Departing
May 20th 2023
Returning June 5th (2 weeks) or June 12th (3 weeks)
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort:
Malapascua Island (see below)
There
is an option for an extended stay of one week
in the Philippines (Cebu) following the diving in Malapascua
(2 weeks or 3 weeks duration)
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
MAY
15
16
17
18
19
20
Depart
Heathrow
Airport
Terminal 2
11:25
21
Arrive
Cebu 18:00
Transfer
to
Waterfront Hotel & Casino Cebu
22
07:30
Transfer by Mini Bus & Ferry from Cebu to Malapascua
Exotic Dive Resort
23
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 1
24
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 2
25
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 3
26
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 4
27
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 5
28
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 6
29
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 7
30
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort
Dive
Day 8
31
10:00
Transfer by Mini Bus & Ferry from Malapascua to Cebu City Overnight
Lex hotel
JUNE
1
Day
in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
2
Day
in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
3
Day
in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
4
2 week
group depart Cebu 18:50
3
week group
Overnight
Lex hotel
5
2 week
group
arrive
Heathrow
05:55 / 07:45
3
week group
Overnight
Lex hotel
6
3
week group
Day in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
7
3
week group
Day in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
8
3
week group
Day in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
9
3
week group
Day in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
10
3
week group
Day in Cebu
Overnight
Lex hotel
11
3 week
group depart Cebu
18:50
12
3 week
group
arrive
Heathrow
05:55
13
14
15
16
17
18
May
June
Carrier:
Singapore Airlines
Depart/Arrive
Terminal 2
Baggage
Allowance:
25kg
checked in.
Additional checked in baggage can be purchased prior
to flying at £109 per 5kg
7kg
carry on.
Additional
items allowed on board
You may carry ONE of these items with you on our flights,
free of charge, in addition to your cabin baggage allowance:
Ladies
handbag
Camera / Camera bag
Document bag
Overcoat
Umbrella
Laptop / Notebook in bag
A small amount of duty free goods (where permitted)
Staying
at the Exotic Dive Resort:
Board Type: B&B
There are two room types available:
Deluxe
Rooms:
Superior Rooms:
Prices
per person:
Superior
Twin £2355.00
Superior Single £2525.00
Deluxe
Double £2375.00
Deluxe Single £2545.00
Non
divers deduct £450
Final
prices depend on the type of package
and duration of stay.
DELUXE
Air Con - 20sq Meters:
1
Double Bed
32"
LCD TV with Cable Connection
Private
Bathroom / Toilet
Hot
& Cold Shower
Bathroom
Toiletries
Refrigerator:
Fully Stocked Mini Fridge
Private
Veranda with Garden View
SUPERIOR
Air Con - 16sq Meters:
2
Single Beds
32"
LCD TV with Cable Connection
Private
Bathroom / Toilet
Hot
& Cold Shower
Bathroom
Toiletries
Refrigerator:
Fully Stocked Mini Fridge
Private
Veranda fronting the restaurant
Prices
include:
Flights LHR-CEB (London Heathrow to Cebu Mactan)
Overnight
Cebu B&B
Transfers
(to and from Malapascua Island)
9
Nights stay at Exotic Resort
Full
board
20
Dives (possibilty to increase number at extra
charge)
Extras
for diving:
Nitrox
Dive (Per Dive) 6
Night
Dive (Per Dive) 5
Kalanggaman
Island Fee (Per Person)
9
Doña
Marilyn Wreck (Per Person) 8
Monad
Shoal Fee (Per Person) 2
Government
Tax (Per Diving Day) 6
(PRICES
PAYABLE BEFORE CHECKOUT)
Extras payable locally in Euros or equivalent
Philippines
The
Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic
country in Southeast Asia. It is situated in the western Pacific Ocean,
and consists of about 7,640 islands, that are broadly categorized under
three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas,
and Mindanao.
The Philippines covers an area of 120,000 square miles and has a population
of around 109 million people, making it the world's twelfth-most populous
country. The capital city is Manila which is located in Luzon.
The Philippines is close to the equator and has a tropical maritime
climate that is usually hot and humid.
There are three seasons: a hot dry season or summer from March to May;
a rainy season from June to November; and a cool dry season from December
to February. The southwest monsoon lasts from May to October, and the
northeast monsoon from November to April.
Temperatures usually range from 21°C to 32°C. The coolest month
is January; the warmest is May. Sitting astride the typhoon belt, the
islands experience 1520 typhoons annually from July to October.
