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Comments on Moalboal |
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Here you may see what people have said about Moalboal.
Please note that while I believe that the
below comments were made in good faith, I can take no responsibility
for any inaccuracies or misrepresentations.
vic2 has some very relevant observations about Moalboal from a visit in Jan. 2005:
"I love Moalboal but I don't like what's going on in there right now.
As far as I'm concerned, the natural charm and beauty of the place is gone forever. Panagsama
and Bas-dako used to be a magical place for me, so serene and relaxing. Now it's too
crowded, too commercialized and foreigners are bringing prostitutes to the place. I feel
unsafe going to the waters especially with the diseases that these people might bring."
Comment: I haven't lived in Moalboal since 2000 and I know that things have
changed a lot since then and there is no real comparison with the village that I first visited in 1990. It's now a
semi-sophisticated resort area with and the advantages this brings but also the problems of a concentration
of relative wealth in what is still a very poor area of Cebu. There are still beautiful parts of Moalboal away
from the crowds and development but it isn't the same place that I (or vic2 and thousands of others) found
in the '80's and '90's. For better or worse, that's the way it is - it suits some people but not everyone. Thank
you for your thoughts, they echo some of my feelings. If you are willing to discuss this further, perhaps we
could move to the
forum?
Globetrotterone wrote a note about a return visit in April and had a great time:
"I have been to Moalboal many times since 1995 and each time it was as
exciting as the first time. Some of the friendliest dive shops in the Philippines can be
found along this stretch of beach. If you are not certified yet, this would be the place
to do it for a fraction of the cost one would pay elsewhere outside of the PI."
Comment: One of the great things about Moalboal is the number of people who come back
regularly; it was lovely to greet returnees each year afresh. Globetrotterone also stayed in Gabunilas'
Cottages which was where I lived very happily for several years whilst working at Visaya Divers. And I
would also say that even if you can find cheaper places to learn to dive, you will be *very* pushed to
find anywhere with the combination of diving quality, friendly faces and reasonable prices that you will
find in the Philippines in general and Moalboal in particular. Thanks for taking the time to write.
Rubypeanut wrote about their visit in July was not overly impressed:
"I am ambivalent about Moalboal. The prices are MUCH higher
than the books and websites say; here in low season, all the resorts "offer" only the fully
airconed rooms starting at P1,000 per night. The food is a little pricier than indicated on
the website as well, meals over P100, not to mention the fact that you have to buy all your
own drinking water. All day, local canvassers bother me with sing-song faux-friendly sales
pitches: "Hellooooooo!!! Massage today?? What's your name? Where are you going? Okayyy.
Maybe tomorrow. Remember me tomorrow for a massage." Insert T-shirt, neckalace, manicure,
moped ride, boat ride. I went on a boat ride with Nelson's as a snorkeler and was apalled
at how unprofessional and unsafe the whole thing was. For example, the gas cylinders were
not secured and were rolling around the deck, the instructor's were flirting with the female
scuba students and, after their dive, threw the girls into the water with no fins and no
regulator but with the
All the rooms in the resorts we stayed at were moldy and gave us congestion so we couldn't dive.
On the other hand, the reef and fish are amazing."
Comment: Thanks for the comments Ruby. I sent a longer personal mail to you; suffice
it to say that Moalboal is not for everyone and, yes, things do change. I'm sorry that you didn't
particularly enjoy your visit. Moalboal isn't perfect and it's imperfections are (for me) a part
of the charm. Having said that, mouldy rooms aren't very charming!!
Warren has made several visits to Moalboal, the last in March 2005, and quite
likes it :-) :
"Had a blast at Moalboal. Nelson's taught me how to dive and now I
have gone back there several times, and also to Balicasag (Bohol). Alberto and Bejam are
very good divers and kaibigans. The coral and sealife from the mainland out to Pescador
is stunning, beautiful, abundant, and very close. And Kawasan Falls was a pleasant
surprise, too. CGE!"
Comment: Thanks very much Warren. Very happy that you have enjoyed your visits,
I wish you many more!
Comment: Thanks a bunch Dan, glad that you both had a good time and I'm sure that Mark
will be around for some time to come! Have you got any photos that I can put up? :-)
Tom sent this comment in September after a visit in May 2004:
"Just found this site. I went to Moalboal for a side trip when I
went with my Brother Bill, his wife Annie and my New Nephew to Cebu (Bogo). I always
wanted to learn to dive so I found Savedra and decided to give them a try.
I can't say enough about the Savedra Dive Center if you do any diving. I went there a
complete Novice and in 4 days completed the Padi Advanced Open Water Dive Certifications.
Everything was top notch and a lot cheaper than the US and the diving is WONDERFUL! I
did a lot of prep before going there, I bought and studied the Padi DVD training disks
and brought my own shorty Wet Suit, Mask, Fins. They supplied the buoyancy vest, weights,
tanks, octopus, etc.
If you want to visit the folks at Savedra the owner is a German Expat named Karl. He's
a great guy and they're very pleasant and professional. Karl actually made all my reservations
at the Cabana Resort personally and didn't even ask for a centavo up front!
