makes up for it.

The diving was great, and if you want to visit a beach, there’s one about 20 minutes away. The resort is in wonderful shape, with a clean, lovely pool. Staff were well trained, extremely courteous, and conscientious. The food and drinks were really well done.

A beautiful, peaceful spot for divers. Diving was great, with something for everyone, and staff were friendly and efficient. The manager did a great job and spent time with all the guests. Meals are included, beautifully presented, and offer a wide range of cuisine with local flavors. The chefs really add to the resort. I felt at home and relaxed. There were more European guests, which made for a nice change and some great conversations around the bar and dining tables in the afternoons.