Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on July 20, 2023
Imagine a snorkeling spot where you can enjoy, just a few yards from the beach, a coral reef teeming with life, turtles grazing on seagrass meadows that are covered with starfish, and the ability swim in the middle of schools of millions of sardines. In Moalboal on the island of Cebu, all these fantastic underwater experiences are within your reach! Ready?!
Moalboal is a village located on the west coast of Cebu Island. It is about a 3 hour bus ride from Cebu, the main city of the island with the same name. Once in Moalboal, take a moto taxi to reach the village. This spot is also visited by boat tours.
There are several water entry options for snorkeling in this area:
From the shore, you will first swim above a shallow reef flat (↕0.5-2m) that features sandy beds and seagrass meadows. Many starfish of different species live on the seabed, including blue starfish and horned sea stars.
On the seabed, there may also be some nudibranchs and pipefish. The seagrass areas are where you will encounter the many green sea turtles who come to feed and rest at this sheltered location.
At about 50 yards from the shore, the reef flat quickly drops to 18+ feet/6+ meters. The reef edge is covered with corals, sea anemones and sponges. A wide variety of reef fish live around the corals,. This includes a multitude of green chromis, several species of clownfish, butterflyfish and batfish, among hundreds of other species. You may also be lucky enough to spot a yellow-lipped sea krait meandering over the seabed in search of its next prey.
Panagsama Beach has numerous visitors that come for its “sardine run”, the unique sighting of shoals of thousands of sardines present year-round along the coast. They are usually found at the drop-off, most of time sheltering in the shade of the boats (see map).
The underwater ballet created by these moving shoals is mesmerizing to see will leave you with unforgettable underwater memories. As there are many boats present in the Panagsama Beach area, stay alert when you are in the water.
A wide range of accommodations, restaurants and bars for all budgets are available all along Panagsama Beach.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