Even if you don't dive they have boat trips, caving, hiking and other recreation that they can arrange.
Karl will also arrange your car travel. It's about $40-$45 US from Mactan to Moal Boal one way.
Comment: Very glad to hear that you enjoyed your holiday Tom and hope Moalboal
will be seeing you again. I hope that you also use your new-found qualification to experience
some of the other good diving in the Philippines in general and Cebu in particular.
Steve sent this comment on 1st. April 2004 (hopefully not a joke!):
"My first diving trip to Moalboal was in September 2002
where Nelson did an excellent job putting me through the basic PADI course in
a few days. A year later I was able to return for another week of diving and
his cousins proved to be excellent divemasters.
For me, Moalboal is paradise - the diving is fantastic, the hotels are
comfortable and reasonably priced and the food and drink is good and cheap.
I already have flight reservations for a month in Cebu this coming fall and I
plan on spending a week in Moalboal. My Cebuano wife and I will spend most
of the rest of the time with her family and starting our retirement planning
to move to Cebu in the not too distant future."
Comment: Thanks for your fulsome praise Steve, it's always good
to hear when people enjoy their visit enough to plan a return. I can't really say whether
Moalboal is a good place to retire to - there is a thriving year-round expat community
- but being 3-4 hours from the big bad city can make things more difficult.
However I firmly attribute my current lack of grey hairs to my time in Moalboal,
so it may work for you as well and you find that you don't need the City after all!
My sent this comment in January 2004:
"Dear Ones:
Hi, I spent my holidays with my family in Badian (a town after Moalboal),
however I spent most of my relaxing moments in Moalboal. Majority of
the restaurants were great. They had affordable & exquisite foods. The
lodging places were affordable, safe, quiet & clean. The people were
accomodating & friendly. Their dive sites were awesome because the shape
of the Pescador island is unique when seen under the water. After a
long day of diving & having fun, you can get a massage as well & you'll
never regret it.
If anyone like to have a quiet, private, secluded, affordable, &
safe "spot" for a get away diving place or vacation then Moalboal is
the best place for you."
Comment: Thanks for your comments My, I'm pleased that you
enjoyed your visit. I've heard of Fitzgerald's place before but not met
anyone who's stayed there. Good to hear that you had an enjoyable stay,
hopefully it won't be too long before your next visit!
"Horrible Bob" Platts sent this comment in November 2003:
"Hi Simon:
I don't think you would recognize Panagsama if you went back.
I get to spend about half the year there now.
Believe it or not your site is still the most useful although
very inaccurate these days. The visitors have matured. Not many
back packers anymore.
Some of your recommendations look strange these days. I think Pacitas
only has aircon now. But they do have the Saturday night disco. Marcosas
is the deal for accommodation, Mollies for charm, Eve's for organization
and Quo Vadis for Germans.
The season has contracted but it is still not 'commercial'. Slowly,
repeat visitors have built their own places (me included) so the scene
has hollowed out. The resorts, Quo Vadis et al try to keep their punters
on property, but this is actually good because only worthwhile people
seem to be out at night.
One glaring omission is Jac's Joint. Andy from Portsmouth and Jac his
Pinoy wife are situated in town opposite the fish market. Two pool tables
great sea view, prices aimed at the locals. Great ambiance with a smattering
of local colour.
Auzzie Steve bought the place next to SubMaldive and has slowly but
surely turned it into a building site. Great potential though.
This time of year some old and new places are reopening. I'll be back
for Christmas as always.
I rebuilt the old Pescador Café in front of Jespers [Neptune Diving]
last year and my girlfriend Niza takes care of it while I'm away."
Comment: thanks Bob. Indeed I am sorry about omissions
and inaccuracies but living half a world away it's not easy to keep the
site updated. Telepathy was never my strong suite!! I will add in listings
for Jac's Place in the next day or two - maybe you could ask Andy to get
in touch? As you know I'm happy to add/change info if I have it to change!
When you get back, maybe you could send over some photos? I'd like to put
up a 2003/4 photo tour so people can see how things have changed since the
last one you did in 2000!
Kyle sent this comment in October 2003:
"I visited Moalboal about 4 years ago and it is my favorite vacation.
We stayed at the Sumisid Lodge and to this day I can not think of any complaints. I just
visited your web site to remind me of what paradise was like."
Kyle
Comment: thanks for this Kyle, I'm happy that you enjoy the site and very happy
that you had a good time in Moalboal. Most people seem to.
Mario from a German e-mail address sent me this in January 2002:
"It's better you go to moalboal and after then you bring your website
in the correct form. Moalboal terrible now. Jan. 20. 2002"
Comment: I tried to follow this comment up with Mario but he didn't reply to two
e-mails from me. I am however including his comment for the sake of completeness but I have no
other information about his stay. Bear this in mind when considering how accurate his comment is.
Obviously not everyone enjoys their visit to Moalboal . . . but I would *really* like to know what
went wrong for him - I lived in Moalboal for six years between 1992 & 2000, so I have written this
site from my experience, not just people's reports or advertising.
