Explore Moalboal
Moalboal, nestled on the southwestern tip of Cebu in the Visayas region of the Philippines, offers an unparalleled diving experience. Known for its warm, clear waters and generally easy currents, Moalboal is a haven for divers of all levels. The town's laid-back atmosphere and minimal development add to its charm, providing a refreshing escape from bustling city life. Dive resorts and centers are plentiful, offering a wide range of choices for diving enthusiasts. From shore dives to boat trips, Moalboal caters to various diving styles, ensuring each dive is unique and memorable.
One of the highlights of diving in Moalboal is the world-renowned "Moalboal Sardine Run." This natural phenomenon, where millions of sardines form mesmerizing shapes, is a breathtaking spectacle that can be witnessed year-round. Additionally, Pescador Island, with its vibrant marine life and "The Cathedral" in the deep waters of the Tanon Strait, is a must-visit for divers seeking adventure. The region's diverse underwater landscapes, including deep walls, colorful reefs, and swim-throughs, host an array of marine creatures such as turtles, groupers, and sea snakes. For those seeking a thrilling challenge, Sunken Island offers a deep and exciting dive adventure. Moalboal truly stands out as a remarkable dive destination, inviting divers to explore its underwater wonders.
Dive Activity
Diving in Moalboal
As Moalboal is located facing into the Tanon Strait, most dives are considered wall dives along the steep drop offs, though there are some gentler reef dives too. There is a deliberately sunk Cessna plane in Rhonda Bay to explore as well.
Moalboal is well supplied with dive centers and dive resorts, and as it is largely a backpacker town, there are lots available to suit any budget. It is a popular location for dive courses due to its interesting and beginner friendly diving.
There are some liveaboards which operate in the area but none which leave out of Moalboal itself. Many transverse all of the Visayas region and leave from Cebu, so even if Moalboal isn’t on the itinerary - it is easy to tag on the beginning or end of your trip. They operate through most of the year but there might be less from April to June due to the short Tubbataha Reef high season that occurs in these months.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Moalboal
The marine life encounters in Moalboal are dominated by the famous sardine run. It has to be mentioned - millions of sardines surrounding you on a dive, even blocking the sunlight with their numbers, is unforgettable and will make this a number one dive for many. Reef sharks and hunting fish like tuna and trevally sometimes accompany the shoal, whipping it into a tight ball in order to feed.
Aside from the sardines, there is an abundance of life in Moalboal. Schools of other fish like barracuda and jacks are common. There are lots of turtles to swim with, some of which are huge. Looking into the reefs and corals will reveal a host of colourful life. Ribbon and moray eels hide in crevasses, and nudibranch and frogfish blend into the seabed. Cuttlefish, pygmy seahorse and ghost pipefish are common sights for those with sharp eyes. Shy octopus are frequent visitors too, especially during the mating season. You may even see a rare blue ringed one if you’re lucky! At night, timid beasties increase in numbers and you can add sightings of bobtail squid and an array of crustaceans to the list.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
1.4k Sightings
J
204
F
133
M
137
A
126
M
105
J
95
J
73
A
66
S
36
O
73
N
205
D
166
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
715 Sightings
J
91
F
76
M
54
A
53
M
52
J
43
J
37
A
32
S
22
O
42
N
105
D
108
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
267 Sightings
J
40
F
37
M
13
A
17
M
10
J
0
J
6
A
27
S
28
O
11
N
29
D
49
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
164 Sightings
J
31
F
9
M
1
A
6
M
5
J
1
J
14
A
8
S
11
O
8
N
45
D
25
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
1.3k Sightings
J
171
F
138
M
114
A
98
M
104
J
88
J
72
A
67
S
56
O
62
N
172
D
161
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
1.2k Sightings
J
155
F
140
M
97
A
106
M
81
J
101
J
65
A
75
S
48
O
59
N
168
D
120
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
iStock-Christian von Mach
Pipefish
1k Sightings
J
144
F
136
M
105
A
89
M
86
J
67
J
49
A
45
S
25
O
44
N
151
D
95
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
951 Sightings
J
129
F
120
M
76
A
89
M
61
J
86
J
38
A
53
S
31
O
30
N
121
D
117
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
681 Sightings
J
83
F
89
M
47
A
50
M
47
J
60
J
32
A
41
S
25
O
23
N
97
D
87
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
651 Sightings
J
91
F
78
M
45
A
40
M
39
J
63
J
32
A
48
S
13
O
19
N
93
D
90
The best Months to dive in Moalboal
It is possible to dive in Moalboal all year round. There is technically a wet season (June to November) where there will be more short downpours, and a dry season from December to May. Temperatures can drop a little from November to February. Water temperatures can drop as low as 25°C/77°F in December but for the rest of the year, they are usually around 28°C/82°F.
March to June have the highest temperatures of the year and are also the driest months, sometimes going weeks with no rainfall. Generally, February to June is considered high season and is the busiest. The visibility isn’t affected by the seasons and can range from 10 to 40 meters/33 to 131 feet depending on the day’s conditions.