Average
temperatures in the dry season (November-May) Air 25-27°c / Sea
24-28°c
Average
temperatures in the wet season (June-October) Air 26-28°c / Sea
26-28°c
Its
position as an island country on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes the
country prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The country has a variety of natural resources and a globally significant
level of biodiversity. The Philippines is part of the "Coral Triangle"
along with other countries in the region.
Philippine maritime waters encompass as much as 849,425 square miles
producing unique and diverse marine life. The total number of corals
and marine fish species was estimated at 500 and 2,400 respectively.
New species discoveries continue.
The Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea was declared a World Heritage Site
in 1993.
Filipino (Tagalog) and English are the official languages of the country.
The national currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP).
The Philippines time zone is GMT +8.00 hours.
Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway on a deserted strip of
sand in the middle of the ocean, an adrenaline filled activity holiday
with friends and family, or an adventure exploring volcanic landscapes
and untamed wilderness, the Philippines has it all.
Malapascua
Island
Malapascua
is an island situated in the Visayan Sea, 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 known for its wide white sand beach,
known as Bounty Beach (remember the TV advert?).
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 Shoal. Monad Shoal is an underwater
plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can regularly be sighted.
The
lovely Exotic Island Dive Resort is beachfront on the best part of
Bounty Beach.
It is the islands first dive resort and pioneers of the thresher
shark encounters.
The owners, Dik and Cora de Boer carried out the first encounters
with thresher sharks back in 1997 and soon film crews and dive magazines
from all over the world visited to see the phenomenon.
The area is famous for having some of the best shark diving in the
Philippines and being the only place in the world where the thresher
shark can be seen within recreational diver limits on a regular basis.
This
wonderful resort is in an idyllic location within walking distance
of the main tourist beach yet far enough away to feel secluded and
peaceful.
Guests can lay back and soak up the island atmosphere in the beautiful
beach garden where the hammocks are great for relaxing after an exhilarating
days diving.
The newly refurbished rooftop Exotic Spa takes de-stressing to another
level, here the professional masseurs offer a range of relaxing treatments
including Reflexology, Thai massage, Aromatherapy, and the Exotic
Combination Massage where east meets west combining a full body Swedish
massage with pivotal shiatsu pressure points.
Guests
can choose from several types of accommodation, all of which have
en suite facilities, balcony, and air conditioning.
There is also a highly acclaimed restaurant, wonderful coffee corner,
sea view bar and bakery serving mouth-watering homemade products.
The newly constructed Multimedia Conference Room and Instructor Development
Classroom can accommodate up to 30 people and is situated above the
dive shop. From here you have access to most media requirements including
internet, large flat screen TV with DVD whilst enjoying stunning views
across Bounty Beach.
Other facilities include free Wi-Fi access in the restaurant, an internet
cafe and telephone, laundry service, convenience store, safety deposit
box at Reception and 24-hour security guards.
If you are looking for panoramic views then take a walk up to the
Lighthouse, the perfect place to enjoy sunset.
Even
if you dont dive Malapascua is the ideal destination for a beach
holiday. Bounty Beach is lively and has a good selection of shops
and restaurants, and for peace and quiet spend the day at Langub Beach
or Guimbitayan Beach with their desert island vibes.
For
those looking for something extra special we can combine a diving
holiday with a city stopover where you can enjoy a wide array of sightseeing
and culinary delights along with superb diving and snorkelling.
For foodies there is an abundance of fresh seafood, and local delights
such as binignit, a creamy, sweet dessert made of cooked bananas,
coconut milk, sticky rice and tapioca rice.
Or if chocolate is your thing then sample the local version of hot
chocolate named sikwate, where blocks of cacao are boiled in water
and frothed using a traditional wooden whisk before adding milk and
sugar to produce this delicious velvety delight.
At
the Exotic dive resort there is the option of bed and breakfast, half
board and full board packages, the choice is yours.
The highly acclaimed international restaurant offers delicious local
and international cuisine, with their renown breakfast menu you can
sample a wide choice of delights from homemade pancakes to freshly
baked croissants all day long.
For coffee lovers take in views of the beach whilst enjoying a cappuccino,
latte, or iced coffee. The Coffee Corner is said to boast the best
and freshest brewed coffee on the island!
The
bakery has homemade pies, freshly baked European breads, and a wide
assortment of other products that will have you coming back for more!