Chris from Japan stayed at Eve's Kiosk and dived with Nelson's Ocean Safari for 10 days
in December 2001.
"The diving was excellent! I went to twelve different sites in 5 days.
Pescador as always was excellent. We were lucky enough to see 5 young white tips under some table
coral, everyday!"
"Frogfish, Napoleon, you name it! The accomodations are slim but at excellent budget prices.
If you wander around, you can find some really good cheap food as well."
"Nothing really to do topside. Chief Mau's or Lloyds has pool tables and music. The disco only
opens twice a week, and that's just a room full of young kids and loud music."
"Go for the diving and not the topside so-called attractions."
Comment: I agree completely with Chris; Moalboal is not Boracay or Puerto Galera and
hopefully never will be. However . . . if you're not a hard core diver, there
are quite a
few ways of passing the time apart from diving. Have a look at our
Excursions page for some ideas.
Peter from Sweden stayed at Quo Vadis in January 2001 and is thinking of
coming back later this year.
"G-r-e-a-t place for diving & the surroundings was very nice. Not
so much for a party-animal but still enough for some late-night beers :-)
Quo Vadis Resort is highly recommended!"
Comment: there are several places where the beers run freely most evening. From
extensive personal experience Neptune Divers almost always has a crate of beers outside
the dive shop when the days work is done, Savedra frequently has a BBQ and beers at the dive shop
and of course there is always Chief Mau's later on . . . :-) Anyway, glad you enjoyed your trip
and hope that you do make it back. Summer (May/June) is I think the best time to enjoy the diving
(even though the town is usually very quiet then) because the seas are calm and the visibility
generally excellent.
Ida and Rune came from Norway and had this to say about their last holiday in Moalboal in August 2000:
"We have been to Moallboal 2 times and the place, life, diving and
wonederful people will always have a big place in our hearts. IT IS A MAGNIFICENT place.
Last time we went to Panagsama we went on a diving safari with Neptune and it's highly recommended!!!
But it is also fantastic diving just there...
You don't have the beach-burners there but you have a wonderful beach nearby which is also good for
barbeque parties . . . . Don't hesitate, just go there. I guarantee you will miss it."
Comment: thanks for the positive plug. You're not the only people to rave about Neptune's
safaris - unfortunately the others haven't written to me :-(
Maricar from Florida stayed at BB Seaview and dived with Blue Abyss in August 2000
and was very happy with what she saw!
"awesome pics . . . . it's been a while since i've been home (cebu)
and your pics have succeeded in making me homesick. the moalboal i saw tonite is so different
from the last time i was there . . . in 1985?! yikes . . . i went there with a preconceived notion
that the gringos trashed and tainted the local scene. i came home with a different opinion . . . i
loved that place. i now live and dive in south florida where i go to the keys for my thrill but
i still miss home . . . send some more pics, ok?"
Jeff arrived in August 2000 and stayed for a few days at Quo Vadis. He didn't dive but
had this to say about Moalboal . . . .
"Great place. My fiancé (a Filipina) and I arrived there for a 3-day
stay in August 2000. It was a great place to do nothing . . . just relax and
enjoy the break from car horns and crowds that you find everywhere else. The bus trip was a bit
hair-raising a few times. I'd recommend a V-Hire or an Air-Con bus to anyone else. The accommodation
was VERY reasonably priced, considering its good quality. The eating houses weren't quite so reasonably
priced, sorry to say. Maybe someone else could suggest some cheap eateries? The place is very safe.
The people are friendly, and don't stare and point at westerners as some will do. The atmosphere was
peaceful and a great opportunity to have a break from the noise and crowds, even for us
non-divers."
Comment: there are several Filipino eateries around the Beach (P20-40 for a meal with a drink);
the two opposite Chief Mau's are good and there are several more on the road to White Beach before you
leave Panagsama. Sorry that you didn't find them Jeff. Thanks for your comments anyway.
GM (from Norway) has been to Moalboal a few times and is looking forward to a return visit.
He had this to say about a two week visit (staying at Mollies and diving at Savedra II) in March 1999:
"It's been a while since I've been to Moalboal, but it's a place I defenately
want to see again even though I've been there three times already. Great diving and even greater people.
Accomodation, food and drinks are very reasonable. Jessica at Mollie's Place has always made me and my
buddys feel welcome and right at home. Sitting at Chief Mao's, talking about diving over a few beers
while listening to music is heaven if you ask me. Spending a week or two in Panagsama Beach is highly
recommended. One thing to remember if you're planning on going there...there isn't any banks or ATM's
near by, so stock cash for at least a week. Changeing travellers checks or dollars at hotels is quite
expensive. If your looking for a relaxing vacation among friendly, smiling and helpful people, Panagsama
is the place to go. :)"
Comment: nothing to add. I agree completely (though I understand that there is now a real
moneychanger in Moalboal as well as a few other facilities that weren't there when GM was). Thanks.
If you would like to have your say about Moalboal, please go to our
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