The Alona Beach is one of the most famous tourist spots in Bohol province, Philippines, because of its white sand and the rocky cliffs. The beach is located near a "house" reef, where corals and colorful fishes can be seen even without diving equipment. It is a popular scuba-diving and snorkeling spot. It is situated less than two miles from the new Bohol-Panglao international airport.
Geography
The beach is situated on Panglao island, Philippines, just before the Panglao town. It is situated around from the port of Tagbilaran and about 2km from the new Panglao - Bohol International Airport. It is accessible by a sealed road, by car, motorbike, airport bus or Jeepney. Compared to other tourist locations, Alona Beach is rather small as it spans less than one kilometer of white powder sand surrounded by low rocky cliffs.
Economics
The dominant economic activity is tourism. The beach is usually quite busy, and quite clean. Many people enjoy strolling at sunset when the sky colors are spectacular. There are a number of restaurants, bars, and resorts located on the left side and the right side of the beach, some close down and stop playing music by 10 pm to protect the tourism industry which relies on early morning tours. Many resorts are offering a wide range of accommodation options with scuba and snorkeling as the most popular activities. The beach connects to the Panglao island circular road. Therefore, reaching other parts of the island is easy at almost any time of the day. The new air-conditioned airport bus connects Alona direct to the airport and to Tagbilaran city. Jeepney, private cars, tricycles, vans offer multiple options to move around.
Marine ecosystem
The underwater ecosystem is protected and the access to the marine reserve is limited every day. From time to time, boat trips are organized as far as Oslob to see whale sharks. Some can be spotted sporadically in the vicinity of the beach. The underwater fauna and the flora are rich ; there are many healthy corals, schools of fish, turtles, barracudas, lobsters and if lucky one may even spot whale sharks or dolphins. The underwater current can be quite strong from time to time, creating a lot of turbidity in the water.
Scuba diving
Alona Beach is a reputed destination for snorkeling and more importantly scuba diving. The nearby Balicasag and Pamilacan islands are of particular interest since both are marine reserves. There is a large number of dive shops in Alona Beach offering a variety of diving certification courses, technical courses and excursions for divers of all levels. Drift diving is a popular activity.
Fishing
Some sport fishing is organised on the beach but the main center for this activity is the seaport of Panglao town. Urchins are picked by locals and sold as a delicacy snack on the beach.