Take advantage of the sea view from the OneUp bar during Happy Hour
where you can buy one get one free on selected cocktails, or sit back
and relax with a delicious fruit shake.
The fully stocked bar offers a selection of alcoholic drinks including
their own Draft Beer which is the first on the island.
Exotic's One Up Bar is the only place on the island to have a "brew-with-a-view".
As
the only bar to host a picturesque ocean view, as well as the only
draft beers on the island. Heineken, Stella Artois, Hoegarden and
Paulaner just to name a few.
Relax and enjoy the vibrant colours as the sun sets while you sip
on one of our signature cocktails or fresh fruit shakes.
We offer drinks right on the beach accompanied with our exclusive
One Up Bar Menu.
Happy
Hour is from 4pm - 7pm.
Accomodation
Standard Rooms: The 2 spacious standard rooms
with air-conditioning offer twin single beds, an individual controlled
air conditioner and an extended private balcony. These rooms are located
near the beachfront, restaurant and bar.
Deluxe Rooms: The 16 spacious deluxe rooms consist
of 2 twin beds or a double bed, an en-suite bathroom with hot and
cold water and sliding doors that open onto a private balcony to enjoy
the overlooking of the lush tropical flowers and garden.
Beach Front Deluxe Rooms: The 4 spacious beachfront
deluxe rooms with air conditioning are spacious and offer twin single
beds or a double bed and an extended private balcony. These rooms
are located on the beachfront close to the restaurant and bar.
Super Deluxe Rooms: The 8 spacious super deluxe rooms are elegantly
designed with 2 comfortable queen size beds, an en-suite bathroom
with hot and cold water and sliding doors that open onto a private
balcony to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and give you the opportunity
to wind down after your days diving.
Diving
at Malapascua
Malapascua
is the place to be if you want to experience some of the best shark
diving in the Philippines, thresher sharks can be seen year-round
at Monad Shoal and Kemod Shoal.
You can also see hammerheads and giant manta rays at certain times
of the year when they visit the many cleaning stations.
The macro diving is first class, you are likely to encounter nudibranch,
sea horses, octopus, mandarin fish, gurnards, pipefish and frogfish
to name but a few.
The
fantastic house reef starts at 5m and gently slopes to 13m, you will
find a wide variety of marine life amongst the scattered coral and
patches of sea grass.
There
are artificial structures everywhere, including coral encrusted jeepneys,
large concrete and wire structures and a few old boats, creating a
unique habitat for soft coral and sea life to flourish.
This exclusive one-of-a-kind dive site suits all levels of divers
and is a photographers dream.
For those that are critter crazy a night dive on the house reef is
an experience not to be missed as you are sure to come up close and
personal with some weird and wonderful creatures.
There
are 4 large traditional bangka boats, a small boat and
a speedboat, offering dive schedules to suit all tastes and experience
levels. There are many dive sites within close proximity and two wonderful
day trips that are suitable for all divers.
The
first is Gato Island located around an hour from the resort. This
is a pinnacle surrounded by stunning coral which shelters frogfish,
pigmy sea horses and a wide variety of nudibranch.
There is a resident population of whitetip sharks sleeping in the
overhangs, and the caves and sloping walls house cuttlefish, squids,
and schools of mackerel.
Another popular trip is Kalanggaman Island with its picture-perfect
white sand bar and turquoise waters. This piece of paradise is a two-hour
boat trip from Malapascua and is famous for its wall diving, the northern
sites offer a spectacular wall that drops over 200m where schools
of lionfish, fusiliers and anthias congregate.
Other sites offer delights such as giant barrel sponges, sea fans,
turtles, and an elusive blue ring octopus.
Photo
Gallery of Underwater Photos taken around Malapascua
Below
are descriptions of just a few of the Exotic Dive Resort dive sites.
There are many more offering a wide variety of macro life, stunning
walls, soft corals, giant sea fans, table corals and large pelagics.
MONAD SHOAL
The top of the shoal ranges from 20 meters to 27 meters, with a sheer
drop-off down to 45 meters, and a second drop-off exceeding recreational
dive depths. There is a good opportunity to see the famous thresher
sharks year round at this site. Thresher sharks are regular visitors
at the cleaning stations found on top of the reef. Depending on the
season you may also encounter giant manta rays and smaller devil rays.
The ideal depth to encounter life is between 22 meters to 27 meters,
making Monad Shoal a perfect site for enriched air (nitrox) dives.
