Snorkeling in Moalboal – Where to swim with giant turtles in Cebu

Snorkeling in Moalboal – Where to swim with giant turtles in Cebu

Find out the best snorkeling spots in Moalboal, Cebu. Swim with the sardines and find out where the giant moalboal turtles like to hang out.

Have you ever found a place that you just knew you would return to? After snorkeling in Moalboal for the first time in 2017, I knew I had found a gem! Since then, this epic little tourist hub has grown quite a bit.

If you're in the area and want to snorkel, I've got you covered with this quick guide. I will outline the best spots and give you some updated Moalboal travel information to plan your trip!

Featured in: Cebu Island Travel Guide – 15 Epic Things to Do

Snorkeling and freediving in Moalboal

No doubt by now you've heard about the epic snorkeling in Moabloal and are itching to get your fins on. Below are the best places for snorkeling and freediving.
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Pescador Island

By far the best marine life can be found on Pescador Island, just off the coast of Moalboal.

This is my favorite place to dive in the Philippines. This is the place where I completed my Advanced PADI certification all those years ago. Since then I have completed my Dive Masters and worked in the industry in a few different locations around the world. After all this time, I still consider Pescador Island in Cebu Island to be one of the best places for diving!

Luckily, Pescador is also the best spot for snorkeling in Moalboal! However, you need to book a boat trip out there. Below I've linked the top-rated trip, which also includes snorkeling at Sardine Run and a canyoning tour to Kawasan Falls.

Book: Sardine Run, Pescador Island, Canyoning

The house reef

The best place for snorkeling in Moalbaol is what locals call the “house reef”. This is a term that dive shops coin for their local dive sites.

To access the reef, try to find one of the seemingly ever-closing gaps along the main stretch of Moalboal known as Panagsama Beach. Here you'll find an epic drop-off and a few moalboal turtles hanging around.

If you're having trouble, I've marked a good spot on the map below, which even includes a small section of coral beach where you can leave your towel while you're in the water.

Turtle grazing area on Panagsama beach

If you are reading this to find out where the best place to see turtles in Moalbaol is, then you haven't been in the water yet.

Moalboal is famous for its large turtles that often inhabit its waters. In fact, there are so many that you will struggle NOT to find a turtle while snorkeling in Moalboal.

If for some reason you haven't, try to stay in the shallower waters closer to shore, just before the drop-off of the reef. After a short time you will surely spot one of the chill guys eating fresh seaweed.

Just remember to respect them, don't touch them and keep your distance.
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alt=“Turtles in Moalboal”>Snorkeling with turtles in Moalboal

The Moalboal Sardine Run

A snorkeling trip in Moalboal is not complete without seeing the famous sardine run. When I first heard about it, I immediately thought it would require a boat ride to one of the outer islands or reefs.

However, there are huge schools of sardines just off Moalboal's main beach. If you follow the instructions above to access the water, simply swim out to the deep reef wall and you will quickly spot the huge patterns of schools of sardines.

If for some reason you can't find them, either see if there are other snorkelers in the water who might have found the schools. Otherwise, it is safe to swim near the Cabana Beach Club Resort.

This resort has a long yellow jetty that you won't miss. The sardines usually like to stay here.
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Would you like to rent snorkeling equipment?

You can rent snorkeling equipment almost anywhere on the main road in Moalboal for around 150-200 pesos, depending on your haggling skills.

For those in a small group, it may be worth simply booking a snorkeling tour from Moalboal. This special tour includes all equipment and takes you to the sardine run, turtles and the incredible Pescador Island (a must see).
alt="Freediving with Sardines in Moalboal">

About Moalboal

Moalboal is, in my opinion, one of the best places in the Philippines. It is located on the west coast of Cebu and has the westernmost stretch of coastline.

Because of this, it has some amazing reef and marine life. Most people come to snorkel with turtles and see the famous sardine run.

Tip: Looking for cheap private transportation to Moalboal or back to Cebu City? To do this, book this driver.
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Is Moalboal the best place to settle in Cebu?

