DIVE INFORMATION
Malapascua is a small island only 2.5km long and 1km wide. Also known locally as Logon, the island is located about 8km off the north eastern tip of Cebu island and 25km west of Leyte. You can walk around the island in 1-2 hours. It has a population of around 4,000 people, most of whom live off tourism, fishing, boat building or coconuts. White sandy beaches, the probability of seeing thresher sharks, manta rays and to dive some wrecks has made this a diver’s hotspot in the Philippines.
Epic thresher shark diving is our goal on the first half of the trip. 5 days of diving at Malapascua will present us with multiple opportunities to dive with these incredible creatures. Nothing will prepare you for the first time you see a thresher shark in the flesh. They almost don’t look real… A torpedo like body with a tail which dwarfs the rest of it and manga cartoonish eyes will have you wondering whether you have in fact seen it or if you have a touch of narcosis?! The thresher sharks of Malapascua will truly have you enthralled! Whilst it is the ocean and nothing can ever be guaranteed this is THE thresher shark hotspot on the planet so it would be incredibly unlikely for us not to see them.
Check out this footage to see what you could be seeing for yourself if you join us!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=s06c5DZxm84
The second half of our Philippines extravaganza is at the off the beaten path destination of Cabilao. The perfect place to slow things down combined with world class diving. Pygmy seahorses, critters as well as hard and soft corals of various species have made the island a must-see, especially for scuba divers. At present, there are two marine protected areas (no-take zones) around the island. The only motorized transport you can find are a few tricycles and a couple of motorcycles, who also serve as so-called ‘habal-habal’, they will bring you around for a small fee. However, most of the distances on Cabilao island are quite short, you can easily walk them. The lack of roads also means that everything on the island has to be brought in by banka (local outrigger boat): building materials, wood, food (except fish caught locally), and, during periods of drought, fresh water for drinking and bathing.
The other major draw card on our itinerary is two days of diving with the whale sharks at Oslob. There are few places in the world where you can guarantee the presence of whale sharks and be able to SCUBA dive with them! The whale sharks appear at Oslob every day to suck the fish out of the fishermens’ catch nets as they haul them aboard so there are plenty of opportunities to capture that new profile pic with the largest fish in the ocean! Aside from the whale sharks Cabilao also offers some fantastic reef and wall diving so we won’t be struggling for choice!
TRIP DATES
Dates TBA
PRICE
From Diver AU$4,251 per person
From Non Diver AU$3,068 per person
From Diver Ex-Cebu AU$3319 per person
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Airfares Ex Brisbane / Singapore/ Cebu – Tagbilaran / Manila / Singapore /Brisbane flying with Singapore Airlines and Philippine Airlines
- Meet and greet in Cebu + road and boat transfers from Cebu to Malapascua
- 5 nights twin share standard accommodation at Buena Vida – Malapascua, Includes: Breakfast daily
- Transfer from Malapascua to Cabilao via Cebu – Road and boat transfers
- 5 nights twin share deluxe accommodation at Pura Vida – Cabilao
- Includes: All meals whilst at Pura Vida ( Breakfast, 2 course lunch & 3 course dinner )
- Transfer from Cabilao to Tagbilaran Airport
- 22 boat or shore dives with Sea Explorers in Malapascua and Cabilao
- Includes: 2 dives with the Whale sharks at Oslob, tanks, weights and dive guide services, Sanctuary fees
- Australian departure taxes
- Professional Dive Services Tour Leader
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
Travel Insurance
Personal spending monies
Excess Luggage surcharges
CONDITIONS APPLY
Prices are subject to change without notice due to fluctuations in PHP exchange rates and 2016 operator, hotelier and airline rates.
AIRFARES
Please be aware that this package has been based on indicative airfare prices. Prices are subject to change, your package price will be reconfirmed at the time of booking. Please use the package price as an indicative guide.
BOOKING REQUIREMENTS
To secure your place on this trip, you need to complete a booking form and return it together with a non refundable deposit of $700 per person + the cost of the international airfares and taxes.
Please find the Dive Adventures online booking form HERE
PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP
Advanced Open Water (perfect for this trip)
Under water Navigation
Nitrox
Deep Diver
Digital Underwater Photographer
Underwater Photographer
Underwater Videographer
Search and Recovery
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Underwater Navigation
Dry Suit Diver
Shark Awareness
Underwater Naturalist
This is the perfect way to complete a specialty course as you have already paid for the dives!!
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