LIGHTHOUSE REEF
The perfect sunset dive, this site is almost a sure bet to see the
colorful Mandarin Fish perform their mating dance. The most prolific
time of the month is around the full moon, but the activity can been
seen virtually every night. Blue Ringed Octopus and sea horses of
every size can be found on the surrounding reef. Situated directly
across from the island's lighthouse this sloping coral garden is a
perfect shallow dive to end the day.
NORTH POINT
With its strong currents this site creates a perfect habitat for soft
corals, which grow in an abundance creating a magical colorful garden.
Stunning rock formations and canyons create ideal hiding places for
scorpion fish, frogfish and lionfish. Sea horses, nudibranches and
flat worms can also been seen nestling within the coral branches.
An interesting dive to suit all levels of divers.
NORTH ROCK
Situated off the northern tip of Malapascua this dive site offers
a little of everything. Subject to strong currents a luscious soft
coral garden thrives here, creating an ideal home for an array of
different marine life. A small coral encrusted wall starts at 16 meters
and drops down to 24 meters creating shelter for many varieties of
nudibranchs, flatworms and lionfish. A great dive for the budding
photographer.
HOUSE REEF
Exotic's own protected area where the fish are plentiful, House Reef
is not to be missed. Starting at 5 meters and gently sloping to 13,
it's a great place to work out the kinks after some time out of the
water. Amongst the scattered coral and patches of sea grass, a wide
variety of fish and macro life can be found. Artificial structures
are everywhere, including coral encrusted jeepneys, large concrete
and wire structures and a few old boats, creating a unique habitat
for soft coral and sea life to flourish. This exclusive one of a kind
dive site suits all levels of divers and is a photographer's dream.
KEMOD SHOAL
A sea mound situated near the island of Leyte. The reef begins in
10 meters with one side gradually sloping down to 29 meters before
becoming a severe drop off and the other side, a wall starting in
10 meters and dropping far below recreational limits. Throughout the
year different large pelagics visit the shoal, including schools of
hammerheads, manta rays and requiem sharks. For the advanced diver
it is possible to arrange a blue dive at certain times of the year
to look for the hammerhead sharks.
CHOCOLATE ISLAND
A small island situated between Malapascua and Cebu, this site is
a gentle relaxing dive. The undulating island walls gently taper towards
a sandy bottom, elephant ears, barrel sponges, sea fans and soft corals
cover the sloping reef creating an ideal habitat for nudibranch, sea
horses, spanish dancers and hairy frogfish, a nice gentle dive suitable
for all levels of divers and excellent for the budding photographer.
SMALL BEACH
An interesting dive site, proved to be a favorite with photographers
and those interested in the small and strange creatures of Malapascua.
Beautiful soft corals and sea fans create the perfect environment
for the weird and wonderful, a kind of muck dive without the muck!
Also a great spot for a night dive site, flamboyant cuttlefish and
moray eels can be seen.
DAKIT DAKIT
A gentle dive site created by a scattering of small island formations,
some below the surface some above. The site is prone to strong currents,
creating a beautiful soft coral garden. Nudibranches, flatworms, pipefish
and sea horses can be found within the soft corals. This is an ideal
dive for macro enthusiasts and those who need to refresh their diving
skills.
BUGTONG BATO
A dive site with a little bit of everything, a gently sloping reef
from 8-12mts leads to a small wall dropping to 20mts where once more
sloping reef continues to 30mts where a sandy bottom stretches outward.
A wide variety of macro life can be found here including sea horses,
frog fish and nudibranches; a great photo dive and a must for any
level of diver.
DONA MARILYN
"Dona Marilyn" is a Filipino passenger ferry that was sunk
on the 23rd of October 1988 by Typhoon Ruby. The 98-meter long ferry
now lies intact on her starboard side in 32 meters of water, creating
a unique artificial reef. The wreck itself is covered in hard and
sort corals, and black coral trees. For certified, "wreck divers"
it is possible to penetrate the wreck via the passenger walkways on
the port side. For those interested in learning more about wreck penetration
check out our PADI Wreck Specialty Course. Due to the relatively deep
depth and size of the Dona Marilyn, the ideal way to experience the
wreck in its entirety is to dive it on a blend of enriched air.
