Day 1
Pick up from Cebu City and travel to Moalboal. If time allows, explore this bustling metropolis and uncover some of the history of this fascinating city. In the evening, head to Moalboal.
← Back to the quest map
9 DaysEasy–ModerateAll year
Serene Cebu
Moalboal sardine run & turtles • Malapascua threshers • Kawasan Falls • Osmeña Peak. A thoughtfully paced 9-day dive-forward quest across Cebu.
9 days
Duration
Easy–Mod.
Level
All year
Season
Cebu
Base
Quest overview
What to expect
Cebu is in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, with its main long island and over 150 surrounding islets. The capital, Cebu City, is the oldest in the country.
The adventures and diving on offer are unlike anywhere else—from the turtles and sardines in Moalboal to the graceful thresher sharks of Malapascua. Add Kawasan Falls and Osmeña Peak, and this is a 9-day experience you'll never forget.
MoalboalPescador IslandMonad ShoalGato Island
In the water
Gallery
1
Day by day
The itinerary
Nine days, plotted stop by stop. Each stretch moves you closer to Monad Shoal and the threshers waiting at dawn.
- Days 2 – 4
Moalboal is a quintessential diving town with plenty of places to eat, drink, sleep, and of course dive. Visit Pescador Island and protected areas of Tuble, Ronda, Sampaguita and more. The huge draw is the world-famous sardine run—millions of fish schooling in vast shoals. Expect turtles, frogfish, nudibranch, pygmy seahorses and—if we're lucky—the elusive gentle giant whale shark.
- Day 5
Travel day up north to the tip of Cebu and onward by boat to the paradisal island of Malapascua. The journey is long but worth it.
- Days 6 – 8
Malapascua is the diving-island equivalent: beautiful white sandy beaches and friendly locals. It's the only place in the world with daily, year-round encounters with thresher sharks at Monad Shoal. Other sites include Gato Island and Bugtong Bato.
- Day 9
Return to Cebu City. We'll wrap up with a small treasure to remember us by—and start plotting your next quest.
Good to know
Trip highlights
Diving highlights
- Sardine run (shore dive) — Moalboal
- Turtles & vibrant reef gardens
- Thresher sharks — Monad Shoal
- Gato Island tunnels & macro life
- Bugtong Bato biodiversity
Good to know
- Recommended certification: Open Water (AOW for Gato tunnels)
- Early starts (04:00–05:00) for threshers at Monad Shoal
- Best season: year-round; expect occasional rain Nov–Jan
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a reusable bottle
Ready to dive with threshers?
We'll schedule early-morning Monad Shoal dives for the best chances.
- 9 days
- Duration
- Easy–Mod.
- Level
- All year
- Season
Claim it
Claim this quest
Tell us your dates and preferences and we'll tailor Serene Cebu to you — a real person, not a call centre.