Moalboal

Moalboal is a sleepy town about 82 km south of Cebu . It lives pretty much from fishing, and lately from the scuba diving crowd. Population is about 30.000 residents, distributed around the town center, the coast and the nearby mountain ridges, which are a heaven for adventure sport enthusiasts.

Moalboal has a typical Asian market where you'll find next to fresh fish and vegetables all kinds of cheap Chinese merchandise, from toys to pirated CDs and DVDs, for a couple of Pesos. Moalboal has also a modern photo center, where you can develop you 35mm films and print out your best underwater shots of you digital camera.

2 km north of the town center is the Orchid Gallery, a beautiful and amazing display of orchids, palm trees and all kind of tropical plants you can imagine. A nice swimming pool and a mini zoo with monkeys, parrots and other exotic animals make it a visit for a perfect afternoon.

4 km west of Moalboal is the heart of the diving community - Panagsama Beach . Here in Panagsama you will find a strip of dive centers, beach resorts, pension houses, restaurants, eateries, bars and some souvenir shops along the beach. Panagsama Beach in Moalboal is well known for year round diving on the healthy coral reef system fringing Cebu 's coast. Some of the best reefs are close to shore, making for a quick boat trip from Moalboal. Moalboal is also famous for whale shark diving, although whale shark sightings cannot be guaranteed.

How to get there

The most convenient way to cover the 90 plus km from Cebu to Moalboal is to let us
arrange your transfers. We provide reliable air-con cars good for 1-2 divers and charge $60 one way or $80 for a mini-bus. You need about 2 1/2 hours to get from Cebu to Moalboal.

If you are really adventurous, take a taxi (insist on meter) to the Southern Bus Terminal in Cebu City . The driver should take you to the LIBRANDO or CERES bus terminal; a bus to Moalboal leaves about every full hour (Filipino time). The fare is around 70 Pesos (choose a seat next to the driver if you like to see people jumping). Once in Moalboal, take a tricycle to Panagsama Beach , which will cost you about 30 - 50 Pesos. In rare cases a tricycle driver might take you not to the resort or dive center you requested, because he gets a commission from another resort. So be persistent.

If you drive by yourself drive from Mactan through Cebu City to the south of Cebu, passing by the towns of Talisay, Naga, San Fernando until you reach the town Carcar. There is a big roundabout where you have to turn right into the beautiful mountains, crossing over to the west coast of Cebu . Here you pass by the towns of Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda and Alcantara before you reach Moalboal. In Moalboal turn right to Panagsama Beach. The intersection is right after a big school on your right side. On the left side are a couple of bakeries. Directly at the intersection is a big tree with several signboards from assorted beach resorts and dive centers, pointing towards Panagsama Beach . Drive straight until you hit the beach (4km) than turn left. After 50 Meters you will stop in front of Savedra Dive Center and Marina Village .

If you are in Moalboal and for any reason you (or your taxi driver) have to ask for the way, don't ask for Savedra, because Savedra is also a secluded beach far away and people might send you there. Ask always for PANAGSAMA BEACH