Table of Contents
If you are dreaming of seeing the incredible sardine run in Cebu, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to see this remarkable phenomenon.
Swimming amongst massive swirls of sardines in beautiful, crystal-clear tropical waters is genuinely one of our top travel experiences ever. We are very excited to share our knowledge and tips with you to help you plan your own experience.
In this article, we share everything you need to know to maximize your chance of experiencing the incredible sardine run in Cebu. We will share different ways of seeing the sardines. We will also help you avoid mistakes and give you some tips to maximize your experience.
WANT TO LEARN FREEDIVING? – The BEST freediving school in Moalboal
What is the sardine run in Cebu?
The sardine run is an incredible natural phenomenon where shoals of sardines swim in massive, swirling formations, creating natural arches, spirals, columns, and tornadoes. These magnificent underwater structures stretch right from the surface, reaching depths of 20 or 30 metres (although the sardine run can extend very deep, it is possible to enjoy it from the surface.) Individual sardines glisten in the sunlight, creating an incredible shimmering effect. In fact, this is a very clever adaptation, which allows the sardine to confuse and evade predators. The impressive and overwhelming size of these structures also creates a sense of a large and intimidating organism, thereby deterring even large predators.
This really is one of the most magnificent under-water experiences. Whether you’re snorkelling, diving or freediving – swimming amongst impressive underwater formations like this is a truly etherial experience. In fact, if you’re planning to visit Cebu – we recommend taking a few days in Moalboal – even if the sardine run is the only thing you see (actually there is a lot more to do in the area!). Keep reading for more tips, details and insights.
What is the best place to see the sardine run in Cebu?
The best place to see the Sardine run in Cebu is in Moalboal. This is a beautiful town situated on the west coast and well-known for its stunning snorkeling and diving. There are lots of advantages to seeing the Sardine run in Moalboal.
Firstly, the water is particularly clear in this area. This gives you great visibility; typically, the visibility is at least 15m. This is sufficient to admire the incredible underwater structures formed by the sardines. Another advantage of seeing the Sardine run in Moalboal is the accessibility. The Sardine run can generally be seen at the coral reef drop-off around 50m from the beach. It is very easy to swim to the coral reef drop-off from the shore, so you do not need to rely on taking a boat or arranging an island-hopping trip. It is right there on your doorstep.
Moalboal is also a great area to stay. There are plenty of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses in the area. You can also find lots of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants around Moalboal. As a diving town, there are plenty of diving schools, and it is also very easy to rent equipment. For example, you can easily get hold of a snorkel, mask, fins, and other equipment. It is also very easy to find guides and arrange snorkeling trips. Moalboal is also a fantastic location to see and swim with sea turtles, and the coral reef is particularly vibrant and healthy in this area.
Full Guide – How to travel From Cebu City to Moalboal
How elusive is the Sardine run?
You might be wondering how difficult it is to see the sardine run in Cebu. Is this a strange and rare phenomenon that requires a lot of time and observation in the water, or is it relatively easy to see in the area?
The great news is that the Sardine run is a very common phenomenon in the Moalboal area. You can see the Sardine run throughout the year (including both sunny and rainy days). You can also see the Sardine throughout the day, from the early morning until late afternoon (although the best time of day to see it is early in the morning). If you are planning to swim during cloudy or rainy weather, there is a reasonable chance of jellyfish encounters. At the time of writing, there have not been any observations of box jellyfish in the area.
In general, you do not need to swim far to see the Sardine run. Just head to the Panagsama Beach area, rent your kit, pay the environmental fee, and swim out to the reef drop-off, around 50 m from the shore. A little swimming in this area, and you should see the Sardine Run.
What is the best way to see the Sardine run in Moalboal?
There are several different ways to see the Sardine run in Moalboal. In this section, we will summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
1. Independent Snorkeling (cheap & intrepid)
The cheapest and easiest way to see the Sardine run in Cebu is to rent a snorkel, mask, and fins, and go independently. There are plenty of rental shops situated around Panagsama Beach. You will also need to pay for the environmental fee; this costs 100 pesos per person, and there is a kiosk situated next to Chili Bar in the Panagsama Beach area. If you’re staying for a few days, we recommend that you request they put the full date range of your visit on your receipt. Remember to keep hold of your receipt because you might be asked for it.
