Diving in Moalboal – Everything you need to know 2025

2 Visibility

Secondly, the visibility in this region is generally fantastic. On a clear, calm, sunny day, the visibility is normally at least 10 – 15 metres (sometimes more). Even during spells of bad weather, the visibility is normally around 5 – 10m. This is sufficient to observe and enjoy the stunning underwater landscape. The excellent visibility in this area is conducive to a fantastic, out of this world diving experience. 

3 Underwater Landscape

Thirdly, the underwater topography in this area is very unique. Most diving schools operate directly from the beach in this area. You do not need to take a boat because the best diving is right on your doorstep (in fact, this keeps the price of diving down). The water close to the shore is very shallow. You generally need to paddle out for around 20 – 50 metres. There is a steep wall around 100 metres from the beach. The reef drop-off goes to around 20m depth.

There is a second reef drop-off to around 40m – 60m depth (there really is something for every level here). The sudden and dramatic increase in depth increases the biodiversity of the ecosystem. There are also other interesting underwater features, such as a mermaid sea sculpture (around 5m deep) and sea caves in the area.

Other reasons to stay in Moalboal…

MOALBOAL is also a very beautiful town with lots of lovely places to eat and it is also the BEST place to arrange your Kawasan Canyoneering trip.

How much does it cost to go diving in Moalboal?

Fortunately, diving in this area is relatively affordable. The price of diving in the area depends on your school; we recommend shopping around and trying out a few different diving centers to work out the best option for you and get the best prices.

• Prices generally start at around 1,200 – 1,400 pesos (£16 – £20 or $20 – $25)  for a short dive (assuming you are already confident, experienced, and have your open water diving certificate).
• You can do a boat dive for around 1,400 pesos – 1,600 pesos (£20 – £22 or $25 – $28).
• A night dive is likely to cost between 1,500 pesos and 2,000 pesos (£20 – £28 or $25 – $32)
• It is possible to do a refresher dive for 2,500 pesos (£35 or $40). A refresher dive should also include a training session to re-familiarize yourself with the equipment, safety, and principles of diving.
• You can find schools offering PADI open water diving courses for around 17,500 – 22,000 pesos (£250 – £310 or $200 – $350). Open water diving courses generally take around 3 days and include 4 – 5 dives.

If you are hoping to do multiple dives, speak to your diving school about a package. Many schools can offer a discounted rate if you book three or more dives. Some diving centers in the area also offer nitrox diving (this allows you to stay underwater at depth for a little longer).

What are the best diving schools in Moalboal?

There are a lot of diving centers and diving schools situated in Moalboal; generally speaking, you only need to arrange your dive a day or two in advance, so you don’t necessarily need to choose your diving school before you arrive in town. If you have time, you can walk around and speak to a few different diving centers and ask about their prices and experiences. Here are a few of the best diving schools in the area:

1 Floi Diving Center (cheapest option in Moalboal)

Situated right in the heart of town, this is one of the most affordable diving centers in Moalboal. They offer dives for 1,200 pesos (£16 or $20). Floi can also offer an open water diving course for 17,500 pesos (£250 or $300). They have super friendly, experienced English-speaking diving instructors.

2 Blue Abyss Dive Shop

Shore dives start at 1,400 pesos (around £20 or $25). They also offer a very good range of PADI diving courses. You can do the open water diving course for 14,000 pesos, e-Learning only and 4 dives (around £200 or $250). Check out the Blue Abyss Dive Shop official website.

3 Savedra Philippines

Dives start at 1,400 pesos (around £20 or $25). Their open water courses start at 21,900 pesos (£300 or $350). They have excellent English-speaking guides and a wide range of courses and experiences on offer.

4 Cebu Fun Divers

Situated to the south of Moalboal, dives start at 1,400 pesos (around £20 or $25) with discounts for multiple dives. They offer the PADI open water diving course for 21,900 (£300 or $350)

Diving in Moalboal – Top tips to help you make the most of your trip

1 Take an early morning diving trip

In this area, the water is at its best early in the morning. The sun rises around 6 am in Cebu. Speak to your diving center about the possibility of doing an early morning dive; ideally, it is best to be in the water before 9 am. If you do an early morning dive, the water is likely to be calmer. It is also a better time to see fish and marine organisms.

