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In this article, we are going to tell you everything that you need to know so that you can find wild turtles in Moalboal. If you follow the advice that we share in this article, there is a very good chance that not only will you be able to see a wild turtle, but you will also be able to swim with them.
Swimming with a real wild turtle is one of the most dreamy and exhilarating ocean travel experiences. There is something magnificent about the way these majestic creatures glide through the water. In fact, for us personally, swimming with turtles rates amongst some of our favourite travel experiences anywhere, and we have traveled most of our adult lives. What’s more, Cebu is one of the best places that we have found to see turtles (and we have traveled all over southeast Asia).
In this article, we will equip you with lots of practical tips and information to give you the best possible chance of seeing and swimming with sea turtles in Cebu. We will share the best places to find turtles, how to spot them, and how to organize a trip so that you can swim with wild turtles in the water. We have included prices, local tips and insights to help you plan your own adventures.
Step-by-step guide – How to travel from Cebu City to Moalboal
What is the best place to swim with turtles in Cebu?
If you’re planning a visit to the beautiful island of Cebu, then we highly recommend you have a go at swimming with a wild sea turtle. Sea turtles live and swim in the oceans all around this beautiful island. So, you could jump into the water anywhere around Cebu, and there is a good chance that you will see a wild turtle (assuming you swim around for a little while).
The turtle species you are most likely to see in Cebu are Green Turtles and Hawksback Turtles. In most cases the turtles range between 50cm – 100cm in length.
One of the best locations to find wild sea turtles in Cebu is the beautiful town of Moalboal. This is a well-known spot for snorkeling, diving, and freediving. It also has several beautiful beaches. There are plenty of great places to eat and guest houses in the area. Find out more about the main hub in Moalboal – The Panagsama Beach Area
LEARN MORE – The Best Freediving School in Moalboal
In the waters around Moalboal, you can find many sea turtles. This is a fantastic location for finding sea turtles because they generally swim very close to the shore. And you can also find a guide and rent snorkeling equipment such as a mask and fins in the area. Keep reading because we are going to share some specific spots to find sea turtles, and we will also share some top tips to help you spot sea turtles.
If you haven’t booked yet
Another fantastic place to swim with turtles is the Gili Islands near Bali. Find out more about swimming with turtles on the Gili Trawangan Snorkelling trip.
What things do you need to do before you swim with turtles?
1 Environmental fee
If you want to swim in Moalboal, you will need to pay the environmental fee (100 pesos per person) and make sure that you keep the receipt in case you are asked for it. This is required for swimming or snorkeling in Moalboal between 8am – 5pm sunday – friday and 8am – 10pm on saturday. You can pay for the environmental fee at the kiosk next to Chilli bar.
Top tip: If you are staying in the area for a few days, ask if they can write the dates of your full visit on the environmental fee receipt so that you don’t need to keep paying.
2 Rent equipment
If you are hoping to swim with turtles, you will also need to make sure that you have a mask, snorkel, and fins. The great news is there are plenty of places to rent equipment around town (especially near the beach).
Typical rental prices in Moalboal:
- Short fins: 100 pesos
- Long fins: 300 pesos
- Snorkel and mask: 100 pesos
- Water shoes: 100 pesos
- Life ring: 100 pesos
If you are planning to rent several items or you require a longer rental period, you should be able to negotiate a better price. If you have a particularly large shoe size, it may be challenging to find large fins that fit you, so you may even need to bring your own. Alternatively, we recommend Moalboal freediving (situated next to Tipolo Beach Resort); they can also hook you up with guides and offer informal freediving practice sessions.
Top tip: If you are not a strong and confident swimmer, you can also rent a life ring. You can take the life ring with you as you swim. If you hold the life ring in front of you with your arms outstretched, you can dip your face in the water and breathe using your snorkel. The life ring will support you as you swim while still allowing you to observe the coral reef.
How do you arrange a trip to swim with turtles in Moalboal?
There are two main ways to arrange a trip to swim with turtles in Moalboal.
1. Independent (Self-Guided)
One way to see turtles is to go independently. There are a few advantages and disadvantages of going this way. Firstly, an advantage of going independently is the possibility of seeing a turtle without sharing the experience with a lot of other excited swimmers. If you go with a group, there is a good chance that the turtle will be crowded, and it will be hard to get your own photos and film of the turtle without other people excitedly swimming around it. However, going independently requires a higher level of confidence and skill. Remember, local guides are often very good at locating turtles.
2. Guided Trip
If you do not like the idea of going independently, you can easily arrange a guided trip. There is no need to pre-book this or arrange it in advance; you can just turn up to Moalboal when you are ready to go and speak to a local. You will find plenty of guides waiting around who will be very happy to speak to you and negotiate a price. Alternatively, you can get a guide with Moalboal freediving (situated next to Tipolo Beach Resort). To find out more about guided snorkeling and freediving, contact John at redoblejohnwardel@gmail.com.
If you do a shared snorkeling trip, it should cost around 350 – 500 pesos per person for 1 hour (in some cases, they may include the environmental fee, so this is worth checking). Alternatively, you could arrange a private guide. This should cost around 700 – 1,500 pesos per hour. It is always worth bartering and asking around. The advantage of taking a private guide is that they will be able to help you with filming. Also, with a private guide, you can escape the crowds.
