From left: Panglao Councilor and festival organizing committee Chairman Aya Montero-Caindec, Mayor Leonila Paredes Montero, Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap, Panglao Association of Dive Operators President Ivy BulayBulay Kung, Department of Tourism-7 Regional Director Shalimar Hofer Tamano, Modala Beach Resort President Manny Mendoza and General Manager Rommel Gonzales at the opening ceremony of the second Panglao Dive Festival on June 16, 2021 CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
THE Municipality of Panglao in Bohol, one of the country's top scuba diving sites, hosted the second Panglao Dive Festival in cooperation with the Department of Tourism-Region 7 (DoT-7) to showcase the island town's rich underwater tourism gem. Held at the newly opened Modala Beach Resort from June 16 to 21, the festival featured a dive trade and travel expo, underwater photography contest, the AIDA Panglao depth competition, coral reef restoration, community coastal cleanup and discover scuba diving sessions.
Revived after six years of inactivity, the fest is now part of the DoT's first DIVE7 Summer Event, which showcases the world-class dive sites in the region such as Moalboal, Malapascua and Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu; Siquijor province; and Dauin town in Negros Oriental.