Splitting days between Dauin and Moalboal?

[diveUAE]

Private transfer will be even quicker.
How about Turtle Bay Dive Resort?
You need to find out if all the places are accessible by car.
Insurance always has some strange exemption.
Have a nice trip.

Very good tip - will check if resorts are accessible by car

 

[Luko]

Selected Moalboal as I wanted to be on Cebu Island before our flight out. Was thinking the sardine school would be cool and Pescador island would be nice diving and then maybe a trip to the waterfall on the last day.
We're traveling in February

You don't need to stay on Cebu before your flight esp. in feb (Low probability of weather issues). Dauin-Mactan can be done by private van/ferry.

I can understand you'd like to see the Sardines school (and Pescador walls) however the sardines school is overpopulated with daytrip snorkelers starting from 10 AM, plus the water gets really sh*ttier (for real!) later in the day, hence I would advise you to dive it as early as you can, depending on where it moved on Panagsama it can be done from the shore (Last time I dived it you could start in front of Savedra or Nelson's).
Hence I recommend you should base yourself with a dive center on Panagsama and not away to southern based resorts like Magic island nor Turtle bay resort (Stayed there twice, they are neighbors to Magic island, didn't like their dive center, no flexibility at all, they were kind of secluded so I prefered to take a trike to Panagsama every morning but that's not practical at all) .
On my first stay in Moalboal a long time ago I stayed at Cabanas resort (I think now same owners by the italian restaurant), it was fine (esp. the breakfast mango pancakes) but I really don't know how it has evolved, probably aged a lot but the location cannot be better for the sardines (if the school didn't move in he past years).
My last stay was at Marcosas, which was OK a little south of the sardines action, just on front of the Quo Vadis resort, a 10 minutes walk from Panagsama "center".
A few years ago there were some accomodations buillding next to Cebu Fun Divers, 5 minutes walk from Nelson's may be these could be a solution for you.

There are now only very few dive center that will start early as 8AM, that's the best time for Pescador though. They're all starting aroud 10AM because they're waiting for the daytrippers and that's when Pescador gets INVADED with large Korean or Chinese groups. I'd suggest you start sending mails to the dive centers to check their schedule having in mind that the earlier in the morning the better for both visibility and avoiding large groups.

Talking about Dauin now : I have been diving with 4 different resorts and operations, Atlantis and Atmosphere get my votes for high end accomodations and grounds but Azure have the best guides I've seen in the area (owned by ex-Atlantis dive manager).
I have never been to Bongo Bongo but I see where they are located just on Marine Sanctuary entry (Sanctuary, or Cars dive spot). Apart from Apo island which is a divespot on its own, there are different areas to be dived from north to south.
San Miguel area (North close to Atlantis or Liquid) : very mucky Lembeh style area, black sand, cephalopods like blue rings, seaslugs and nudibranchs. A bit repetitive though.
Sanctuary area (Where you'll be located): more white sand macro dives, loooots of Ghostpipefish and small froggies. You will be a bit early in season. In april you can spot up to 10-12 of juvenile froggies per dive and a similar amount of GPF.
Masaplod area (closer to Azure or Atmosphere) : my favorite in Dauin, more variety small patches of reefs that attracts different species of nudibranches, frogfish, etc. probably an area that is more similar to Anilao diving in terms of variety.
Zamboanguita area, just in front of Apo (Southernest area, next to Thalatta resort) : quite deeper dive sites on white sand and artificial reefs with a very good variety as well, lots of cephalopods like Flamboyant cuttlefish in season, all kinds of shrimps like Harlequin. It's the furthest area for northern Dauin dive centers so they are sometimes reluctant to go, do insist to get there since it's very different from northern or central Dauin areas.

Now in terms of options in Feb. I am a big fan of Balicasag, it's one of the few areas where you can spot big schools of Jacks and Cudas, sometimes a whale shark, it's very easy to couple 2-3 dive days in Alona with Dauin : it only takes a 3 hours ferry ride from Tagbilaran to Dumaguete (hence you only lose the morning, you are in Dauin around midday.). Maybe you don't like traveling too much in 12 days but in my case I would do 2 days diving in Alona/Balicasag then transfer and 7 days in Dauin and ultimately 2 dive days in Moalboal which isn't worth more IMO.

 

[diveUAE]

Wow, a wealth of information. Thanks for sharing!
I'm hoping with 9 days we'll get the chance to dive most of it - great to know, what to ask for at what to expect.

We've already been to Bohol/Balicasag - together with Malapascua - in 2019. Loved Malapascua and would go back in a heart beat, if it wasn't for the logistics, Bohol/Balicasag was good, but no were near Malapascua (we got very lucky and had the most amazing dive guide at Malapascua).
Want something new this time And I do love the small/special critters.

 

[ScubaBackpacker]

Thanks Luko.
I’m starting to think we should just stay put in Dauin for the 12 days … vividly remember the slow traffic in Cebu island, maybe it’s not worth it, but would 12 days in Dauin be too much?
My alternative was Sequijor, but that looks equally daunting. Anywhere else we could do some dives? Maybe stay closer to Mactan?

My dive experience in the Philippines is limited to Dauin, Moalboal, Malapascua, and South Leyte. All were
interesting/had their pluses, but if I only had 12 days I would spend the whole time in Southern Leyte. The diving was more varied and there were many fewer divers.

 

[cetacean]

@ScubaBackpacker

That really depends on what you are diving for... If you are looking for critters (nudis, blue rings, frogfish, ghost pipefish, etc.) then the Dauin coast is a much better option, however if you want reefs, schools of fish, the occasional wreck, etc. then yes, southern Leyte is more varied.

