After our fulfilling Kawasan canyoneering experience, we
rented a multicab that would take us to Moalboal. This small town in Cebu’s
southwest part is deemed a world-class divers’ paradise because of its abundant
marine life. While it’s only my first time in Cebu, I can affirm that there are
magnificent diving spots all over the region.
Moalboal is less than an hour from Kawasan, but our bodies
were already sore making it difficult to locate a place to stay in. Moalboal is
home of the renowned Pescador Island and Panagsama Beach. This fact makes the
lively town a favorite destination of locals and foreigners alike and hence,
hotels and lodging houses near the beach are oftentimes fully booked.
One lodging house even rejected us for a seemingly absurd reason.
The manager said through the receptionist that they wouldn’t accept us because
Filipinos loved to bathe. Grabe. We were fully aware that there was a water shortage and we were more
than ready to do our part in conserving the house’s resources, but the manager
did not even talk to us. I can’t imagine why you’d turn your back to your
helpless countrymen when you could’ve easily oriented them about the situation
(Okay, I’m being dramatic but we really felt unwanted. Haha!) We only needed a
place to rest for that night, Mr. Manager. :'( The
receptionist was kind and comforting though. You could sense the disappointment
in her tone while she delivered the news.
The Silver Lining
We decided that we’d go to another town after soothing our
hunger pangs. Food should be least of your worries because the place has many
cafes, restaurants, and bars. We went to the Pleasure Principle Resto-bar – Trip Advisor's #1 ranked restaurant in Moalboal. Don’t
leave the town without visiting this place! The food is wonderful and the
complimentary appetizer and wine were thoughtful touches. The owner, Steve, is
a wonderful host who takes time to interact with the diners.
One staff member (I don’t know her name but she’s reminiscent
of a beauty queen) even helped us find a place to stay in and it was right in front of the restaurant! It was called Bungalows
de Savedra. It’s perfect for groups because the
bungalows are spacious, comfortable, and each comes with a terrace that offers
a spectacular view of the ocean. Our bungalow was way more beautiful than
the one whose management snubbed us! Haha.
The morning after, we met our boatmen (we booked via Savedra
for P2,000) who took us to Pescador Island. On our way to Pescador, we were
treated to an unbelievable sight – pods of dolphins! At first, only one dolphin
showed up. We were already happy with him but after a few minutes, twenty or
thirty of the ocean’s most adorable mammals started jumping out of the water.
Moments like that really leave you grateful for how amazing His hands are.
Upon reaching Pescador, our boatmen tied our boat to a
floating buoy since they're prohibited to use anchors that could damage the
reef. The waves are large but your guides will toss a rope should you find it
difficult to swim back to your boat. We then proceeded to a spot that had sea
turtles. My calf cramps, however, impeded my swimming that I only saw one
turtle.
Our final stop was back at Panagsama Beach where it was time
to meet schools of sardines. It’s a different world underneath! You can try
touching the sardines but your effort will be futile because they immediately
break their formation upon sensing a stranger.
Panagsama Beach has many internationally-accredited dive
centers. People walking around in their wet suits armed with scuba gears are
common sights. I promised that our next Cebu trip would mainly consist of
diving there.