Once you have your equipment and you have paid your environmental fee, you can just paddle out into the water and swim up to the Coral Reef Drop-off. This is situated around 50m from the shore. If you are trying to find the Sardine run independently, we recommend arriving early in the morning. During the early hours, there are fewer people in the water, and the sardines are often more active. The optimum time is between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. If you’re planning to go out early in the morning, make sure that you rent your equipment the night before because many rental places do not open until at least 9:00 a.m. Finding the Sardine run is relatively straightforward.
All you need to do is swim out to the Coral Reef Drop-off and then swim along the drop-off, parallel to the beach. A short swim, and you should be able to see magnificent swirls of sardines. If you are not a strong swimmer, we recommend renting a life jacket or going with a guided tour group. You can also rent life rings for 100 pesos per day. If you hold the life ring in front of you (rather than around your body), you should be able to submerge your face in the water and breathe using your snorkel. This will allow you to observe the spectacular underwater landscape while using the life ring to help you remain buoyant.
2. Take a Snorkeling Tour (fun & sociable)
If you’re not confident going independently, we recommend booking yourself onto a snorkeling tour. There are a wide range of different options. In general, the cheapest way to arrange a snorkeling tour is to arrive in the area and speak to some local guides. You can generally join a group tour for around 350 pesos per hour (the price in the Philippines is flexible, so you will need to be willing to barter to get a reasonable price).
It is important to check whether your tour includes equipment rental and environmental fees. If these are included, the tour may cost a little more. It is also very easy to arrange a private tour. This is likely to cost around 700 pesos per hour, depending on your guide. Again, we recommend shopping around and bartering to get a fair price. It is also important to check whether they can include equipment (e.g. snorkel, mask, and fins).
3. Go Scuba Diving (peaceful & immersive)
FULL GUIDE – Everything you need to know about Diving in Moalboal
Another surreal and beautiful way to enjoy the Sardine run is to take a scuba dive in the area. You don’t need to take a special type of dive in order to see and experience the Sardine run. In fact, any scuba diving in the area gives you a very high chance of seeing the sardines. For example, if you are a beginner to scuba diving, you could take a discovery dive where an instructor supervises you closely and helps you.
Alternatively, if you have your open water certificate but you have not done a scuba dive recently, you could take a refresher dive. If you take a refresher dive, an instructor should help remind you of the key principles of diving, and they will watch you closely throughout the dive. If you are an experienced diver, just show up to one of the dive schools and talk to them about your goals and aspirations. A good way to see the sardines if you are scuba diving is to dive to around 10 or 15 meters and swim along the Coral Reef Drop-off (parallel with the shore). This kind of depth should take you below the level of the reef drop-off so that you can look up and see the scale and grandeur of the Sardine run. If you are hoping to capture the experience, speak to your instructor about filming.
On the other hand, if you do have a camera, we recommend using a diving case. If you do not have your own camera, speak to your instructor. Most of the diving schools in the area have cameras available to use, and they will be able to share footage with you. A massive advantage of scuba diving is the amount of time that you get to enjoy the Sardine run under the water. Most scuba dives last at least 30 or 40 minutes.
How do you arrange a scuba dive in Cebu?
The cheapest way to arrange a dive in the area is to arrive in town and walk around some diving shops to get some quotes, and remember to barter; prices are often flexible in the Philippines. We recommend booking your dive around 1 or 2 days in advance, although it is even possible to show up and do a dive on the same day. Remember to bring a copy of your Open Water certificate (some diving shops will want to see this).
If you already have your open water diving certificate, it generally costs around 1,200 pesos for a short dive (40-50 minutes). If you have not been scuba diving for a while, we recommend taking a refresher dive. This should include a short training session, and your instructor will also help you along the way. It generally costs around 2,500 pesos for a refresher dive.
If you have time and you are hoping to learn to scuba dive, there are plenty of schools in the area. The open water diving certificate is not cheap, but it is a great way to immerse yourself in the stunning environment and learn a new skill. In this area, it generally costs around 17,500 pesos to do the PADI Open Water (this is normally 3 days and includes 5 dives). You can also take the PADI Advanced course; this generally costs around 17,000 pesos in this area.
What equipment do you need to see the sardine run?
