Diving in Pescador Island

Located in Municipality of Moalboal in the South of Cebu about 2 hours drive from Cebu City.  Pescador Island takes about 25 minutes by speedboat or by motorized banca from Panagsama beach where most dive operators and dive resorts are located.  The best time to go diving in Pescador Island is during early morning as during the afternoon the wind can be tricky and the sea can be very choppy.  The island is located in the open water and currents can be strong at times.

resident frogfish

I been to Pescador island about 5 times this year already and still counting.  Usually visibility is very good.  I usually go with Ocean Safari Divers, the dive masters there are fun to dive with and they are reasonably priced.  Pescador Island is one of my favorite dive sites in Philippines.  Although, traces of dead corals are obvious, it was when the El nino hit the Philippines about 20 years ago a lot of corals died but Pescador Island is still worth diving.  The island is a large pinnacle rising from the bottom of the sea.  There are no inhabitants on the island as it is not habitable due to the lack of fresh water.

weird looking nudibrach

Pescador island is famous for “Cathedral” its an open top fuel that bottoms out at 34 meters, the funnel is open also on its outer side at 15 meters.  Shafts of sunlight shine into the funnel around noon.  Pescador walls have very rich marine life.  I love the resident frogfishes that are usually in the same spot everytime I dive as if waiting for me there.  There is also the shoal of sardines, so thick that I’m always tempted to swim thru them.  If you get lucky, you may encounter green turtles, hammerheads, manta rays, grey reef sharks and even whale sharks.   Pescador island is a great dive site.  I would dive there everyday if it’s close to where I live.  

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Diving in Marigondon Cave

Marigondon Cave is one of the famous dive spots in Mactan, Cebu, although this dive is strictly for advanced divers only.  It is a shore entry and drift towards the cave entrance, about 30 meters. Then drops about 35-40m deep to the cave entrance. The diameter of the cave is about 10m.  It is advisable to bring a reel, torches and ensure that every diver keeps watch of time.

There are lion fish at the entry, deeper inside a school of strange flash light fish blinking in the dark and some giant crabs. This is truly an amazing dive. Nitrox is strongly recommended for this dive.

The first time I went there was during day time, the current was strong so the drift was so fast that I almost got disorientated.  But then thanks to the training and the buddy that I had, I didnt panic at all, the only thing was that I forgot to bring a torch so I had to tail with my buddy.  It was not bad but I vouched to come back.

Indeed I went back so many times that It became almost my daily routine that we didnt need a reel to come back to the mouth of the cave.  And then my buddy and I decided to go there at night. At first I was scared coz we realized at the bottom of the mouth of the cave were 4 tomb stones. Those were tomb stones of divers that apparently died there while diving. But I guess something that divers only understand, excitement was more than fear.  And we went scuba diving at night.

As soon as the sun was about to set we started our swim by the time we submerge the sun was out.  It was a total different from the day dive we been doing. When we were at the bottom on the mouth of the cave my buddy decided to turn off all our torches and sit still for 3 minutes. It was pitch dark and then we saw a lot of flashlight fishes that seemed to glitter in the dark, they hardly move in the same of a big fish.  It was one of the most amazing thing I have seen.

I would really go back there soon, unfortunately my camera is not good enough to take photos in total darkness. I have to upgrade my camera too soon. So if you are heading to Cebu, make sure to do this side trip scuba diving.

Moalboal

Moalboal is one of those place that happen to come out of nowhere. It is a small town on the west coast of Cebu Island. It is about 2 - 3 hours drive from Cebu City. There are buses available every hour too, you can choose from aircondition bus or just an open air bus. The aircondition is more than the open air bus, however it is still the cheapest way to go if you dont have your own car. And you will never be lost, the bus conductor will tell you when you reach Moalboal and some will eventell you where to go or even put you to a tricycle to get to where you will be going after getting off the bus.

Twenty years ago, Moalboal was a "back-pack" resting place, a small fishermen community along Tanon Strait. A foreigner from the Netherland "BJ" Schaap realized the potential of the place. There were beautiful reefs in the area and there were no facilities back then, snorkeling was the only thing they could do.  Schaap built his Sea Quest Scuba Diving Center there and soon others followed. Gradually the place developed and today there are about 500 beds available, ranging from Php 300 for a simple nipa hut to Php 3,000 for an air-con room with balcony and sunset view of Tanon Strait.

Today, Moalboal is a major dive destination in the Philippines. It caters mainly, but not exclusively to European divers - they catered to me!!!! hahahaha.  My favorite dive operator is Ocean Safari, they were recommended by a friend and she was right about them, they are fun to dive with and the cheapest in the area.  So, I usually dive with them when I'm there.

There are a few restaurants offering European cuisine and a few simple bars for the after dive activities. Moalboal is a cozy affair, its main street can hardly handle a car, but in fact that is not necessary because distances are so short that you can just walk.  Unless if you want to go to the town center, then it is a very far walk, however habal-habal (motorcycle that takes up 4-5 passengers) - im not kidding on this! Its not the safest but it is the fastest way to go and they are available everywhere. You can also opt to go via a tricycle, this is safe however, you need to bargain for the fare, specially if you are a foreigner, the drivers can be adamant with their over priced rate. So, bargain well!