Dive towns – they always start as well-kept secret diving destinations and often transform into a booming hotspot with cafes and nightclubs. Moalboal is no different.

If you are looking for a place to snorkel, dive in Cebu or go on adventure trips around the island, then Moalboal is one of the best options.

The location makes it an excellent place to visit one of Cebu's hundreds of famous jungle waterfalls. The fringing reef is also one of the best and most diverse in all of Cebu. If you enjoy diving then I would highly recommend visiting Pescador Island, a truly magical reef that will not disappoint.
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There are also several hostels, cafes, nightclubs, bars and restaurants to keep you entertained after a day of adventuring around Cebu or diving at the reef.

It takes about 30 minutes to drive to the famous Kawasan Falls, or an early two-hour bus ride for a day trip to Oslob and the south.

In my opinion, Moalboal is an excellent choice as a base for your Cebu adventures as long as you rent a motorbike.
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How do I get to Moalboal?

Getting to Moalboal is usually fairly easy and inexpensive. That being said, finding the best transportation options for a budget-conscious traveler can still be a bit of a task.

This is because landing at Cebu Airport can be a little chaotic, with little or no local information available for tourists wanting to reach the southern ends of the island without paying through the roof.

Cheap local option – public bus

There is a public bus that often runs from Cebu all the way to Moalboal and even south to Oslob. It takes approximately three hours to get to Moalboal from the South Bus Terminal.

The cost is 90 pesos for a bus without air conditioning and 110 pesos for a bus with air conditioning.

The operating companies are Lebrando and Ceres Buses.

My advice is to just go to the South Bus Terminal and ask someone who works which buses go to Moalboal. Remember not to pay more than I suggested above.
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Where to stay in Cebu

You have many options to choose from when planning where to stay on Cebu Island.

Read: Cebu Accommodation Guide

In my opinion, Moalboal is the best place to base yourself as it is close to the best activities and epic attractions you want to add to your Cebu itinerary. However, if you plan to tour the island, I would also recommend staying here:

• Cebu City/Mactan
• Oslob
• Malapascua
• Sumilon-Insel

Best Luxury Resort in Southern Cebu: Ancelle Cristo Re

• Erstaunliches kostenloses Frühstück
• Privatstrand mit tollem Schnorcheln (Meeresschildkröten)
• Der Erlös kommt der Unterstützung des örtlichen Waisenhauses zugute
• Geleitet von drei erstaunlichen Schwestern
• 10 Gehminuten vom Panagsama-Strand entfernt
• Geräumige Villen

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Best resort in Mactan/Cebu City: Bai Hotel

• Große Zimmer
• Täglich Frühstücksbuffet
• In der Nähe des internationalen Flughafens
• Autovermietung vor Ort
• Luxus-Atmosphäre mit Pool auf dem Dach

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Backpacker hostel with atmosphere in Moalboal: Chief Mau

• Tolle Backpacker-Atmosphäre
• Freundliches Personal
• Bar vor Ort
• Saubere, geräumige Zimmer
• Große Zimmer mit Dusche in jedem

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Sustainable accommodation in Malapascua: Villa Sandra

• Hergestellt aus nachhaltigen und recycelten Materialien, einschließlich Plastikflaschen
• Baumhaus-Atmosphäre
• Tolles Restaurant mit tollen Gerichten
• Tolle Atmosphäre
• Tauchen mit Fuchshaien und Inselhopping-Aktivitäten vor Ort

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Stay on Sumilon Island: Sumilon Bluewater

• Übernachten Sie auf der Privatinsel Sumilon
• Erstaunliches Schnorcheln und Schwimmen in kristallklarem Wasser
• Winzige abgelegene Insel
• Wasserausrüstung mieten
• Kostenlose Bootstransfers

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MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.

More things to do in Cebu

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to snorkeling in Moalboal, Cebu. If finding the sardines or the famous moalboal turtles helped you, then I did my part! While you're here on this blog, be sure to check out some of my other inspiring island travel guides below.

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