Best time to dive Moalboal
The sardine run has no season: millions of sardines sit just off Panagsama Beach year-round. Best visibility November–May; September–November brings lower visibility and typhoon risk.
Peak season: year-round
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov medium · Dec medium · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Macro life | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Coral & reef health | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Visibility | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Water temperature | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Weather & sea state | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Weather & sea state +1 · El Niño suppresses typhoons and rain; La Niña brings more storms (Nov 2026 – February 2027)
- Coral & reef health -1.3 · Heat stress in the months after a strong El Niño (widespread bleaching in 1998) (Apr 2027 – October 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2026 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
| January 2027 | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 15–25 m |
| February 2027 | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 20–30 m |
| March 2027 | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 20–30 m |
| April 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 20–30 m |
| May 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| July 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| August 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
| September 2027 | 29.5 °C (85 °F) | 12–20 m |
| October 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| November 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2027 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sardine bait ball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| green turtle | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| frogfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 3–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Shore, Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Open Water
- Nearest airport
- CEB
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- sardine bait ball, green turtle, frogfish
Famous sites: Sardine Run (Panagsama) · Pescador Island · Cathedral Cave · Turtle Bay
Season notes & sources
- The sardine run has no season: millions of sardines sit just off Panagsama Beach year-round. Best visibility November–May; September–November brings lower visibility and typhoon risk.