2 Plan a few days in the area

If possible, we recommend planning a few days in Moalboal (particularly if you’re planning to travel in the rainy season). If you are unable to dive due to bad weather conditions, having a few days in the area increases your chances of an amazing diving experience. Moalboal is a beautiful area to stay; there are plenty of guest houses, hostels, hotels, and resorts in the area. There are also lots of things to see and do around Moalboal. If you are able to spend a few days in the area, you could even do several dives.

3 Don’t forget to pre-equalize

If you are planning to do several dives in Moalboal (or you’re doing a diving course), it is very important to look after your ears properly. An ear infection or a pressure-related ear injury (called a barotrauma) could ruin your diving trip. So, it is important to make sure that you equalize properly and consistently. Once you have an injury, this can stop you from doing further dives. Ideally, you should equalize on the surface before you descend (called pre-equalizing) and continue to equalize consistently as you descend. Your diving instructor can teach you good equalization techniques.

4 Make your own ear wash

Unfortunately, ear infections are a very common problem for divers. One of the best ways to avoid an ear infection is to use an ear wash after you have been diving. You can make your own ear wash using a 50:50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and distilled white vinegar. You can buy all of these products in the 7-Eleven convenience store in Moalboal.

5 Decide on what you want to see and do 

Before you go diving in Moalboal, consider what things you hope to see and do. This will enable you to find the right diving center for you. You can speak to your diving instructor about your experience. There are a lot of things to see and do in the area; you may be interested in a deeper dive, going along the bottom of the reef drop-off. Perhaps you are interested in seeing the spectacular sardine run, or maybe you hope to swim with wild sea turtles. Whatever your aspirations and goals, it is important to speak to your diving instructor before you go. Remember, they know the water well and they can help maximize your experience.

6 Check your equipment

When you go diving in Moalboal, your diving center should provide everything that you need for your dive, including scuba diving equipment, weight belt, diving mask, and diving fins. Before you go for your dive, check that your equipment is in good working order and that there is no damage; it is also important to check that everything fits well and comfortably. If you get the chance, we recommend trying the diving fins in the water before you go so you don’t develop a blister.

Is it worth doing an open water diving course in Moalboal?

If you’re coming to do an open water diving course, then Cebu is a fantastic destination. Not only can you get your diving qualification, but you can also experience some of the most beautiful diving in the world while you learn. There are a lot of diving schools in the area, so you can choose a course that suits your needs. This also keeps the price of diving down. It is also nice to be able to rest on the beach or go to a cafe between your dives (rather than waiting on a boat).

Moalboal is a relatively affordable destination to do your open water diving course. Open Water courses in the area are significantly cheaper than Europe and Australia; however, it is possible to find cheaper diving destinations in Southeast Asia (for example, Koh Tao in Thailand is one of the cheapest destinations in the world for Open Water courses).

What is the best way to get to Moalboal?

CHECK OUT THE FULL GUIDE – How to travel from Cebu City to Moalboal

The cheapest way to travel from Cebu City to Moalboal is to take a bus. The journey takes around 4 hours. It is very cheap, costing only 209 pesos (around £3 or $3.50). To get the bus, you will need to go to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. There is not a strict bus schedule, so you can just turn up, buy your ticket, and wait for the next bus to depart. You generally only need to wait around 20 or 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can rent a car in Cebu City and drive to Moalboal. In the Philippines, this is called a self-drive car rental (long-distance taxis are sometimes also referred to as “car rentals,” so it can be confusing!). Car rental in Cebu City starts at around 1,000 pesos per day (around £14 or $18). You will need to barter to get the best possible price. Drive carefully because the roads are pretty crazy around Cebu City.

LEARN MORE – don’t miss our Full guide to Diving in Cebu