Let me guess.
You’re in Bohol, and you’ve already seen it all.
Napaling’s glowing, almost shocking orange coral reef.
Balicasag, with its slow-gliding turtles and schools of colorful fish.
The dolphins cutting the aquamarine-and-white surface of the water.
Think you’ve seen it all?
Not quite.
There’s one spot you’re missing, and honestly, it’s totally underrated!
It is:
Bohol’s plane wreck.
Interested to see it?
Read on!
Planning to freedive in Bohol? Check out my full Bohol freediving guide here!
Bohol Plane Wreck Fast Facts
TL;DR
Not enough time to read this entire blog?
Here are fast facts hot and ready for you:
How to get to Bohol’s Plane Wreck:
Head to Oceanica Resort (previously called South Palms) in Panglao. You can swim out to the plane wreck from the beach. Here’s Oceanica on Google Maps:
Oceanica Resort Entrance Fee:
None. All you have to do is buy something at their restaurant.
Oceanica Resort Opening Hours:
Oceanica is a resort, so it’s open 24/7. However, the restaurant is only open from 6 AM to 10:30 PM, so walk-in guests are only allowed in between those times.
How much you’ll spend to see the Bohol Plane Wreck:
There are no official guides to take you to the plane wreck, as it’s not an official tourist site. However, you can find some fishermen to take you there. Tip them according to your ability and generosity.
Bohol Plane Wreck Fun Facts: 3 Things You Should Know Before Visiting
Fun time!
Here are 3 facts that’ll get you intrigued about Bohol’s Plane Wreck dive site.
Bohol Plane Wreck Fun Fact #1: No One Knows Who Owned the Plane (Or What Happened to It)
Bohol’s Plane Wreck is a small seaplane lying around 6 meters beneath the surface.
It’s a dull yellow, rusting in parts and quite old.
Who owned the plane?
Who was flying it over the water?
What happened?
No one knows.
There are rumors, but the actual story is unknown.
This makes it even more fun to dive into it, imagining all the possibilities it holds.
Bohol Plane Wreck Fun Fact #2: It’s Creepy Fun Diving in It!
If you’ve ever dived in a shipwreck, you know how creepy it feels.
The old decks, the coral-encrusted prow, the spooky, shadowed rooms where ghosts might walk (swim, I mean).
Know what?
The Bohol Plane Wreck is the same!
Sure, it’s a small plane.
It’s composed of only a tiny cabin, where the pilot who flew it sat when he crashed into the ocean.
But the creepy vibes are still there!
The old rusted seat, the view from the blurry glass of the cockpit, the immobile wings and tail, forever forbidden to fly into the sky.
You can crawl into the cockpit, sit where that unknown pilot once sat, and imagine what he felt as his plane’s nose hit the water.
A spooky, fun experience, if you ask me!
Bohol Plane Wreck Fun Fact #3: It’s Not for the Lazy
If you’re planning to visit the Bohol Plane Wreck, make sure you’re reasonably fit.
Why?
The plane is farther than you expect.
If you read about it on Google, read that it’s “relatively close to shore”…
…don’t believe it!
The plane wreck is far from shore.
Think 20 minutes of finning, swimming away from the shore.
Don’t worry, though.
You can always hire a fisherman to take you on a boat to see the wreck (if you’ve got money to spare).
If not?
Prepare for one helluva swim!
It’s fun, though, if you ask me.
You’ll go through a long stretch of sea grass populated with tons of starfish.
If you’re not the lazy type, you’re sure to enjoy this swim almost as much as the plane wreck itself.
What to Expect When You Visit the Bohol Plane Wreck
Here’s our experience of the Bohol Plane Wreck.
One, a long, long swim out from the beautiful, white sands of Oceanica Resort.
Blue and rust-colored starfish nestled in waving sea grass.
Waves, cobalt and teal, rocking our bodies as we swam.
A short search for the plane, which included asking a random fisherman where it was.
He pointed, nonchalant, a little uninterested or annoyed.
And there it was!
Resting roughly 8 meters beneath the surface.
A little seaplane, mustard-yellow, rusty, sleeping forever beneath the waves.
We dived down, hung onto its wings.
We crawled into the cockpit, looked out of the blurred glass at the unending blueness of the water.
We peered under its belly at the darkness beneath.
