Dive 2 Hotspots of the Philippines – Malapascua & Moalboal

Includes:

MALAPASCUA: Evolution Beach & Dive Resort

• 4 Nights’ Accommodation in a Deluxe Air-conditioned room
• 3 Dives including Monad Shoal
• 2 Dive Daytrip to Kalanggaman or Capitancillo Island incl. lunch/Tanks & Weights
• Breakfast daily
• Coffee & Tea
• Marine Fees
• Scheduled Transfers

MOALBOAL: Marcosas Resort Cebu

• 4 Nights’ Accommodation in a Hideaway Room
• Tanks & Weights
• Breakfast
• Marine Fees
• Scheduled transfers
• Wi-Fi

Excludes:

• Single Supplement R5,250.00
• Flights & Airport Taxes (Approx. R34,900.00 pp on Emirates)
• Travel & Diving Insurance (Approx. R1,125.00 pp)
• Beverages & meals not mentioned
• Hire of dive equipment other than Tanks & Weights
• Gratuities

Where is MALAPASCUA?

Malapascua is a Philippine island situated in the Visayan Sea, 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. Administratively, it is part of the peninsular barangay of Logon, Daanbantayan, Cebu.

EVOLUTION BEACH & DIVE RESORT

Evolution is a small, boutique resort located on Malapascua Island offering the best in fun diving, highest level of instruction in recreational and technical diving as well as the best food on Malapascua.

All the rooms are a stone’s throw from the beach and surrounded by palm trees, sand and hammocks. In one of the quietest areas of Malapascua, Evolution offers you a great location to rest, relax and unwind between and after diving. All rooms have complimentary drinking water and personal terraces, just meters from the beach, restaurant and dive shop.

DELUXE ROOM

Located on the white sand approx. 75m from the water, these rooms are newly built to western standards. The beds are handcrafted mahogany, with high-end mattresses. Enjoy the AC which is silent and environmentally friendly. There is a large wardrobe for storage and hanging of clothes.

Facilities Hot water shower, AC, TV with personal video library, minibar, complimentary coffee and tea, desk, room safe, 2 beds, personal terrace.

Situated at the calm, green area of Panagasma Beach to downtown (restaurants, bars, billiard & clubs) in just walking distance. The Hideaway Room is equipped with air conditioners, cable TV, ceiling fan, hot showers, tea & coffee making facilities, fridge and mini bar. The resort also features a spa with professional masseuses. 

Diving Highlights:

MALAPASCUA:

Monad Shoal

Monad Shoal is the only place on the planet where one can observe the thresher sharks on a daily basis, which come to a shallower depth to visit the cleaning stations in the morning. Depending on the season, encounters with devil rays, whitetip reef sharks or manta rays are possible.

GATo ISLAND (2 Day Dive trip)

This uninhabited island 1 hour from Malapascua, is known as a snake sanctuary as there are lots of sea kraits (snake) here. It is famous for its overhead swim through that passes through the island. Surface inside in “The Cathedral” which is a large opening with its own bat colony that access it at low tide. Enjoy lunch on the boat before your second dive. Main marine attractions are White Tip Sharks, snakes, Cuttlefish, Frogfish and crustaceans to name a few.

EVolution’s house reef

One of the best muck dives in the country. Here we repeatedly see pairs of Crinoid Squat Lobsters and Imperial Shrimps. At dusk dozens of Bobtail Squid appear. Coconut Vein Octopi are regulars and we find seahorses on every dive. Snake Eels poke their head from the sand and Stargazers make occasional appearances. Robust Ghost Pipefish and Mantis Shrimp species are also part of the experience.

the tapilon

This Japanese WWII wreck has been torn asunder by local salvagers – sometimes to the benefit of divers. You can still see artillery and ammunition strewn around the site and even the skeletal remains of an unfortunate Japanese sailor. A great site for finding Nudibranch and Frogfish.

Bugtong bato

A small pinnacle with the deepest point at around 30m, and the shallowest at 15m. A slightly more advanced dive which can sometimes have currents. Look out for the large school of Batfish which is resident, as well as the common school of squid which cruises in the current around this area.

KALANGgaman island
(optinal upgrade – R2000pp)

This is a picture-postcard Island with a long sand bar and great wall drop offs for divers.  Enjoy multilevel dives along the walls for both dives and a surface interval with lunch on the pristine beach. Highlights are the corals and associated variety of reef fish, cuttlefish, pygmy seahorses etc.  One does see the occasional Thresher here and there are often turtles.

lapus lapus

Strong currents create a perfect habitat for different soft corals in a colourful coral garden. Great rock formations, small canyons, holes and an overhang give plenty of hiding opportunities for nudibranchs, frogfish, flatworms and many more species. Huge sponges and different sea fans are common, and even pygmy seahorses can be found if the conditions are right.

Moalboal:

moalboal house reef

Here you will find abundant coral, sea fans, sponges, turtles, and if you look a bit closer, you might see a small blue ringed octopus, a flamboyant cuttlefish. Swim out approximately 30m from shore and the wall drops off vertically down to 60m and 70m. Look out for whale sharks, tuna, jacks and turtles. Surface directly in front of the website.

sardine ball at panagsama beach

Philippines most famous sardine run! “Run” is a bit overstated, as they are on the same spot for years. It is the main attraction in the area and if you get lucky, you even catch the thresher sharks hunting inside the ball. Bring your camera!

Pescador island

Pescador Island is located in the Tañon Strait. The name of the island is derived from the Philippines’ Spanish colonial heritage and the great amount of fish living around it, and it means “FIsherman Island”. As much as it is still called Fisherman Island, it is now a protected marine park and so in turn, no more fishing is allowed.

ronda marine park

The marine sanctuary of Ronda is approx. a 25-minute boat ride north of the resort. It presents itself as a slope, going down to 18-20m, and then drops to 45m. Famous for huge Gorgonian fans along the wall, this dive site is suited for both wide angle and macro lenses. You’ll find a large variety of hard and soft corals, ghost pipefish, leaf fish, pygmies, nudibranchs, spotted eagle rays, black-tips and the occasional whale shark. Suited from Open Water level upwards and great for snorkelers.

Airplane wreak

The airplane, an American 2-seater, was placed on this particular sandy part of the slope as an artificial reef project more than 30 years ago. It is now home to a lot more of marine residents who enjoy a quite unique home. This dive site is about 20 minutes with a speedboat, going north towards Ronda Bay. Good mix of soft and hard corals along the dive, trigger fish, turtles, sweetlips, nudibranchs, devil scorpion fish and more.

Language
Tagalog and Cebuano are the most commonly spoken native languages. Filipino and English are official languages.

Time Zone
6 hrs ahead of South Africa

Climate
Climate is a tropical wet and dry climate.

Water Temperature
Average annual water temp is 28.8°. In winter 27.7°, in spring 28.4°, in autumn 29.5°. Minimum water temp 25.8° happens in Feb, maximum water temp 30.8° in May.

Power Supply
220V, with a frequency of 60hz, the following plugs are used.

Staying In Contact
Free WiFi at the Resort

What Payment Method Is Accepted
CC Visa, Cash: Philippine peso, Euro & US dollars, ATM’s are limited

DIVING

• Certification must be presented as well as a log book and dive insurance
• Safety: Nearest Chamber in Cebu
• Please be sure that your dive insurance is comprehensive & up to date before departing on your diving trip.
• Always follow safe diving practices at all times.
• Alcohol Consumption: If alcohol is consumed in between dives by an individual then they will be required to refrain from diving for the remainder of the day
• Flying After Diving: A minimum surface interval of 18 hours must be allowed prior to flying or going to altitude