Note: this post was written by my freediving-athlete sister Nikki!
Freediving in Moalboal?
Great choice!
Moal Boal is a beautiful, diverse place.
It’s packed with tiny shops selling everything from Korean street food to intricately carved wooden whale sharks…
…bars that blast music all night and offer extravagantly generous free drinks promos…
…little coves you can close your eyes in and watch the sunlight dance through Talisay trees…
…and MORE!
But of course, Moalboal freediving.
Moalboal has some of the most popular and stunning dive spots in the whole of Visayas.
It’s also home to a thriving freediving community, schools that offer certification courses, and now and then (if you’re lucky) an international depth or pool competition.
Moalboal freediving has something for both fun divers and serious students alike.
So, ready to get started?
In this guide, I’ll go over:
- Where to dive in Moalboal
- How to get to the dive spots
- Where to enroll in a freediving course or book a line training session
- How to book freediving guides or a photography session
- Who to contact for freediving in Moalboal
- And more!
Let’s begin.
Moalboal Diving Spots: The Best Sites to Go Freediving in Moalboal
Are you a freediver who enjoys exploring the enthralling, weightless underwater world?
You love corals and sea creatures, and the simple joy of drifting within their vast, colorful kingdom.
Great!
You’ll also love these Moalboal dive sites.
Moalboal Dive Site #1: The Sardine Run
The Moalbaol Sardine Run is the reason flocks of Cebuano freedivers travel to the south on weekends.
(Yes, even if there’s not much time and they have flesh-eating full-time jobs waiting for them when they return to the city.)
Here’s what all the hype’s about.
Why You’ll Love the Moalboal Sardine Run
The sardine run of Moal Boal is what got me into freediving in the first place.
I still remember that bright blue day, my 2 friends and I clinging on to a rubber floater as our guide Eric pulled us into the deep.
The moment we went over the kantil (cliff), where the pale, sunshiney turquoise water suddenly dropped off into navy-blue depths.
First, there was silence.
And then, a silvery sound like wing beats. Flashes of light as rays of the sun caught on their fins. The sardines.
Some say there are millions of sardines down there. Of course, no one has counted exactly how many.
But they travel in a great ball, and even as a non-freediver, I was stunned by the otherworldliness of it.
I mean, look how happy we are in this old photo!
As you can imagine, it got much better when I became a freediver.
I’m not great at posing for underwater photos, but here’s one my photographer friend took:
Key takeaway: if you can do only one dive in Moalboal, make it the Sardine Run.
Plus, freedivers of all levels can enjoy swimming or diving with the sardines.
This school of silvery fish swims between depths of 3-15 meters, so you don’t need certification or a crazy PB to have lots of fun with them.
How to Get to the Moalboal Sardine Run
Moalboal is NOT a tiny, backwater place.
The moment you step into the bustling streets of Panagsama, you’ll be met with a flock of guides, their voices and offers falling over each other.
“Sardine Run? Turtle watching? Canyoneering?”
One option is to go with one of these guides.
They’ll charge around PHP300-500 (around $6-10) for 1-2 hours of swimming with the sardines.
If you’re a beginner, this fee should include a mask, snorkel, and life vest (although some people may make you rent it, it depends on your bargaining skills).
But of course, you’re not a beginner.
I never said you were. 😅
So if you’ve brought your own gear and dive buddy, simply head over to Panagsama Road and walk all the way to the tip.
There, you’ll find a restaurant called Veranda Kitchen & Bar.
(I don’t recommend this restaurant, but it’s a great landmark for where the sardines are.)
Right in front of the restaurant is the rocky shore of the sea.
All you need to do is step inside, fin a few meters out, and you’ll reach the stunning, surprising drop into the abyss. (There’s sometimes a PHP100 or $2 entrance fee. Things aren’t super regulated here, so it just depends on who’s around when you enter.)
This is where the sardines love to swim.
They flit in and out of the coral-studded shallows and the infinite blue below, almost as if they’re showing off.