After around 30 minutes and a few dives, we headed back (another long swim).
And that was it!
A fun, unique experience.
I mean, we hear all the time about shipwrecks.
Why not an underwater plane wreck?
It’s just as exciting.
How to Get to the Bohol Plane Wreck (It’s a Bit Unusual)
As I’ve said before, the Bohol Plane Wreck isn’t a standard tourist spot.
Not many know about it.
Not many go to see it.
Which makes it perfect for you, doesn’t it?
But here’s the catch.
It’s a little harder to find it.
With standard tourist spots, you have guides, fees, registration personnel, everything written in stone.
For the Bohol Plane Wreck, you need me (and what I’m going to say right now) to find it.
Hehehe. 😁
Ok, so follow these instructions.
Step #1: Head to Oceanica Resort, Panglao.
Looks beautiful, doesn’t it?
It is.
Oceanica is one of Panglao’s fancy resorts.
But don’t click back just yet!
I didn’t say you’ll have to spend too much money.
Hold on and go to…
Step #2: Tell the receptionist you want to see the plane wreck.
When you arrive at the reception area, you might be worried because the people ahead of you in the queue are paying PHP 600 per person to get into the resort.
That’s the entrance fee, which includes a visit to a kiddie farm of some sort.
A real farm, not a “farm.”
Anyway.
Tell the receptionist that you just want to see the plane wreck.
And voila!
They will let you enter. (Magic!)
All they’ll tell you is to buy something at the restaurant after the dive.
There are cheap items on the menu, like this coffee.
So, not to worry about breaking the bank.
Step #3: Swim out towards the red circle buoy in the distance.
See it in the distance?
No?
That’s because, like I said, it’s far.
Believe me.
But it’s a fun swim, if you’re up for it.
Enjoy!
If you get lost, ask random fishermen on the way to the buoy.
Step #4: Enjoy!
Have fun!
You deserve it, after your long swim!
Step #5: Order something at the restaurant
Hint: You don’t have to.
There’s no police checking whether or not you ordered after diving at the plane wreck.
But hey, you might (MIGHT) feel guilty.
And actually, the food is pretty good!
We had these nachos with a fancy dip. (Photo above)
Big, not that expensive, quite yummy.
Also, the view is so pretty.
And the seating area is quite comfy.
And that’s it!
Your plane wreck diving experience is complete, ending with a delicious meal by the sea.
Who to Contact to Visit the Bohol Plane Wreck
Don’t want to go on the plane wreck adventure on your own?
No problem.
You can contact my old friend, former freediving national record holder and instructor, Niel.
His shop is called Kauban Freediving.
Follow and contact him here! (You won’t regret it.)
Facebook: kaubanfreediving
Instagram: @kaubanfreediving
Who the Bohol Plane Wreck Is For (Surprise. Or Not?)
Ok, this is the part where I say that the Bohol Plane Wreck can be enjoyed by anyone.
Except it can’t.
Honestly, this dive site is best for freedivers.
Why?
First, the swim towards it is long, and you can run into boats along the way.
It’s an open water swim, which means it can get wavey, and the currents can be slightly strong.
Then, the plane wreck itself is 8-12 meters deep (depending on the tide).
The area can be scary for non-freedivers, so far from shore in deep water.
Also, there are no life jackets available for rent nearby.
So YES.
If you’re an experienced freediver, go for it!
I don’t mean you have to be a deep diver or certified for an advanced course.
If you’re comfortable diving to 10 meters and swimming with waves, this experience will be fun for you.
If not?
You can wait for your friends in Oceanica, sitting back and sipping a coffee or a cocktail.
That’s fun too!
Bohol Plane Wreck: A Fun, Unique, Memorable Adventure
Think you’ve seen everything in Bohol?
Think again!
There may be adventures just waiting to be discovered around the corner.
Like the Bohol Plane Wreck!
If you’re a freediver, you shouldn’t miss it.
It’s a totally unique experience.
The seaplane buried within the waves.
The rusty cockpit, the wings that will never again fly.
The mysteriousness of it, the creepy feeling of seeing it nestled there, unmoving in the deep.
And if you’re the type who loves underwater photos and videos?
This is the perfect spot to take them.
You won’t regret it!
Note: if you’re visiting Bohol soon, check out my brother’s full Bohol travel guide, or read my Bohol freediving guide next!