With slopes and walls, caves, canyons, and healthy coral reefs not affected by the dynamite fishing that has affected so many of the Philippine Islands’ reefs, Maolboal is an excellent place to dive. Located a short 89 kilometers from Cebu City, it is easily accessible and takes less than three hours to travel to. The marine life is excellent, with everything from tiny crustaceans and nudibranchs to whale sharks in residence. There are more than 15 named dive sites around this little peninsula, and even more just a short trip away. Here are a handful of the best to help you decide where to begin.
White Beach
Despite its name, White Beach is a superbly colorful dive. An enormous dive site commonly broken into two main sectors, it is beautifully decorated with brilliant soft corals that host a wide array of reef life. At White Beach South, a gradual slope begins at a depth of just four meters, eventually leading to a wall that drops away into the abyss, where you can find some caves that shelter lobsters and the occasional shark.
At White Beach North, an abundance of anemones and hard corals add variety to the background, and a shallow portion of reef is excellent for snorkelers to explore. All along both sides of the site, there is a sandy ledge at about 25 meters, where you can find scorpionfish, eel gardens, and the occasional flounder. In addition, watch for triggerfish, fusiliers, anthias, and lots of other tropical fish, along with huge potato groupers and turtles.
House Reef
Also known as Magic Point, House Reef is a fantastic place to find all kinds of macro life. With minuscule frogfish to xeno crabs, little crabs hiding among the soft coral, and lots of nudibranchs, the site is also a good place to encounter blue ringed octopus and other cephalopods. Beginning in the shallows and eventually leading to a spectacular wall that drops away into the abyss hundreds of meters below, the site is a favorite for night dives, and is easy to access from the beach. You can either explore the shallows or drift along the wall – the choice is yours!
Tongo Point
With crevices and overhangs covered in sea fans, black coral trees, and an abundance of beautiful sponges, Tongo Point features a spectacular drop off. A favorite haunt for green sea turtles, this wall begins in just 5 meters of water, and you can either stay in the shallows, or move into deeper water for a look at some of the many pelagic fish that can be found around Moalboal. Tuna, barracuda, white tip reef sharks, and even the occasional hammerhead can be seen here, and at times, divers encounter enormous schools of blue squid. Watch for whale sharks, as they are commonly seen here!
Sanctuary
Beginning in just 8 meters of water, Sanctuary is a fantastic site with a vast and seemingly endless forest of sea fans between 26 and 40 meters deep. Home to rare leaf fish and harlequin ghost pipefish, white tip reef sharks, and everything in between, the site is ideal for both wide angle and macro photography. Most divers find themselves returning to the site again and again, as the amount of marine life is nearly overwhelming. Like most of the other sites around Moalboal, the Sanctuary site is a wall that lets you fly above the blue depths below.
Copton Point
At Copton Point, you’ll find a fantastic airplane wreck which is sometimes called the Copton Plane. Sitting beneath just 23 meters of water, the wreck is mysterious and appears to be constructed of fiberglass. There is a permanent shot line, and while the plane is mostly intact, its propeller blades are missing.
In addition to the wreck, which is the only one anywhere near Maolboal, you’ll find fantastic hard coral growth and lots of marine life. Watch for hawksbill turtles feeding in the sponges and soft coral, and enjoy the sight of mackerel, tuna, and white tip reef sharks passing in the blue. Besides these larger inhabitants, there are plenty of anthias, fusiliers, snappers, and other commonly encountered fish, and at about 30 meters, a gorgonian forest is filled with seahorses and other macro life.
There are several dive centers to choose from here, most of which are affiliated with specific resorts. All are well equipped and most are happy to take you to the sites you want to see. The pace is laid back and easygoing, and visibility tends to be excellent, usually somewhere between 20 and 30 meters. You can dive Maolboal any time, but the dry season between November and May offers the best visibility. Be sure to plan in advance if you hope to visit while the diving is at its best.