Before you see the sardine run, you will need to plan your equipment. We recommend thinking about your goals, aspirations, and needs. Here is a list of equipment:
1 Swimming kit
We recommend using a rash guard in the water. This can both protect you from the Sun and also from jellyfish. Fortunately, it is not necessary to use a wetsuit. The water in Cebu is relatively warm, and a wetsuit is not required. We did find it a little bit cold, especially during rainy weather or overcast conditions. However, a wetsuit is not essential.
2 Snorkel and mask
We recommend having a good snorkel and mask. Make sure that it is comfortable and fits well so that your mask does not fill with water. There are plenty of shops around Moalboal where you can rent snorkel, mask, and fins (especially the Panagasama beach area). They generally charge a standard price of 100 pesos per day. If you are renting a lot of equipment or you’re going for several days, you should be able to negotiate cheaper deals.
3 Swimming fins
We strongly recommend that you use swimming fins in the water around Moalboal. In general, there is a weak southbound current moving parallel to the shore. If you spend a while admiring the sardines, you may find that you have drifted down the shore. Fins will help you swim back. Also, if you are planning to dive into the sardine run, fins will help you move faster in the water. Most in the area offer both short fins and long fins. We used short fins with no problems. Short fins cost 100 pesos per day, and long fins cost 300 pesos per day.
4 Life ring & life jacket
Going swimming with a life ring may sound a little bit extreme; however, a life ring can be very useful. If you are not a strong swimmer or if you are planning to dive down and swim through the sardine run, a life ring can support you with buoyancy and give you a place to rest in the water. (This is particularly useful if you are relaxing before a dive or recovering from a dive.) The best way to use a live ring is to lie flat in the water (face down), hold the ring in front of you with both hands. You can then relax and breathe through your snorkel.
When we go swimming with our kids in the ocean, we almost always use a live ring. There are several shops around the area offering life ring rental for 100 pesos per day. If you are not a strong swimmer, you may also want to use a life jacket in the water. You can generally rent life jackets for 100 pesos per day. It is also possible to find kid-size life jackets in the area.
5 Water shoes
If possible, we recommend using water shoes. This is particularly important if you’re planning to swim at low tide. You will need to walk out until it is deep enough to swim, which means walking over rocky terrain. There are stonefish in the area and banded sea kraits. You can rent water shoes for 100 pesos or buy a pair for around 350 pesos.
5 Waterproof camera
Most people who see the Sardine run also want to capture the experience, whether it is just for your memories or for your social media. We recommend using a good waterproof action camera and a diving case with a buoyant selfie stick. It is also helpful to have a wrist loop to go around your wrist so you do not lose the camera in the water. We do not recommend bringing your mobile phone into the water, even if you’re using a waterproof phone case. These are generally not sufficiently waterproof for swimming in the ocean. If you are taking a trip with a guide, speak to them about filming. They may even have a camera that you can borrow and send you the footage.
Top Tips for Observing the Sardine Run in Cebu
- Bring a Buddy – If possible, we recommend going with a friend or travel companion. This will allow you to get better film footage and photography. It also makes the whole experience safer and more enjoyable.
- Plan Your Filming – If you are hoping to capture the experience, you will need to dive with a buddy and plan your filming and photography strategy. If you need high-resolution photography, you will need to consider a good underwater camera and make sure the settings are right before you go. However, we recommend using a high-resolution video and taking screenshots of the best moments. Using a video and taking screenshots allows you to capture the best angles and the optimum parts of the experience.
- No Need to Dive – The great news is that you do not need to dive deep to enjoy witnessing the marvelous Sardine Run. You can see the whole spectacle from the surface using a snorkel and mask. However, if you are hoping to get some amazing photography where you are surrounded by and immersed in the Sardine Run, you will need to be willing and able to do a little bit of diving. If you’re interested in learning to dive more deeply, we recommend taking a freediving course in the area.
- Arrive Early – The Sardine Run is generally at its best in the early hours of the morning, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (Also, strictly speaking, you do not need an environmental fee to swim at this time.) If you are able to arrive early, the waters will also be more calm and quiet, with fewer groups of snorkelers, so this is a great time for filming and photography as well.
- Plan to Be Around for a Few Days – This one depends on your personal itinerary and needs, so you may not be able to spend a few days in the area. However, if you are able, we do strongly recommend planning a few days in the area. This will give you more opportunities to swim or dive. The more time you have here, the greater your chance of experiencing amazing moments in the water. There are plenty of resorts, hotels, and guest houses in the area.
