Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Nov–May · Mild current · 26–30°C (coldest Feb, warmest May)
- Current
- Mild
- Water temperature
- 26–30°C (coldest Feb, warmest May)
- Visibility
- 15–30m: Commonly 20-30m and occasionally more in the dry season (November-May); drops to roughly 15-20m in the wetter June-November months and after storms.
- Experience
- Most diving is Open Water friendly: the sardine run, the house reefs and the shallow Pescador wall are gentle.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Schools of jacks/trevally patrol Pescador and Sunken Island, sometimes shadowing the sardine baitball.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Present most of the year off Panagsama Beach; density and exact location fluctuate and the school has thinned in some seasons.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Barracuda are regular around Pescador and the offshore sites, often near the schooling jacks.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Reliable at set spots on the Panagsama house reef at dusk, when the males display; a guide is usually needed to find them.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Panagsama House Reef / Wall
The reef and wall fronting the Panagsama accommodation strip, dived day or night.
5–25m · Mild current
The Cathedral (Pescador Island)
A cavern on the west side of Pescador with a chimney entrance near 28m; the light shafts through the chamber are the draw.
16–40m · Moderate current
Pescador Island Wall
The signature Moalboal dive, a small islet 4km offshore ringed by a vertical wall.
5–40m · Moderate current
See all 6 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to CEB. Typical trip $.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: a 3h overland transfer.
Airport options
CEB
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Main international airport for Cebu; road transfer of about 2.5-3.5 hours by private van, taxi or bus (via Cebu South Bus Terminal) to Moalboal
Typical trip cost
$
under $2,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- One of the cheaper places to dive in Asia.
- A 3-day PADI Open Water course is about PHP 17,500-22,000 (~USD 310-390); equipment rental PHP 350-500.
- With budget guesthouse accommodation a week of diving sits well under USD 2,000 excluding international flights.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
A marine park / environmental fee of about PHP 100 (~USD 2) per dive is charged locally, including at Pescador Island.