Diving Moalboal: Pygmy Seahorses to Whale Sharks

Diving Moalboal is perfect for those interested in macro and large ocean life. You will find a variety of nudibranch and frogfish. Then there is the possibility of whale sharks! Moalboal has the option to really see it all.

Quick Trip Overview

• Location: Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
• Closest Airport:  Cebu International Airport

Diving at Moalboal Quick Information

• Wet Suit: 3mm / Shortie / Skin
• Water Temperature: Average 30 surface, 28 bottom
• Current: High probability of drift diving
• Average Depths: 20m – reef walls can dip down to 40-45m.

Dive Season in Moalboal

The best time to dive Moalboal is during the dry season which is typically between the months of November to May. So, the best time to plan a trip to Moalboal for diving is November to May.

During the months of July to August is Typhoon season. This is also the rainy season. While you can still visit during this time period – just anticipate that some dive sites may not be accessible or that dives may be cancelled due to weather.

Recommended Certifications for Diving in Moalboal

Compared to most dive locations I have visited I found that Moalboal is great for anyone that is open water certified.

There were no tricky dives here that I believe would warrant needing speciality training.

My only recommendation would be to be advanced open water certified, as the reef walls can plunge deep and being advanced will allow you to explore more of the wall than being limited by depth.

Wildlife to Spot at Moalboal

Moalboal has a large variety of ocean life to encounter during dives. Here are some of the varieties that you may see while diving at Moalboal:

• Pygmy Seahorses – there were two sets located at the popular Sardine Run.
• Millions of Sardines – I will expand more in the next section, but there are lots and lots of sardines at the popular Sardine Run.
• Whale Shark(s) – Located north of the (in)famous Oslob, there is the chance to see whale sharks in Moalboal.
• Frogfish – I was fortunate to spot five different frogfish – three different species. This was exciting for me, as two of them were very small which makes them completely adorable.
• Anemonefish – There were an abundance of anemonefish there as well. I spotted three different types of anemonefish.
• Turtles – I do not think I have been to a location with so many turtles before. I saw at least one turtle on every dive I did at Moalboal.
• Electric Clams – if you are interested in some unique wildlife then make sure to visit Tongo and check out the collection of electric clams.

Dive Spots at Moalboal

• Sardine Run or Panagsama Beach – this is the most famous dive site for Moalboal. The reason for the fame is the thousands to millions of sardines that can be found right off of Panagsama beach. These sardines move in what is called a Sardine Ball, so you will see a mass of fish all swimming together. This is a great opportunity to photograph yourself with such a unique experience. This location also has the chance of encountering whale sharks – my guide told me that at least once a week there is a whale shark in the area – and I was lucky enough to see one during one of my three dives there!
  • Lens recommendation: Landscape or Fisheye Lens
• Pescador Island – this is the second most popular diving location. From Panagsama beach you will see a small island off the coast. This is Pescador Island. Most likely you will also see numerous boats anchored around the island as this is a popular morning dive destination. My recommendation is visiting the South to West side of the Island. On the Southside is where I spotted four different Frogfish (three different types). The shallow reef diving is great for exploring. This is also the location of some popular caves for photography.
  • Lens recommendations: Macro
• Tongo Marine Sanctuary – Located south of Panagsama beach is Tongo Marine Sanctuary. This location is most well-known for turtles – where you can spot a plethora on the dive, and then during surface intervals. During my dive there I encountered at least four different turtles. This is also the location for the electric clams! This was also the location for Pygmy Seahorses.
  • Lens recommendation: Macro

Dive Shops in Moalboal

Dive Resorts

I personally prefer staying at dive resorts as I enjoy being able to just dive, chill at my room during breaks, and then roll out of my bed the next morning and dive some more. For this I recommend:

• Kasai Village Dive Resort

The resort was incredibly affordable. The rooms were lovely, and it was away from the noise of Panagasama beach. This dive resort is a SSI resort.

Dive Shops

If you are interested in staying elsewhere and then arranging through a dive shop then I recommend just looking at Panagasama beach area. That is the central location for dive shops and you will have countless options.

How to Get to Moalboal

Moalboal is located two to four hours away from Cebu International Airport. There is the option of arriving your own ride or arranging a ride through your hotel. Most hotels will be able to arrange a driver for you to pick you up and then take you back. I opted for this as the last thing I want to do arriving late at night is trying to figure out how I am getting to my hotel.

If you are driving outside of rush hour, typically night hours, the drive down to Moalboal is a quick two-hour drive. However, if you are driving anytime during the day from 8 am to 7 pm expect there to be heavy traffic delays and the time increases to four hours.

Airport Options

Cebu International Airport: This main airport is easy to get flights to from within the Philippines but also internationally. Making Moalboal a great option for those traveling through Asia.

Transportation around Moalboal

There are numerous bikes and little street cars that offer rides. You can get rides around Moalboal for really cheap. Some hotels will also offer rides to the neighboring areas or help you arrange a ride.

Just make sure that your driver has a driver’s license. There are police checkpoints throughout Cebu island, and if your driver does not have a license you can be stranded.