Living in Moalboal.

On top of your PADI Divemaster course you won’t need to spend much on a daily basis. The main costs of living is accommodation, food and optional transport. Here are rough estimates of expenses to expect, depending on your budget:

Spending level: Budget
20 000 PHP per month
Local meals (bread for breakfast, street food for lunch and dinner), mainly drinking water, a couple of drinks and/or beers per day. Basic accommodation. No scooter rental.

Spending level: Medium
33 000 PHP per month + scooter rental 5 000 PHP per month
Local breakfast, lunch and dinner in local restaurants, several drinks and/or beers per day. Basic accommodation. Basic scooter rental.

Spending level: High
50 000 PHP per month + scooter rental 7 000 PHP per month
High end meals and snacks, mainly in restaurants, both local and western cuisine, a couple of cocktails/beers/glasses of wine per day. Private accommodation. Comfortable scooter rental.

Getting around Moalboal is very easy, most of the places like restaurants, bars, night clubs are within walking distance. If you plan to discover the area, there are three options: tricycle (local 3-wheeled bike), jeepney or renting a scooter.

Tricycle: prices for tricycle rides vary depending on the distance, but is usually no more than 250 PHP for one way trip.

Scooter: daily scooter rental prices are around 250 PHP, but renting scooters monthly cost around 5 000 PHP. Having your own means of transportation gives you a lot of flexibility to discover other places and attractions nearby. Driving around Moalboal is very easy, people tend to drive very slowly and there is little traffic during the day.

Jeepney: local small “buses”, are your cheapest means of transportation. They run along main roads and stop on request wherever you need. Can be quite crowded during rush hour.

The climate in the Philippines is warm all year round. Essential things to bring include:

Internet in Moalboal is fast and reliable. Most places provide free, broadband wifi. It’s a good idea though to get your own SIM card with mobile internet for your phone. You can buy this at the airport or at a local store. Monthly prices for internet is around 200 PHP for 8GB. Main operators are Globe and Smart, both providing great coverage and fast connection speeds.

There is a couple of medical clinics in town, both public and private with different level of service. Consider having travel medical insurance, just in case you end up needing more serious treatment.

Local pharmacies are well stocked with both daily medications and prescription drugs like antibiotics.

You’ll get 30 day visa on arrival at the airport. It can be easily extended online for another 30 days or even longer if you decide to stay.

The electric supply in the Philippines is 220V with US style 2-pin plugs.

Moalboal is not only a popular diving destination, but also offers great recreational land based activities that can provide new, exciting adventures and entertainment on your days off. Below you can find a list of the most popular ones:

Moalboal is a bustling little costal town. With it’s various restaurants, night clubs and bars, it offers not only a wide choice of both local and western cuisine but also a variety of vibrant places to relax and meet like minded divers after a busy day in the water. Bars come in all shapes and colours, from fancy ones with creative cocktails to more authentic ones where you can enjoy your drink like a local.

Just 20km from Moalboal you can find one of the most popular attractions of Cebu Island – Kawasan Falls. The trip consists of an almost 3km long trek down the canyon of a mountain stream. During this, you’ll encounter many breathtaking views and opportunities to cliff jump from the rocks to the deep natural pools if you are brave enough. The jumps vary in height from 1-2 meters high to the highest being 12 meters high.

Since local authorities require each canyoneering group to be led by a certified guide, the best option to visit Kawasan Falls is to book through one of the many tour operators around Moalboal. The cost of a half day trip, including lunch is around 1 800 to 2 500 PHP per person.

Additionally, just before starting your trek, you can ride the 2nd longest zipline in Asia with thrilling views above Kawasan valley.

1 009 meters above sea level, Osmena Peak is the highest peak around Moalboal. Just a 30 min scooter ride from town, this is a popular destination to catch stunning views of the sunset overlooking Badian Island and Moalboal Bay. Hiking to the peak itself is very easy, it’s only a short trek – around 15 minutes, from the parking area. Besides the views from the peak itself, the road that leads up to it is incredibly picturesque, with a lot of spots to take beautiful photos.

According to local regulations, to reach the peak you’ll need to hire a guide. Price per person is 100 PHP.

Moalboal is know for it’s stunning sunsets. What makes it’s special is the fact that the sun sets behind Negros Island, situated 20 km across Tanon Strait to the west of Moalboal town. What makes it even more special – it’s free.