It’s a sight not to miss.
Moalboal Dive Site #2: Turtle Cove
Sea turtles.
Almost nothing compares to swimming next to a Hawksbill Turtle or watching a Green Turtle glide through a garden of corals.
There’s peace to their graceful, silky movements as they slide through the water like they’re flying.
And when you look into their depthless, opaque eyes, you feel a wave of peace wash over you.
Great news.
Moalboal is home to these magical, elusive creatures.
Simply head over to Turtle Cove and watch the beauties who live there dozing in a bed of corals, snacking on seaweed, or slipping gracefully through the water.
Since the cove is only 3-5 meters deep, you can have fun with turtles even if you’re new to freediving.
Like this!
How to Get to Turtle Cove
As I said, Moalboal isn’t an unknown little town where no one knows where anything is.
The moment you step into it, you’ll be asked a minimum of 3 times if you want to go see the turtles.
But if you don’t need a guide and simply want to go on your own (with a buddy, of course, since the #1 rule of freediving is NEVER DIVE ALONE), all you need to do is head over to Chili Bar.
Turtle Cove is right in front of it, only a few meters from the shore.
Moalboal Dive Site #3: Mermaid Point
Ok, so Mermaid Point is honestly overrated (at least to me).
It’s only a mermaid statue sitting at around 6 meters depth.
But if you love to have underwater photos and videos taken of you, this is a must-visit spot.
You can feel like a sea creature yourself, visiting your mermaid sister who has somehow turned into algae-covered stone.
How to Get to Mermaid Point
Mermaid Point isn’t something you’ll be offered by all the guides you meet on Panagsama Road.
Still, it’s not that hard to get to.
All you need to do is head over to Moalboal Treeshade Resort.
Take the road that leads all the way to the water, then dive in!
The mermaid statue is not far from the shore.
Freediving Courses in Moalboal: The Best Schools for Education + Tours and Events
Maybe you’re not in Moalboal solely to enjoy the serene beauty of its underwater world.
Maybe you’re there for more serious purposes.
Like finally getting that freediving certification you’ve always wanted.
Or if you’re a beginner, signing up for a discovery course to see if freediving is for you.
If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.
Moalboal is home to world-class schools that offer certification courses, discovery classes, fun dive tours, line training, food and lodging, and more!
Here are 2 of the best.
Freediving Planet Moalboal
Freediving Planet is owned and run by world-class instructor and former freediving world record holder J.P. (Jean Paul) Francois.
The school offers something for everyone, from half-day discovery classes to instructor trainer courses.
Want an AIDA certificate? Want to become a Molchanovs W3 Instructor? Dream of becoming a competition judge?
Freediving Planet has it all.
They also have tours, fun dives, and events for those who want to enjoy the beautiful underwater world with other freediving enthusiasts.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll spend for a course or class:
| ½ Day Discovery Class | PHP 3,500 (USD 60+) |
| Level 1 Certification Course (AIDA, Molchanovs, or PADI) | PHP 14,700 (USD 250-270) |
| Level 2 Certification Courses (AIDA, Molchanovs, or PADI) | PHP 21,195 (USD 370-390) |
| 2-hour training/coaching packages | PHP 1,945-2,500 (USD 35-45) |
| Fun dives (complete with guide, dive equipment, and surface buoy) | PHP 1,900 (USD 35) |
For a complete and updated list of classes, courses, tours, and events, visit their booking page here.
Nicco’s Place
Nicco’s Place was founded in 2016, and calls itself “The Home of Freedivers.”
If you’re more into hanging out and chilling with other ocean lovers instead of taking your freediving education to the next level, this is the place to go.
The place (a vintage house repurposed into a hostel), is packed with freedivers, especially on weekends.
The sense of community runs strong, with freedivers bunking in together, eating out at one of the many restaurants and bars in town, or even playing card games and talking late into the night.
Of course, it’s not only about hanging out with other freedivers.
