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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 hard
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 69ft/23m.
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 & rock formations, and steep walls and
rocks are covered by beautifully coloured gorgonian
sea fans. On the different dive spots around the
Island you can find 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. 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 15ft/5m
with a large exit at 42ft/14m. 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 81ft/27m with an average depth
48ft/16m).
MONAD SHOAL
This dive spot is big sunken Island rising up
from the ocean floor. The flat reef top is around
45ft/15m and the steep drop off is going down
to approximately 600ft/200m. 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 up to 100ft/30m. 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 30ft/10m leading to
drop-off, descending to more than 600ft/200m,
caves and overhangs with nice sponges, corals
and gorgonians all varieties of reef fish, eagle
rays, sharks and occasional turtle. Visibility
can reach 100ft/30m.
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 300ft/100m 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 48ft/16m (max
depth 105ft/35m).
DON MACARIO WRECK
A 90ft/30m 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 57ft/19m)
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 54ft/18m).
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 60ft/20m to 90ft/30m 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 180ft/60m long is standing up
right with the bow bottoming at 162ft/54m and
the stern bottoming at around 120ft/40m. 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.
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.
Cebu City lies 365 miles south
of Manila. It is an international destination
with daily flights from Tokyo, Singapore, Hong
Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Cebu is also only an hour’s
flight from Manila, and is an ideal jump-off point
for the other destinations in the Visayas and
Mindanao.
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