FREEDIVING IN SAMAL ISLAND: Weekend Fundive Itinerary, Where to Book, and Cost
Living in Davao City for almost three years, I had always wanted to try freediving in Samal Island. I just never pushed through because, honestly, the thought of lining up at SaSa Wharf for hours made me lazy before the trip even started.
But eventually, the urge to get back in the ocean won, and I finally booked a weekend fundive trip. I wanted to experience what the underwater scene looked like and spend a slow weekend exploring the island, too.
If you’ve been curious about freediving in Samal Island, this guide covers everything I experienced. From costs and itinerary to where to book freediving in Samal. And spoiler: it turned out to be one of the chillest weekends I’ve had in a while.
Freediving in Samal Island Overview
Freediving in Samal Island has slowly become one of the growing adventure activities in the area, and I’m fully rooting for it. My only hope is that tourism here stays sustainable because the underwater landscape is honestly surreal. It would be heartbreaking to see the reefs damaged over time.
Here’s a quick overview before planning your Samal Island freediving itinerary:
- Location: Samal Island, Davao del Norte
- Nearest jump-off: SaSa Wharf, Davao City
- Dive Schools: Aquavita Freediving & Davao Freediving
- Typical Fundive Cost: Starts around ₱3,000/head
- Experience Needed: Fundives usually require prior freediving certification or experience
- Dive Type: Mostly shore dives, but there’s a boat dive too
- Best For: Weekend trips, beginner freedivers, casual fun dives
- Water Conditions: Usually calm depending on weather and season
- Marine Life: Very healthy reefs, corals, reef fish, and rich underwater ecosystems
- Recommended Trip Duration: 2D1N or weekend stay
- Gear Rental: Available in some dive schools
If you’re searching for freediving spots in Davao region, Samal is probably one of the easiest and most accessible places to start.
How to Get to Samal Island
Samal Island is one of the easiest beach destinations to reach from Davao City. Despite my complaints about the long queues (which are valid 😅), getting there is actually straightforward once you’re at the wharf.
Travel time varies depending on lines, which honestly can get long during weekends and holidays.
By Commute
- Go to SaSa Wharf in Davao City
- Ride the ferry bound for Samal Island
- Upon arrival, take a habal-habal, tricycle, or van depending on your destination
Bringing a Private Vehicle
If you prefer to bring your own car or motorcycle, you’ll need to take the ferry from Sasa Wharf. Rates below are updated as of April 24, 2026 (but still best to double-check):
- Light Passenger Vehicle – PHP 350 (1 driver, 3 passengers)
- Motorcycle – PHP 140
- Tricycle – PHP 280
- Elf/Bongo/Canter – PHP 420
I personally lined up around 4 AM, which sounds painful but helped avoid spending half the day waiting. We were able to board the ferry after 1hour and 30 mins.
Samal Island Fundive Cost
I booked my fundive in Samal Island through Aquavita Freediving. Their rates are generally similar to other dive schools, but I appreciated the flexibility because they adjusted pricing for divers who didn’t need shirts or underwater videos.
- Joiner Rate: ₱3,000/person — Join a group dive
- Solo Rate: ₱4,500/person — Private session
Inclusions (& Exclusions ₱3,000 Joiner Rate Package)
Inclusions:
- 2–3 hours open water session
- Free use of freediving gears
- Samal Environmental Fee
- Resort entrance fee
- Raw underwater video clips
- Dri-fit branded shirt
Exclusions:
- Edited/color graded reels
- Boat rental
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Food & drinks
A 50% downpayment is required to confirm your slot, and it’s non-refundable and non-transferable.
Samal Island Weekend Fundive Itinerary
When planning freediving in Samal Island, do your research first, especially if it’s your first time visiting the island. I didn’t know anyone, had never been there before, and basically planned everything from scratch. So if you’re doing the same, here’s my actual weekend itinerary that you are free to follow.