Divers go to Dauin because of the world class critter hunting available. For example, as an underwater photographer the Dauin coast is one of the world's top 5 macro destinations. Leyte is nice, but there are numerous other locations as nice as well.

@diveUAE = what's your goal with this (eventual) trip?

 

[Luko]

Divers go to Dauin because of the world class critter hunting available. For example, as an underwater photographer the Dauin coast is one of the world's top 5 macro destinations

Well that's a random opinion of yours, it's a bit going overboard : never seen a "top 5" world's macro destination except in internet lists where they'd usually put Cozumel in the world's top 3 best diving destinations (In terms of what criteria?).
I would state that divers go to Dauin because it's an easy going/easy diving destination, has good macro that can be coupled with coral reef diving such as Apo island. IMO Dauin is a location that I enjoy diving to, where I'm sure I will get macro opprtunities but in my mind not up to the real TOP locations for serious macro in terms of critter variety. (Disclaimer 4 trips to Dauin, some 100 dives in the area).
I like Dauin for its overall atmosphere and the relaxing dives at this time of the year Mar-May when more Philippines locations are in season for macro than in Indonesia, but "as an underwater photographer" specialized into macro, I find that for instance Tawali, Lembeh, Ambon, Tulamben, Anilao, even Alor and Bangka are superior and offer more image opportunities than Dauin, from photos I've seen Romblon -where I've yet not been to- offers more variety too, and I'm sure that I miss some others.
Dauin has loads of frogfish and GPF in season, however it can be repetitive and quite limited when it comes to slugs (mostly sacoglossians but few real nudis) or more barely seen crustaceans for instance.
For me 12 days in Dauin in a row would be overkill.

but if I only had 12 days I would spend the whole time in Southern Leyte. The diving was more varied and there were many fewer divers.

Sure you have both walls and macro but honestly I was disappointed after all the fuss I read about the destination. I didn't find that many good divesites, some mundane ones, and the macro -this is what DiveUAE is looking for- was quite poor, add on top some of the sites have really suffered from Odette typhoon.
Fewer divers overall maybe but concentrated on a couple of large bankas as well while Dauin ops use small speedboats.
(last stay a couple of months ago, so disappointed that I cut the intial stay short and left for Balicasag where I found there was much more fish action).

 

[diveUAE]

My dive experience in the Philippines is limited to Dauin, Moalboal, Malapascua, and South Leyte. All were
interesting/had their pluses, but if I only had 12 days I would spend the whole time in Southern Leyte. The diving was more varied and there were many fewer divers.

Thanks. I know about South Leyte and did consider going there, but this time decided on Dauin for (maybe) more critters.

@ScubaBackpacker


@diveUAE = what's your goal with this (eventual) trip?

Funny, I've also read about Dauin being a great place for macro/muck and easy to combine with some reef dives.
Our reason for choosing Philippines was the prices on flights - originally I was looking at a Angkor Wat/Phuket/Koh Lanta combo, but then I got a deal on flights to Cebu;-)
Picked Dauin for combination of critter/reef (my husband tend to get bored, if it's only muck and I find reefs a bit dull), relativly easy to get to and cheap(ish) to stay/dive. Extra bonus is, that when our son learned about the prices he decided to join us for this trip and my sil is also coming.

Think we settled for Seaview dive resort/Cebu Fun Divers for Moalboal and keep the 9/4. This gives us 3,5 diving days in Moalboal + 1 day for sightseeing/transfer to airport.

 

[Luko]

Think we settled for Seaview dive resort/Cebu Fun Divers for Moalboal and keep the 9/4. This gives us 3,5 diving days in Moalboal + 1 day for sightseeing/transfer to airport.

That's I think Kalle's newest dive centre, the original owner of Savedra -now sold to other investors-, very nice guy, the dive centre should be good and really centered on divers, not the factory type. You'll be fine for Pescador.

However it's south of Panagsama, still walkable but a bit away from the sardines schoal. (I think I mistook the names in one of my post above when I refered to "Cebu Fun Divers 5 min walk to Nelson's" when in fact I meant "Cebu dive center" ex-Cameron operation, hope it didn't mislead you... )

 

[diveUAE]

That's I think Kalle's newest dive centre, the original owner of Savedra -now sold to other investors-, very nice guy, the dive centre should be good and really centered on divers, not the factory type. You'll be fine for Pescador.

However it's south of Panagsama, still walkable but a bit away from the sardines schoal. (I think I mistook the names in one of my post above when I refered to "Cebu Fun Divers 5 min walk to Nelson's" when in fact I meant "Cebu dive center" ex-Cameron operation, hope it didn't mislead you... )

I think you're right about the operator (at least it does say they cooperate with Savedra about dive safari.) I found a comment about Cebu Fun Divers in another post here, and on TA they also have good reviews.

My other option was Quo Vadis, but they get several negative comments about bed, shower, breakfast and noise from ac and dogs, whereas Seaview is new, with quiet ac, comfortable beds and good breakfast. Price is more or less the same. I've written to Cebu fun divers to see, if we can go to the sardines in the morning - they mention on their web page they normally do it at 12, but it's also the only dive shop that mentions we can do self guided dives (including early morning/late afternoon).

Is the location of Quo Vadis far superior to Seaview?

I like to have a dive shop in the resorts we stay at.

 

[Luko]

Is the location of Quo Vadis far superior to Seaview?

It's little less south than Seaview. You'll have to walk less if you want to go "party" downtown it's only a 10 minutes walk on a walking path.

In terms of dive center and given how Kalle manages his operation, I would state it should probably be the best dive center in Moalboal now that dive factories have invaded the place.
After 6 stays, I still don't know what should be in Moalboal the best accomodation option with regards to comfort and location, it has always been a trade off.