Top tip: Some guides may be able to include equipment for free.
How to find turtles in Moalboal
In this section, we’re going to get very specific with some tips and advice on exactly how and where to find sea turtles in Moalboal. One of the best ways to spot turtles is to learn to read their behavior and predict the best times and places to find them. You could do this by going with a local guide. Alternatively, you can go independently and follow these tips.
1. Swim along the coral reef drop off
There is a steep coral reef drop-off situated around 30 to 50 metres from the shore of Moalboal. The depth of the water at the top of the drop-off varies between 3m – 5m depending on the tide. The bottom of the drop off ranges between 30m – 40m deep. One of the best ways to find turtles is to swim out to the coral reef drop-off and then swim along the coral reef drop-off parallel to the shore. As you swim along the drop-off, keep your eye on both the shallows and also in some of the deeper water.
2. Watch out for groups of snorkelers
One of the best ways to spot turtles in Moalboal is to watch out for groups of snorkelers (especially if they appear to be staying in the same area for a while). In most cases, snorkeling groups will be accompanied by a local guide, and if they appear to be hanging around a particular area, there is a good chance that they have already spotted a turtle. So, if you see a group of snorkelers hanging around a particular area, we recommend swimming over to join them.
3. Watch out for turtles resting in the reef between rocks
In some cases, you may be able to find a turtle swimming; however, in many cases, it is easier to find turtles that are taking a rest. The best way to spot a resting turtle is to swim along the coral reef, looking in the shallow sections between rocks. The turtle can be reasonably camouflaged, so keep watching carefully, looking particularly in sheltered sections. If you do see a turtle resting in the shallows, you may be able to swim down and get a closer look. In some cases, if a swimmer gets too close, the turtle may decide to move on, so you will be able to swim with the turtle. Having a good pair of fins can help you keep up with the turtle in the water.
4. Watch out for turtles doing deep dives by the reef drop-off
If you swim along the coral reef drop-off, we recommend keeping your eye on the deeper section of water. From time to time, you can spot turtles doing deeper dives. The visibility in the water is typically very good in this area, so you should be able to see at least 10m – 15m. If you are a competent free diver, you may also be able to dive down and swim with the turtles in the deep. Remember, if you are planning to free dive, always go with a buddy.
5. Explore the areas of seagrass
If you are struggling to find a turtle along the coral reef drop-off, then we recommend finding a section of seagrass where turtles can be found feeding. There is a good section of seagrass near Pescador View. We recommend exploring this area during high tide.
6. Try the early morning or later in the afternoon
If you are struggling to find sea turtles in Moalboal, plan a few different swims at different times of the day. You may not be lucky enough to see a sea turtle on your first swim, but if you are in the area for a few days, then we recommend that you keep trying. We particularly recommend that you try looking for sea turtles early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it is slightly cooler. Early in the morning, the waters are generally quieter with fewer divers and snorkelers.
What is the best time of day to find sea turtles in Moalboal?
If you are hoping to see and swim with sea turtles in Cebu, then we recommend you consider the time of day. Although it is possible to both see and swim with sea turtles throughout the day in Cebu, the best time of day is either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Turtles are slightly more likely to swim closer to the shore during these cooler times of day, and they can often be found feeding on seagrass in the shallow reef during these times. However, even if you take a midday dip, there is still a very good chance that you will be able to find sea turtles, especially if you are in an area like Moalboal.
What is the best time of year to swim with sea turtles?
You can see sea turtles in Moalboal throughout the year. So, there is not strictly a best time of year if you are hoping to swim with sea turtles. However, we do recommend visiting Cebu in the dry season. The monsoon season in Cebu extends from May until October, and the dry season is between November and April. March and April are generally the nicest months for experiencing marine life in Cebu. If you visit Cebu during a rainy period, it is still possible to both see and swim with wild sea turtles.
A personal story: It was a rainy and overcast day on my final day of the AIDA3 freediving course in Moalboal. We were practicing rescue dives around 50 meters from the shore (close to the end of Panagsama road). There were a lot of jellyfish in the water, which made the free diving very unpleasant. However, partway through the dive, a turtle swam alongside us, and we were able to watch it feasting on jellyfish. Sadly, we also noticed some plastic in the water. It’s amazing how similar floating plastic looks to a jellyfish. We were able to pull the plastic out of the water before a turtle tried to eat it. So, you can still find turtles in the water even in rainy weather; however, you are also likely to find a lot of jellyfish.
Swimming with turtles – Safety and Ethical travel tips
- If you are hoping to swim with wild sea turtles, always give them space and never try to touch them.
- We recommend using water shoes (especially if you are planning to swim at low tide). The water can be pretty shallow close to the shore, and there is a risk of stepping on stonefish or banded krait snakes.
- Avoid touching the coral reef and any other marine life. If you are using fins and you are swimming close to the coral reef, be careful not to break bits of coral.
- Watch out for dangerous species such as jellyfish, sea kraits, and stonefish. There can be a lot of jellyfish, especially in rainy or overcast conditions. The jellyfish can give you a painful sting. There have not been any reports of box jellyfish in this area.
- Never try to feed turtles or fish in the wild. This can harm sealife and can damage the ecosystem.
