Davao - General Info
***ALERT AUGUST 2025: DUE TO RECENT ISSUES WITH THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS IN DAVAO (AND ONLY DAVAO), CRUISERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED AGAINST VISITING DAVAO AT THIS TIME. HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA, SAMAL ISLAND IS NOT ACCEPTING NEW ARRIVALS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED.***
Where is Davao?
Davao City is located on the northeastern coast of the Davao Gulf which is off the southern side of Mindanao Island. There are over 30 rivers and creeks which empty into the Gulf. Opposite the city is the large island of Samal and it is on its northern tip where the Ocean View marina is situated.
Cruiser Highlights for Davao:
There is a ferry from here to Davao City. It is the only area in the Philippines that is typhoon-free.
Security for Davao:
Although other parts of Mindanao suffer from political unrest, Davao City and Samal are considered safe places to stop (apart from the usual petty crime). That said, there was an isolated incident at Ocean View Marina in September 2015 when the marina was attacked by ten armed men who took four hostages.
Position – Ocean View Marina:
07° 11.95’N, 125° 42.67’E
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Related to following destinations: Davao, Mindanao (Southern Region), Philippines
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We have been attempting to get clearance from customs for nearly a week. Nobody there understands what is going on and they just keep suggesting we speak to an agent. Perhaps customs want an agent to explain to them what they need to do. We arrived 5 mths ago and have been working on our boat in Oceanview Marina since then. We were cleared by customs when we arrived, and given the all clear of any import taxes. There was no mention of the 15 days only that the vessel was allowed to stay before it became subject to import duty. 2 weeks ago all vessels received a notice from customs advising that we had overstayed this 15 days and were going to be assessed for import tax at 40% of the valued of our vessels. I have presented a host of documents to support work carried out on the rebuild of one of our main engines we had done by a local company. They are still making us wait pending their decision. We need to get back to Indonesia asap to renew our retirement visas which are now in jepody of expiration.
Checking out of Davao, we anchored outside Santa Ana Wharf and notified the local Port Authority (office on the wharf). First, go to the Bureau of Quarantine where you will get a quarantine clearance for outgoing vessels. Then go to immigration to check out. They will give you the immigration port clearance. Then take everything to the Bureau of customs where they will need all documents above to issue you the final clearance to leave. Everything went smooth and took half a day.
The information regarding Ocean View Marina in Davao is not up to date. Here is the situation now:
1. There is now only one pontoon available for cruising boats. The western pontoon has been closed down to accommodate fish cages and the owner’s boats.
2. The van service has become quite unreliable lately due to the fact that it is used more and more by the condotel next door built by the same owner.
3. Their website has been taken down, so don’t bother looking for it.
4. If you really really want to stop at the Ocean View Marina, don’t use the numbers listed above. Send an email to holidaygroup.oceanviewmarina@gmail.com Subject: attention Ma’am Ruth.
5. We have been told very recently that the yard will not do haul-outs anymore. Boats still accepted, but only in the water.
SY ALYA