Cliff Jumping in Sabang, Island Garden City of Samal
Travelers have a lot and varying experience they are looking for when they visit a certain place. It maybe for relaxation, partying with people, or enjoying a heart-pounding, breath-taking activity such as cliff jumping/diving. As for me, I would prefer activities such as cliff jumping, mountain climbing, river trekking, or water rafting because I always hunger for a little thrill. Don't get me wrong though, there are times that I wanted to just relax in a quite beach or in the mountains and times when I wanted to go partying in bars and clubs. For the most part however, I prefer action! Luckily for me, I did not have to travel thousands of miles to get to do these things. Samal Islands and the neighboring Davao provinces always have some action packed adventure for thrill seekers.
Sabang has always been known to local tourists for its crystal clears water and beautiful landscape. This place however, was made more popular by cliff diving enthusiasts. If you are one of those are seeking an action packed adventure, then Sabang is definitely worth a visit. You can jump off the cliff as high as 20 to 40 feet. There used to be three levels to choose from, the third one being the highest at around 40 feet. The highest one however, has just been recently closed for reasons we do not know. So visitors are left to choose between 20 to around 30 foot jump.
Do you feel like a cliff jump is just way too much of a fun? Don't worry, the place is a good spot for snorkeling as it is for cliff jumping. With it's crystal clear waters and rich coral reefs, you will definitely have fun watching schools of fish and an underwater botanical garden kind of thing. And no, this is not an exaggeration.
Sabang is just less than an hour ride from downtown Samal and less than 5 minute ride from Kaputian Beach Park. If you don't know how to get there, all you have to do is ask the locals. They are friendly and always willing to help.
When you get to Sabang, there is no entrance or corkage fee. You can bring food or choose to buy in the neighboring Kaputian public market. There are also vendors in Sabang who sell at a relatively reasonable price. They have alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Filipino "kakanin", and "chichiria". There are cottages and tables for free.
You may also setup your tent and spend the night in the area but I would discourage anyone from doing this for quite a few reasons. First, there is no electricity there so it gets a little too dark at night. Second, there are no toilets so just imagine when you need to use one. Third, there is no fresh water. Well, drinking water is not a problem because you can always buy but I am not sure where to get fresh water to wash that salt off your body after spending the entire day swimming. And lastly, you really don't have to spend the night in Sabang because Kaputian Beach Park is less than 5 minutes ride from there.
If you really want to spend the night in Sabang, just make sure you have at least the things you need. Drinking water and food just in case you get thirsty and hungry at night; a flashlight; a lighter in case you need to start a bonfire to keep you guys warm; a insect repellent lotion; and cellphone - fully charged and with enough airtime balance to call 911 for any emergency.
