Umbrella Rock, Moalboal: Frogfish & a Pegasus Fish

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

I dove it on the same day as White Beach, and the two sites sit close together off the same stretch of coast.

At 92 ft (28 m) this was the deepest dive I did in Moalboal.

Dive Log · Moalboal, Philippines

Umbrella Rock

Dive Score4.6 / 5
Dive Data from my Garmin Descent MK3i
Max Depth
92ft / 28m
Avg Depth
45ft / 13.7m
Dive Time
54min
Water Temp
84.2°F / 29°C
Visibility
90ft / 27m
Entry
Boat
Recommended Certification
Advanced
Why it scored 4.6Tied #6 of 20 I've dived in Philippines
My take: The deepest dive I did in Moalboal, and one of the most colorful. A wall dropping into the Tañon Strait, named for the thin rock formations at the entry.
My satisfaction4/5
Marine life5/5
Reef or wreck5/5
Conditions5/5
Crowds5/5
Getting there4/5
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: 9.993298, 123.369865

The Formations

The Moalboal shoreline seen from the water at Umbrella Rock
The site is named for the rock formations near the beachside entry point.

The rocks are very thin, with a dome structure on top which is where the umbrella name comes from.

The Dive

Reef slope dropping into blue water at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Dropped down on the wall.
Garmin dive computer reading 83 ft at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Close to my maximum depth.
Yellow soft corals across the reef at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Lots of color at this site!
Wide reef top at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal

I logged 92 ft (28 m) at the deepest, with an average of 45 ft (13.7 m) across 54 minutes.

Like White Beach, this is a wall that starts close to shore and drops into the Tañon Strait, which runs to around 1,640 ft (500 m) between Cebu and Negros.

Reef mounds in low light at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
The reef here is uplifted coral limestone, the same rock the rest of the Moalboal coast is made of.

It's close enough to the beach that you'd think about shore diving it, but everyone dives it off a boat.

Visibility was 90 ft (27 m).

What Marine Life I Saw

Yellow frogfish on the reef at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Very small frogfish hiding on a rock.
Small animal camouflaged on the sand at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
First time seeing a Pegasus fish!
School of fusiliers over the reef at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Not sure what fish these are, but there were tons!
Lionfish beside pink soft coral at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Yup, they've got lionfish here too!
Spotted sea cucumber on the reef at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Huge seacucumber hanging out on the reef wall.
Orange clownfish in a large anemone at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
One of many clownfish filled anemones I saw here!
Pale animal draped over an orange sponge at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Lots of pipefish hanging out on the rocks.
A carpet of anemone tentacles at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Cool looking coral!
Scorpionfish camouflaged against the rock at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Stonefish camouflaged on the rocks.
Nudibranch on the reef wall at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Blue and yellow nudibranch crawling over the ledge.
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Conditions & Logistics

Working down the wall at Umbrella Rock, Moalboal
Aldrin right on the edge of the dropoff.

Visibility was 90 ft (27 m) on my dive and the water was 84.2°F (29°C).

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

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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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