Nicco’s Place offers photography and videography sessions and fun dive tour packages.
You can even sign up for a Molchanovs course or line training session with Nicco. (Courses up to Molchanovs Wave 2 are offered.)
Check out a sample of their price list:
| Drift Dive Experience (A whole package of dive sites, including the Sardine Run and Turtle Cove) | PHP 1,500 (USD 25-30) |
| Photography Package | PHP 6,500 (USD 115-120) |
| Videography Package | PHP 6,500 (USD 115-120) |
| Starter Bundle (1 night hostel stay, discovery class, 1 open water dive, 1 free meal) | PHP 5,500 (USD 90-100) |
For a complete and updated list of classes, courses, and tours, go here.
Note:
Back in my beginner days (I’m now a freediving athlete, LOL), I booked the Starter Bundle at Nicco’s Place.
The hostel rooms are super cozy – imagine sleeping in an old-fashioned probably Spanish-era wooden house with a kalacuchi tree blooming outside the large windows.
In the morning, 2 girls from Manila and I had a theory class, where we learned the basics of freediving like equalization, relaxation, safety, and a few techniques.
Afterward, we had a line training session at a quiet little cove. (Nicco is a great teacher, especially for beginners. During this session I set a new PB of 7 meters!)
Lunch was a cozy affair on the wooden dining table back at Nicco’s Place.
Then, we spent the afternoon on the drift dive. We swam across the great Panagsama reef wall, gliding through blue, green, and orange corals.
We saw the sardines and turtles, as well as many other colorful sea creatures (including jellyfish – ouch!).
For dinner, we went to Betsy’s (one of Moalboal’s must-try restaurants!).
We slept (super late) at the hostel, and the next day after breakfast it was a wrap!
Worth it, if you ask me.
I came away with a ton of memories, some photos, and lifetime freediving friends.
Who to Contact for Freediving in Moalboal
For advanced freedivers who aren’t traveling alone, you can just wing it.
Ask around (or follow the maps I posted here), and you’ll easily locate the best dive spots in the town.
But if you want something special like professional photos and videos, a guide to take you around, or even an instructor to certify you, here’s a list of people you can contact.
Eric Bajao (Cebu South Guide Tour)
Like I said, Eric was one of the first people who inspired me to try freediving.
He looked like a fish in the water, all grace and effortlessness as he lay on a rock 15 meters below the surface and blew bubble rings up at us.
Eric offers affordable tours that include the Sardine Run and Turtle Cove. (Think PHP 300-500 for a half-day tour. This includes a mask, snorkel, and life vest. Add PHP 500 to rent a GoPro for photos and video).
John Cuyos (Jao)
Nobody calls him John.
He goes by Jao, short for Bajao, one of the Philippines’ water tribes.
If you want stunning photos and videos, he’s the person to talk to.
A professional photographer who offers underwater maternity shoots, pre-nups, couple shoots, or simply you and the ocean with its wide diversity of life.
Want beautifully shot and edited photos and videos?
(Jao took all the photos of the sardine run, turtle cove, and mermaid point I posted in this blog. Awesome, right?)
Freediving Planet
Get your course certifications, become an instructor or judge, or book a fun dive tour with Freediving Planet.
Nicco
The home of freedivers.
Book a theory session, a fun dive, or simply a room where you can meet and hang out with ocean brothers and sisters.
Freediving in Moalboal: It’s Worth the Visit!
If you’re in Cebu, Moalboal is one of the best places to visit for freediving.
It’s only a 2-hour drive from the city, and it offers a huge variety of experiences for the beginner and pro alike.
So if you’re on the fence about driving down and diving with the sardines and turtles…
…or maybe finally acting on your dream of becoming a freediving instructor or judge…
…this is your sign to do it now!
Note: This post was written by my freediving-athlete sister Nikki! You can follow her on Instagram here. Also, if you’re visiting Moalboal soon, check out my full Moalboal travel guide!