Things to Do in Boracay Station 1: A Water Lover's Guide

By the New Wave Divers team, PADI 5★ Dive Resort in Boracay

Wondering what the best things to do in Boracay Station 1 are if you love the water? You've picked the right end of the island. Station 1 is the calm, upscale northern stretch of White Beach — powder-soft sand, clear shallows and Boracay's most photogenic sunsets — and it doubles as the launch pad for almost every water activity worth doing here. New Wave Divers has been based right on White Beach in Station 1 since 2003, so we know exactly how a water lover should spend a day here. This guide runs through the best in-the-water things to do, from trying scuba with zero experience to becoming a mermaid for an afternoon.

Where is Station 1, and why start your day here?

Station 1 is the northern section of White Beach — the sheltered, quieter end where the sand is at its finest and the water stays calm and shallow close to shore. That calm water is the whole reason it's such a good base for beginners: gear up, walk a few minutes down the sand, and you're in. Most of Boracay's dive and snorkel sites are only a short boat ride away, so you spend your time in the water, not in transfers. You'll find us on White Beach in Station 1 (Malay, Aklan), a short stroll from the Station 1 hotels and resorts.

1. Try scuba diving — no experience needed

If you've never breathed underwater, the single best thing to do at Station 1 is a Discover Scuba Diving experience. There's no certification, no experience and no strong swimming required — a PADI instructor stays at your side for the entire dive, teaches you a few simple skills in the shallows, then guides you along the reef to a maximum depth of 12 metres. The minimum age is 10 and groups are kept small. Love it? Your Discover Scuba fee credits toward a full Open Water course later. Already certified? Skip straight to a guided fun dive — our guides dive these sites daily and know where the turtles rest and the macro life hides.

2. Snorkel Boracay's reef

Not ready to strap on a tank? Snorkelling is the easiest way to meet Boracay's reef, and Station 1 is a natural jumping-off point. A guided snorkeling tour comes with full gear, a certified guide and photos included, so all you do is float and look down. It's ideal for families and first-timers, and it pairs perfectly with a lazy beach day. Curious which reefs are best? Our snorkeling tours page lays out the options, and you can preview the sites on our Boracay dive sites map before you go.

3. Freedive on a single breath

For something calmer and more meditative, try freediving — descending on one relaxed breath instead of a tank. A Discover Freediving session teaches you to breathe up, relax and glide down with a coach beside you the whole time, and no experience is needed to start. Boracay's calm, warm water is genuinely well suited to learning, and if you catch the bug you can carry on to a full PADI Freediver certification from our freediving centre. It's one of the most rewarding — and underrated — things to do in the water here.

4. Become a mermaid for the day

Boracay's most on-brand water activity happens right on Station 1's sand. On a guided mermaid cosplay photoshoot you slip into a stunning tail and pose in the White Beach shallows while our team captures the shots — all ages are welcome, and swimmers and non-swimmers alike can join. It's the island's most photogenic souvenir and a favourite with families, groups of friends and couples. See the full experience on our mermaid cosplay page.

5. Photograph Willy's Rock and White Beach

You don't need to book anything to enjoy the two icons of Station 1. Willy's Rock — the volcanic rock formation topped with a small grotto shrine — sits just offshore in the Station 1 shallows and is one of Boracay's most photographed landmarks; at low tide you can wade out for photos, and the surrounding shallows are fine for a little light snorkelling. White Beach itself is the other draw: walk the length of the powdery sand, swim in the calm water, and stay for one of Boracay's famous sunsets, which are at their best from this end of the beach.

6. Bring the kids in the water

Station 1's calm shallows are made for young water lovers. Younger children can get their first taste of scuba on our kids' PADI Bubblemaker program (from age eight, in shallow water with an instructor), while a snorkeling tour or a mermaid photoshoot suits the whole family. Everyone gets in the water, no one is left on the sand.

7. Learn to dive or get certified

If a day trying scuba turns into something bigger, Station 1's calm, clear water makes it a great place to actually learn. The PADI Open Water course is the world's most popular scuba certification and lets you dive to 18 metres anywhere in the world once you qualify — we run it in small groups with PADI 5★ instructors just offshore. Our full scuba diving section lays out every option, from a one-day Scuba Diver certification through to Advanced and beyond. For a deeper look at diving specifically from this beach, see our guide to scuba diving in Station 1.

How to plan your water day from Station 1

The simplest plan is to pick one water activity for the morning — when the water is calmest — and keep the beach and sunset for the afternoon. Message us ahead with your dates and experience level and we'll match you to the right activity and the day's boat schedule. See our contact page for the map, phone and WhatsApp, or book any activity online to lock in the current web rate. Booking direct is the cheapest way to go and secures your spot in peak season.