Malapascua
is an island situated in the Visayan Sea in the Philippines,
6.8 kilometres from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. It
is a small island, only about 2.5 kilometres long by 1 kilometre
wide.
Malapascua
became known in the early 1990s as a dive destination. Prior
to this, the island was famous for its wide, curving. white
sandy beach, known as Bounty Beach.
It
has also become known for its beautiful coral gardens, coral
walls and excellent local dive spots, as well as further-out
sites including Gato Island, Monad Shoal, and Kemod Shoals which
are underwater plateaus where thresher sharks and manta rays
can be regularly sighted.
In May
2023 a group of 15 of us flew from Heathrow via Singapore
to Cebu in the Philippines. The journey took all of 25 hours
and included a 6 hour lay over in Singapore airport.
On
arrival in Cebu we were transferred to the Waterfront Hotel
and Casino adjascent to the airport. After some food and a
lot of drinks we made an overnight stay there.
After breakfast the following morning we were picked up mini
buses and taken on an exhilarating 4 hour drive to the north
of Cebu island where we boarded a boat to take us across to
Malapascua island.
We
spent 10 nights on the island staying at the Exotic Dive Resort
on Bounty Beach. This included 8 diving days in total.
After the diving had finished, we returned to Cebu island
and were transferred to the Lex Hotel in Cebu city where some
of the group stayed for 4 nights and the remainder stayed
for an additionl 7 nights.
Whilst
staying in Cebu city we were able to explore some of the city's
shopping malls, restaurants. bars, etc. and to go on trips
to various locations outside the city including Oslob, Moal
Boal and Bohol island.
The
Group: (left to right) Lisa, Ceri, Hogey, Bligg, Andrew Pipien,
Paul Gray, Amanda, Peter,
Andrew Hughes, Dave Walker, Ella, Jane, Tracey, Olivia, Bob.
It
has also become known for its beautiful coral gardens, coral
walls and excellent local dive spots, as well as further-out
sites including Gato Island, Monad Shoal, and Kemod Shoals which
are underwater plateaus where thresher sharks and manta rays
can be regularly sighted.
On
arrival in Cebu we were transferred to the Waterfront Hotel
and Casino adjascent to the airport. After some food and a
lot of drinks we made an overnight stay there.
We
spent 10 nights on the island staying at the Exotic Dive Resort
on Bounty Beach. This included 8 diving days in total.
Whilst
staying in Cebu city we were able to explore some of the city's
shopping malls, restaurants. bars, etc. and to go on trips
to various locations outside the city including Oslob, Moal
Boal and Bohol island.
