The Blue Orchid Resort

The eco-lodge setting was lovely, with all kinds of critters around and a coral reef right in front. It still had comforts like air conditioning and hot water. The resort is well located near Moalboal, and the diving experience was great. The staff were amazing and helped arrange trips to see the Sardines and Whale Sharks in Oslob, go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, and get transport to and from the airport in Cebu. We’d highly recommend this dive resort for a Moalboal trip.

This was one of the nicer places we stayed in Moalboal, and the difference in quality and cleanliness compared with our other accommodation was clear. The rooms and bathrooms were nice, the views were peaceful, and the staff were very sweet. The owners’ kids were often around. Drinking water was available and the WiFi was good. The resort is farther from restaurants and bars, though the food there is good. My main complaint is about the hotel tours. On our snorkeling trip, they took us by boat to the spots and left us to explore on our own, without a guide or any information about the sea or fish. There also weren’t enough life vests for everyone, and they didn’t require us to wear them, which felt odd.

I only came here for diving, not to stay overnight. The dive operation was nice and well organized, and the setting is beautiful, quiet, very green, and feels private. My one disappointment was that lunch wasn’t included, though other dive shops provided it when we did three dives a day. The price was the same as theirs.

The restaurant food is good, which matters when you don’t want to take the absolutely horrible road out for a meal. There are also water stations where you can refill bottles. We used the pool, and it was pleasant, but there were only four loungers. They seem to expect guests to spend the day on tours. After five hours of early morning kanyoneering, I just wanted to rest. The sea view is beautiful, but the resort photos show loungers by the water and there weren’t any out. At first the front desk person said they hadn’t put them out and suggested asking someone to bring them. She arranged two chairs only after I said I was disappointed with that answer. Swimming in the sea isn’t really possible here because vegetation takes over once you’re thigh deep. We’re staying here now, and I rarely leave an unfavourable review, but too many things have bothered me. Calling the rooms “luxury” is a stretch. They’re large and serviceable, but sparsely furnished: a bed with a very annoying mosquito net, a bureau, a small table, two chairs, and a lot of empty space. There’s nowhere to unpack, so our bags are on the floor. The glass table isn’t suitable for a suitcase, and it’s the only place to put our things. That part is minor. If you’re here for diving, you may not care about most of this.