Pescador Island, Moalboal: Reef & Wall Dive With Frogfish

Austin Tuwiner
PADI Divemaster · 500+ dives · 20 countries & states
November 6, 2026
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In September of 2026, I dove Pescador Island with Dive Amigos, by boat out of Moalboal, Philippines.

Pescador is a small, uninhabited limestone island off the west coast of Cebu, known for its coral reefs and marine life.

The island is protected and there are no permanent structures, but its reefs and marine life bring many visitors.

It was definitely one of the better dives of my life!

Dive Log · Moalboal, Philippines

Pescador Island

Dive Score4.7 / 5
Dive Data from my Garmin Descent MK3i
Max Depth
82ft / 25m
Avg Depth
44ft / 13.4m
Dive Time
51min
Water Temp
84.2°F / 29°C
Visibility
90ft / 27m
Entry
Boat
Recommended Certification
Advanced
Why it scored 4.7Tied #1 of 20 I've dived in Philippines
My take: A protected limestone island with dense hard coral on top and a wall dropping off the sides. I found a yellow frogfish and morays in the sponges. Ask for Aldrin at Dive Amigos.
My satisfaction5/5
Marine life5/5
Reef or wreck5/5
Conditions5/5
Crowds5/5
Getting there3/5
My 6 ratings above, plus visibility, water temp, cost, season and ease from the dive data. 5 = calm, uncrowded and easy to reach. How the Dive Score works
Reef Asia Coordinates: 9.923778, 123.344178

The Dive

Outrigger banca anchored off Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

Getting there is a 15 to 35 minute banca ride from the mainland shore, depending on where you leave from.

Aldrin, a guide from Dive Amigos led both of my dives here. He's the man so request him if you go!

I logged 82 ft (25 m) at the deepest, with an average of 44 ft (13.4 m) across 51 minutes.

Dive guide Aldrin descending the wall at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

The top of the reef is dense hard coral, and the sides drop off into wall that runs down past where I was diving.

Most of the dive is spent working along that wall face, which is where the sponges and the small stuff are.

Dive guide Aldrin seen through a rock opening at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
There is a small cave known as Cathedral Cave for you to swim into.
Reef slope falling away into blue water at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

What Marine Life I Saw

Dense hard coral garden with small orange fish at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Anthias everywhere!
Dive guide Aldrin swimming along the wall past barrel sponges at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
The walls are covered in sponges and plate coral.
Sponges and a yellow plate coral on the wall face at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Yellow frogfish on the wall at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Huge Frogfish turned Yellow to try and camoflage.
Anemonefish in its anemone at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Maroon clowfish on the top coral plateau.
Small anemonefish tucked into anemone tentacles at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
More clownfish, this time inside a bubble tip anemone.
Pale moray with its head out of the reef at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Moray Eel hanging inside the cliff walls.
Moray deep in a crevice between sponges at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
A huge octopus tucked himself into a hole as soon as I got a look.
Two striped butterflyfish over the reef at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Pair of Royal Angelfish,
Tight cluster of small striped fish sweeping the rubble at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Some sort of saltwater catfish.
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Conditions & Logistics

Soft coral bush on the reef slope at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
Visibility was 90 ft (27 m) on my dives, and the water was 84.2°F (29°C).

I wore a 3 mm shorty and was warm the whole time.

Dive Amigos run this as a boat trip out of Moalboal.

The site is worth diving from September through May.

Dive guide Aldrin working along the wall at Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Austin Tuwiner

Hey I'm Austin, a PADI Divemaster based in South Florida .

I initially got certified at 16 at a scuba camp in Kona, Hawaii, did my Advanced Open Water on Koh Tao, my deep and nitrox on Gili Trawangan, and my Rescue and Divemaster in Miami.

Since then I've logged 500+ dives across 20 countries and states. I write about the gear I dive with, the sites I've dived, and the trips I've taken.

Hear Austin's Story

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