What is the best time to dive Moalboal?

The best months to dive Moalboal in Philippines are November, December, January, February, March, April, May. Water temperatures range from 25°C to 29°C during peak season.

How deep is Moalboal?

Moalboal reaches a maximum depth of 40 m, with visibility ranging from 9–30 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Moalboal?

Moalboal is known for encounters with whale shark, tiger shark, whale. The site features wall, wreck, drift, pelagic diving across 15 named sites, with a marine life score of 47/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Moalboal good for beginners?

Moalboal is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 40 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Moalboal?

A 2-tank dive at Moalboal averages around $45 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Moalboal Diving — Sardine Tornado & Turtle Point

Back to directory

World Class

Intermediate

Moalboal

PhilippinesAsia-Pacific

60.5

SCORE

9.9485°N

123.3960°E

Moalboal's sardine run is permanent — millions of sardines swirl in a bait ball just steps from shore at Panagsama Beach, 365 days a year. The adjacent wall drops into the deep blue with turtles, frogfish, and the occasional whale shark. It's the Philippines' best value dive destination by a wide margin.

The Sardine Run You Can Shore Dive

Visibility9–30 m

Temperature25–29°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$45

Best MonthsNovember, December, January, February

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

47.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

47.0

Coral & reef health

41.0

Visibility & conditions

70.0

Dive site variety

63.0

Water temperature

71.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

78.0

Topside experience

64.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

66.0

Crowding

57.0

Social proof

57.0

Key species

whale shark tiger shark whale

Dive types

wallwreckdriftpelagic

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

snorkeling sardine run at Panagsama BeachKawasan Falls canyoneeringisland hopping to Pescadorfreedivingmotorcycling coast road

Nearby cultural sites

Kawasan Falls

Non-diver score

6/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber90 km — VISCOM Hyperbaric Chamber, Cebu City

Nearest Hospital60 km

3-hour drive to Cebu City for chamber; basic hospital in Moalboal town

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Savedra Dive Center

PADI

4.8

520 reviewsNITROX

Neptune Diving

PADI

4.7

340 reviewsNITROX

Cebu Dive Centre

SSI

4.6

210 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Moalboal in Philippines scores 60.5/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for wall diving with 9–30m visibility and 25–29°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$45 USD. Peak season: November, December, January.

Last updated: 2026-05-24

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
+ Groups seeking 15+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Moalboal over similar Asia-Pacific destinations when operator quality matters more than coral health

How Moalboal compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Moalboal	60.5	9–30m	$45	wall, wreck
Komodo National Park	78.4	9–30m	$100	drift, reef
Tubbataha Reef	76.0	24–46m	$200	wall, reef
Bohol	74.3	10–30m	$60	wall, reef
Kimbe Bay	72.4	15–35m	$150	reef, wall

Current conditions

10/10Excellent

Waves0.02 m

Swell0.02 m

Wind13.6 km/h

Air28.6°C

Mainly clear

43d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
May	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Jun	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Jul	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Nov	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Dec	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects29

Wide angle75

Viz stability51

Hover friendliness55

Natural light49

Recommended kit

→Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle
→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,850–$2,700

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,100–$1,300
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $40–$50
Food / day: $10–$25
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,000–$4,400

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,550–$1,850
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $50–$60
Food / day: $30–$60
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$5,050–$7,950

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,250–$2,750
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $60–$80
Food / day: $70–$140
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Moalboal Diving — Philippines