PH · Cebu · 9.95°N 123.40°E
moalboal
Snorkel with a huge sardine run right off the shore, with turtles on the same reef.
- Best time
- The sardines are there all year. December to May is driest, with calmer water and better visibility.
- How long
- 2–3 days
- Getting there
- Fly KL to Cebu (about 4 hours). From Cebu City it's about 3 hours by car or bus down the southwest coast. Buses leave from the South Bus Terminal.
moalboal
Dear group chat,Snorkel with a huge sardine run right off the shore, with turtles on the same reef.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMoalboalPH, Cebu
Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Rhiane Diamond · CC BY 4.0 Photo: Rhiane Diamond · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Robert Breivik · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Per Edin · CC BY 2.0
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
A laid-back town on Cebu's southwest coast, where millions of sardines swirl just metres off Panagsama Beach. You can see them with just a mask and fins, and sea turtles are common on the same reef. Divers head out to Pescador Island, one of the best-known dive sites in the Philippines.
Things to do
- The sardine runSwim out from Panagsama Beach to the reef wall and the shoal is right there.Map ↗
- Turtle spottingGreen sea turtles feed along the same stretch of reef.Map ↗
- Pescador IslandA small island offshore with steep walls, caves and plenty of reef life.Map ↗
- Kawasan FallsTurquoise falls in nearby Badian. Most people reach them by canyoneering down the river.Map ↗
- White BeachA wider stretch of sand just north of Panagsama, better for lazing about.Map ↗
Good to know
- Bring your own mask and fins if you have them. Rentals are easy to find, but your own will fit better.
- Don't touch or chase the turtles, and give the sardines space.
- Canyoneering at Kawasan needs a guide, helmet and life jacket. Local operators provide all three.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.