Day 1 — Beach Club, Waterfalls & Check-in
This part is optional if you only want to dive. I wanted to spend an extra day slowing down and exploring.
- 4:00 AM — Start lining up at SaSa Wharf
- 8:00 AM — Walk-in day tour at Club Samal Resort
- 1:00 PM — Visit Hagimit Falls
- 4:00 PM — Airbnb check-in
- Evening — Dinner and early sleep
CLUB SAMAL RESORT DAY TOUR: Inclusion, Cost, Amenities, and Experience
Day 2 — Dive Day
- 8:30 AM — Coffee stop at Limestone Brew
- 9:00 AM — Drive to dive meeting point at Aundanao Oasis Beach Resort (~30 mins)
- 10:00 AM — Scheduled fundive session (2–3 hours)
- Lunch is available inside the resort but paid separately.
- 2:00 PM — Post-dive snacks and hangout at BalaiSamal
- 4:00 PM — Back to Airbnb to rest
- 5:30 PM — Sunset + dinner at Cave In Samal
Important: Cave In Samal accepts strict bookings only. No walk-ins. You’ll need to reserve and pay a deposit beforehand.
Day 3 — Back to Davao
- Early morning — Airbnb check-out
- Coffee stop — A Small Deli
We left early because ferry lines going back to Davao can get long, too.
This entire itinerary worked well as a weekend fundive trip from Davao without feeling rushed.
Where to Book Freediving Lessons in Samal Island
You can’t simply show up and do a fundive if you’ve never freedived before. If you’re completely new, take proper lessons first before booking fun dives.
Here are my recommendations for where to book freediving in Samal:
Aquavita Freediving is run by Ms. Mary Anthonette Salamanca, a licensed female Molchanovs instructor.
If you prefer learning with a woman coach, this is a strong option. They were actually my second inquiry, but I ended up booking with them because of the flexibility in pricing and inclusions.
Aquavita Freediving is best for beginner lessons, female coach preference, fundives, and private dive sessions.
Another option for freediving Davao and Samal sessions. Worth checking rates and schedules depending on your preferred dates.
Davao Freediving is a tourism-accredited tourist shop in Sama Island. This official accreditation means that every adventure you book with them meets national tourism standards for quality, safety, and professionalism.
Here are their available services:
- Introduction to Freediving
- Molchanovs Courses
- Line Training/Depth Training
- Fundive Shoot and Events
- Freediving Gear Rentals
Where to Stay in Samal Island
If your main purpose is freediving in Samal Island, it makes more sense to stay near your dive meeting point.
I’d recommend booking accommodation around Aundanao Oasis Beach Resort because staying near the ferry terminal means additional transportation costs and roughly 30 minutes of travel before your dive.
Choosing accommodations near the dive location also means you’ll get more sleep before early dives, less transportation hassle, and easier recovery after diving
Know Before You Go Freediving in Samal Island
- Do not try to DIY a fun dive trip in any dive spot where you’re not familiar with.
- Respect reefs and marine life
- Use reef-safe sunscreen whenever possible
- Be extra careful with long fins during shore entry because corals can be surprisingly close
- Avoid touching corals even accidentally
- Listen carefully during dive briefings
- Download GoPro Quik App beforehand if your videos will be transferred digitally, and ensure your phone has enough storage.
The reefs around some Samal Island dive spots are incredibly alive. Hopefully, they stay that way.
I thought this trip would only be about crossing off another destination near Davao City, but freediving in Samal Island turned out to be slower, calmer, and more memorable than I expected. Between the dives, beach time, coffee stops, and ferry lines, it felt less like a packed itinerary and more like a proper weekend reset.
If you’re looking for accessible freediving spots in Davao region or planning your first fundive in Samal Island, hopefully this guide makes your trip easier to organize. Just prepare for early mornings, long wharf queues, and the possibility that one weekend won’t be enough.
Because honestly, after finally going once, I get why people keep coming back.
FREEDIVING IN DAVAO REGION: Mati and Samal Dive Spots
