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Malapascua, the name means "Unfortunate Christmas". It is located only 8 km off the north coast of Cebu. It has a blindingly
white bounty beach, which is one of the best in the Philippines. Its a paradise where time stands still, leaving you breathless
as soon you step into this "pacific island dream" the exceptional long white beach is stretching out around the south-east coast
of the island facing Cebu, Leyte and Biliran with its volcanic landscape. The other side of the island has a more panoramic rocky
coastline and is an attractive alternative for the ever-popular white beach. Malapascua also called Logon is located about 8 km.
northeast of Cebu mainland and 25 km. west of Leyte.
Dive Sites in Malapascua
MALAPASCUA ISLAND
“North Point” is used as our house reef, although it takes a short boat ride. The rock formation and small canyons on the northern
part of Malapascua are covered with beautiful hart and soft corals. A wide variety of reef fish, different kinds of rays, nudibranchs,
cuttlefish, shell can be found here as well as huge crabs. This place is also known for its beautiful night dive possibilities
(max depth 23 meters. “Japanese Landing Vessel”, a shallow dive on the almost complete destroyed landing vessel.
GATO ISLAND
The name of the island was derived from the Spanish term “Gato” meaning cat. This is because the island is shaped like a sitting cat.
The island is a protected marine sanctuary. It has become famous as a breeding place for the "black & white banded" sea snakes and
also for his sleeping sharks. The island has spectacular caves and rock formations around the island. The steep walls and rocks are
covered by beautifully coloured gorgonian sea fans. On the different dive spots around the island you can find really lots of
nudibranchs as well as sea horses, shells, shrimps, sea snakes, scorpion fish, frogfish, big cuttlefish, stingrays, whitetip sharks,
reef sharks, bamboo sharks, schools of squids, tuna and snappers. You could say that Gato has it all from seldom nudibranchs and seahorses
to shark encounters on almost every dive. It is an underwater haven for macro photographers. Besides 3 underwater caves there is a tunnel
system, which runs under the northern part of the island starting at 5 meters with a large exit at 14 meter. It contains all kinds of interesting
sea life like lobsters, crabs and even sleeping whitetips. Only the more experienced divers can enter the tunnel and a torch is always needed
(max depth 27 meters & average depth 16 meters).
MONAD SHOAL
This dive spot is big sunken island rising up from the ocean floor. The flat reef top is around 15 meter and the steep drop off is going
down to approximately 200 meter. It has spectacular overhangs and walls, disappearing into the endless deep blue ocean. Big schools of
tuna, jacks and barracudas can be seen here. Sharks are common in this area and more occasionally even hammerheads. Visibility can reach at
30 meters. But one of the real special events in this area is the close encounter with the breathtaking THRESHER SHARKS that circle in front
of you acting like cats with their long tails waving around. Other highlights are the Manta Rays you can see from May until January. Another
comparable shoal south of Monad although much smaller is Kimot.
CALANGGAMAN ISLAND
On your way to this real little bounty island the boat is often escorted by shoals of dolphins. It is a little paradise island with only
few inhabitants, which makes a perfect stop between two dives. It is also a perfect place for non-divers who can just stroll around, explore
or sunbathe. Apart from this island there are two nearby shoals with similar profiles: Ormoc and Nunez Shoal. All sites have shallow reef tops
at 10 meters leading to drop-off, descending to more than 200 meters, caves and overhangs with nice sponges, corals and gorgonians all varieties
of reef fish, eagle rays, sharks and occasional turtle. Visibility can reach 30 meter.
DONA MARILYN WRECK
This is a big Manila/Cebu ferry that went down 1984 in a typhoon and is known as " The most beautiful wreck in the Visayas". The area is around
100-meter long ferry, lying on its portside and it can be entered safe in some areas. The wreck is partly overgrown with hard and beautiful colored
soft corals. Scorpionfish, Lionfish and other tropical fish find already a place here. Big black spotted stingrays are usually around. The stern
is bottoming at around 16 meters (max depth 35 meter).
DON MACARIO WRECK
A 30 meters long cargo vessel that was sunk by a typhoon. Now it is resting upside down with corals growing on and around it. It is a good wreck
for novices. Point of interest angel and butterfly fish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, sea snakes etc. (max depth 19 meter)
CHOCOLATE ISLAND
A little rocky island between Malapascua and the north point of Cebu mainland. Along its gently sloping sides you can find coral heads and beautiful
soft corals. There are many small reef fish and occasionally eagle rays (max depth 18 meters).
