Cabilao Sanctuary Beach & Dive Resort

Had a great time at Cabilao Sanctuary. Beautiful resort, where clearly someone put a lot of attention on aesthetic details, which sets it positively apart from other places. Good food too. I particularly want to highlight our diving instructor Brad, who was committed, always engaged, very competent, and full of positive energy. 10/10. Two small downsides: - It felt like there wasn’t a “face” of the place. Everyone was polite, but the experience was a bit passive. On arrival we didn’t get a full tour or a clear rundown of diving logistics (schedule, activities, how to contact Brad), so we ended up having to ask for most details. A dedicated host/guest-relations person would really elevate things. - Wi‑Fi was only reliable at the restaurant and around the pool, not in the rooms (and we were in one of the rooms closest to the pool). This feels like an easy fix with additional access points/repeaters, and at this higher price point (compared to other resorts on the island) I’d expect solid in-room coverage. But yeah, as mentioned initially, we had a great stay. The resort is very nice and the beauty of the surrounding nature is stunning.

A true Sanctuary. If you love diving and/or snorkeling this is truly heaven. Brad, the dive instructor, and the team made us feel safe and comfortable in the water. Equipment, boats, facilities, everything is new, well-maintained, and top notch. The resort has clean rooms, a great pool, very helpful staff, and great food. The food and diving is priced fair and realistic, as they don't compromise on safety, and need to import everything to this remote island. So if you want to party, have lots of cheap options, or want to bargain everything, you are not the intended customer here. There is also little else to do on the island and the guests are all into diving/snorkeling. You can rent a bike to explore Cabilao island, but you will eat, sleep, and dive in/from the resort. For us this was absolutely a good thing! To close: Brad the dive instructor is an AMAZING professional! He will do everything to keep you safe and teaches diving properly!

We had an amazing time with Cabilao Divers Dive Center. Dive instructor Brad and his entire crew were absolutely professional and clearly knew exactly what they were doing. We completed our SSI AOWD and Nitrox certifications here and learned an incredible amount thanks to Brad’s extensive experience and calm, confident teaching style. His guides, Chen Chen and Alvin, were exceptional as well – their ability to spot tiny macro life was impressive. Seahorses, nudibranchs, and shrimp that we would have completely missed on our own suddenly appeared right in front of us. The equipment is mostly new and very well maintained (the only small wish: neoprene boots in size 13 would be awesome!). They operate multiple boats, all of which are in great condition. A special mention goes to Oscar, our captain on most dives – a very calm, friendly, and professional presence on the water. The hotel/resort itself was also a great part of the experience. The room was clean and comfortable, and the bed was surprisingly comfy — not a given in the Philippines, where beds are often very hard. Both A/C and fan worked perfectly. The resort’s water supply comes from collected rainwater, which understandably requires noticeable chlorine for disinfection, but free drinking water and complimentary bottles are provided (and they actually make for a nice little souvenir to take home). Getting to the resort is a small adventure in itself, as you’re dropped off directly at the beach in front of the resort — a fun and memorable arrival. The food was very good overall, and the staff was friendly and attentive. During busy hours it could take a bit longer for the kitchen to prepare meals, but everything was freshly made and well worth the wait. Another big plus: it’s incredibly quiet. No roosters at 3 a.m., no karaoke next door at 8 a.m. — something we unfortunately experienced at several other resorts in Bohol, Dauin, and Siquijor. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to relax between dives, this is it. We enjoyed every minute both underwater and on the surface, met some wonderful people along the way, and are still in touch with a few of them today. Pricing was very fair, and the entire operation was clearly focused on giving guests the best possible experience. Brad and his team consistently went the extra mile to accommodate our needs. We had a fantastic time and would absolutely return. Highly recommended! 🌊🤿

We stayed at this resort for a week and had an overall nice experience. The staff were very friendly, and the dive center offered good equipment, great guides, and dive sites within a maximum 15-minute boat ride from the resort. The house reef was excellent for snorkeling, and both diving and meals were reasonably priced. Meal options were okay, but more variety—especially fruits, vegetables, and breakfast choices—would be welcome. The room air conditioning could have been colder, some beach furniture could be upgraded, and Wi-Fi was only available in public areas, but overall we enjoyed our stay.

Brad was a first-class diving instructor who struck the right balance between imparting knowledge and inspiring fascination. His lessons were very intensive and informative, but he always made sure that we, as students, enjoyed learning. This made learning the many new topics very enjoyable and a lot of fun. His fascination with marine life was absolutely contagious and ran like a thread through our lessons. Despite the fun factor, the important core values were conveyed with the appropriate amount of seriousness, and the consequences of our actions were also explained emphatically. It was always important to him that we develop a moral understanding of our existence and the sea and act accordingly. Paying attention, listening and acting when asked were the most important virtues here. In short, Brad is a first-class diving instructor who, with his great manner, imparts knowledge, values and a healthy dose of fascination for diving. Learning to dive with him was an absolute privilege. Our stay in Cabilao was very pleasant. The food was good, the service was always very friendly and the rooms were clean and air-conditioned, which ensured restful nights given the temperatures. The idyllic setting was fantastic. Greetings J&E

We had a perfect experience at this dive resort last summer. My 15-year-old daughter wanted to learn how to dive. She was a bit nervous, but as her mother I was even more nervous. Luckily, Brad handled it wonderfully. She stepped onto the boat with confidence, and I waved her off. She found it to be an enjoyable and challenging experience, one she still looks back on with great pleasure. It’s 100% recommended to take diving lessons with Brad, because he isa patient, reliable, and friendly instructor.

We had a wonderful experience in Cabilao sanctuary especially the diving lessons with Brad who is an amazing instructor. We have been able to complete our open water certification in three days in a really safe and pleasant way. We highly recommend it !

I had an amazing experience learning to dive with Brad! His patience with students and passion for diving truly stand out. He takes teaching seriously in the best possible way and he genuinely wants you to become a safe, confident and excellent diver. We had so much fun and Brad brings positive energy to every session that you always look forward to the next dive. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. Thank you Brad!