GATO ISLAND
Gato Island is a protected marine sanctuary. An almost guaranteed
site to encounter sleeping sharks and sea snakes. Spectacular colored
soft corals cover this undulating dive site sheltering frogfishes,
sea horses and nudibranches. Sleeping white tip sharks rest within
crevasses. A paradise for avid photographers, this site offers a great
opportunity for both macro and big fishes. Advanced divers can dive
the tunnel that runs beneath the island; a unique overhead environment,
the inside of which is covered with daisy soft corals and sponges.
CALANGGAMAN
ISLAND
Calangaman Island is a small remote white-beached paradise. The southern
section offers sloping reef walls covered with soft and hard corals,
the northern sites offer spectacular wall dives encrusted with gorgonian
fans and giant barrel sponges. Schools of snappers, fusiliers and
anthias can be seen congregating off the large drop offs. The deep
walls offer every possible chance to encounter large sharks and rays.
A great two-dive day trip is the way to enjoy this site.
NUNEZ
SHOAL
Situated adjacent to Calanggaman Island, this wall dive offers a little
bit of everything. Hard corals and barrel sponges cover the gently
sloping top of the reef creating an ideal environment for sea stars,
frogfish, nudibranches and reef fish to hide within. The walls drop
down to a plateau in 40mts, with a further drop to well below recreational
limits.
Lex
Hotel Cebu
We have
managed to secure one of the top hotels in Cebu for our stay
when return from Malapascua: The Best Western Plus, Lex Hotel.
After some negotiations with the hotel management they dropped
their price to almost a half of the original asking price.
The final price came to £57.00 (based on todays exchange
rate). The price is slightly over my original budget of £50
but they included breakfast in the deal and since breakfast
is normally an extra £5.00 it makes it a very good deal..
Below are
some photographs of the hotel I got off the internet. It looks
really nice:
Lex Hotel
Cebu is a top accommodation choice in the business district
of Cebu City and is one of the hotels in Cebu with pool. Located
9 KM from the International Airport, 5 KM from Tops Lookout,
2.5 KM from the historical Colon Street, 2.8 KM from Basilica
De Sto. Nino and 2 KM from the Taoist Temple, it is an ideal
choice for anyone looking to explore the charms of Cebu City.
Carrying
the fine tradition laid out by the Best Western brand, Lex
Plus Cebu lives up to its billing as one of the leading business
and leisure Cebu hotels in the city.
Aside
from the modern rooms furnished with all the features one
would need to relax and be entertained, Lex Hotel Cebu also
has additional amenities that include a rooftop infinity pool,
bar and terrace, a cocktail bar, a physical fitness gym, coin-operated
laundry machines and an in-house restaurant serving a medley
of local and international flavors.
Cebu
is the largest island in the Visayas region,
and is particularly rich in Spanish colonial history. The original
capital of the Philippines until the 17th century, the Queen
of the South contains 6 major cities Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu,
Mandaue, Toledo and Talisay.
Cebu City is the capital of the island and province of the
same name and is the oldest and second-largest city in the Philippines.
Cebu is a city of trade and commerce, reminiscent of Manila but somewhat
less chaotic, but with a noticeably slower pace.
Due
to its central location in the middle of the Visayas and its importance
in the country, its almost inevitable that youll pass
through Cebu at some point. The city offers some home comforts in
the form of western food outlets and mega shopping malls. Its
also peppered with historic sites offering fascinating insights into
the country's colonial past.
To
this day, Cebu Island still remains a prominent and popular part
of the archipelago, boasting the most ethnically diverse population.
Its inhabitants are an interesting bunch, made up of Malay, Chinese,
Filipino and an ever-growing number of westerners. Its now considered
to be the most dynamic island in the Philippines, attracting native
and international tourists in droves.
Cebu is a long and narrow island that stretches 196 km from
north to south, and 32 km from east to west at its widest point. Located
on the eastern central area of the island, Cebu City is its main urban
centre. The 2nd largest city in the Philippines is a lively commercial
and industrial hub, with modern features like giant shopping complexes
as well as a myriad of leisure and entertainment options to keep you
busy both day and night.
The
rest of Cebu Island is not as developed. It has rolling hills
and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths
of the island, with the highest mountain standing over 1,000 metres
tall. The coastal areas have beaches, fishing villages, mangrove forests
and rich fishing grounds.
The two destinations on Cebu Island thatll capture the
interest of adventurous travellers are Moalboal on the east coast
and Oslob on the west coast. Located a few hours drive south
of Metro Cebu, they offer a rustic type of vacation in pristine natural
surroundings.