TAPILON JAPANESE WRECK
This is a heavily torpedoed World War II Cargo vessel broken into 3 major pieces and is resting in a depth between 20 to 30 meter with lots of
wreck debris scattered all around. It is possible to see tiles on the wreck wall, steel cable, ladders and more, also lot of moray eels, scorpion
fish, flatworms and occasional huge frogfish.
PIONEER JAPANESE WRECK
This is a surprisingly intact Japanese World War II vessel about 60 meter long is standing up right with the bow bottoming at 54 meter and the
stern bottoming at around 40 meter. The wreck is overgrown with beautiful corals and even the propeller and anchors are still there. The wreck
has an excellent fish life; massive scorpionfish, eagle rays, large groupers and shoals of barracuda, tuna and snappers are found it. This is a
very spooky but excellent wreck dive and strictly limited to experienced and qualified divers only.
MARAPIPI
A real frontiers dive destination to the reefs around this beautiful volcanic island. This dive trip is offered as a little overnight safari,
Very good corals and all kinds of reef fish. On the coral rubble sloping, blacktip, reef sharks are common. An occasional manta and eagle rays are
present. Dolphins are also around this island.
CAPITANCILLO ISLET
This six-hectare low, flat coralline islet, which is located between Cebu and Leyte. The islet offers excellent opportunities especially at the
deeper portions for it exhibits a dense population of pelagic such as jacks and tuna. A rare black coral formation is also present.
SHARK POINT
A 20 minutes boatride takes you to the sunken island of Monad. The island has a diameter of 1,5km and starts in a depth of 12m and on every side there is a drop-off down to 45m. One of the dive spots there is called Shark Point
because you can see there tresher sharks almost every morning. Somtimes there are also hammerheads and manta rays spotted.
LAPUS LAPUS
A boatride of 10 minutes takes you to this place in the North West of Malapascua. There is a nice rock formation down to 20m and there are also beautiful soft corals with small reef fishes and also forgfishes, lionfishes, scopionfishes
and nudibranches. It is a good dive site also for beginners.
LIGHTHOUSE
This spot is just at the beach of Malapascua and only a 5 minutes boatride away from the dive center. It's a good dive site for night dives. Seahorses, frogfishes, scorpionfishes, lionfishes and many more can be spotted.
JAPANESE CARGO WRECK
This Japanese boat without name was attacked in 1944 by US bombers and it sunk. Not everything of the boat is destroyed and that means it is very interesting to dive there in the depth of 18-27m. The wreck is already covered with many
different corals and colourful sea anemones. There are also many sponges, scorpionfishes, seahorses, lionfishes and frogfishes to see.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Day tours from Cebu City take visitors through the heart of the city to visit the Magellan’s Cross, which the explorer planted on Mactan Island in
1521. Nearby is the Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino, where the visitors find the country’s oldest image of the Child Jesus. Fort San Pedro, designed
by the colonizing Spaniards as a fortress against pirates, now houses well-manicured gardens and is open to the public. Visit the Casa Gorordo
Museum for a glimpse at life during the Spanish Colonial era, the Taoist Temple with its ornate décor, and the University of San Carlos, the oldest
University in the Visayas. The vacation will be incomplete without a view of the areas numerous tropical islets. Sun-kissed white sand beaches.
Swim in the beaches of Argao, Oslob and Carmen. Explore the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and Gato Islands. The possibilities are endless.
TRAVEL BRIEF
You can get there with buses like “Cebu Autobus”, D´Rough Riders”, “Air-Con” from Cebu to Maya. D´Rough Riders”, “Air-Con” buses leave from Cebu
City´s Northern bus terminal for Maya at 5 and 6 am (Peso 65; 3 1/2 to 4 hours). If possible take a direct bus to Maya, because buses that make a
detour to Hagnaya allow for 30 minutes extra. The last D´Rough Riders and Cebu Autobus ordinary leave at noon (4 1/2 hours).
If you want to, you can take a taxi or a private car or van from Cebu to Maya, for about P2500-4000. May be its more relaxing than riding a bus
with 3-4 hours sitting in those awful small seats with no space for your feet.
Visitors must endure a dusty, bumpy three-hour bus ride from Cebu City to Maya, followed by a 45-minute banca trip.
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