Malapascua, Philippines' Prime Diving Destination

The emerald waters so clear that you can clearly see the coral reefs that seem to stretch for miles are the first thing you see when approaching this tiny island located in the Visayan Sea, the Philippines. Malapascua is indeed a small island, only about 2.5 by 1 kilometre.

Till 1990s Malapascua was known for its wide white sand Bounty Beach. Now it is a world renowned diving destination with 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 make regular appearance.

The idyllic island os Malapascua is covered with flatlands to the south while the northwest is home to a cape and small green hills. The local authorities are focusing on sustainable tourism and take good care of both the environment and the tourists who come to admire it. There is a choice of diving shops on the islands that sell marine tours.

The main gateway to Malapascua island is Cebu's Mactan-Cebu Airport located some 150 south of the island. Buses from the North Bus Terminal in Cebu, 7 km from the airport, bring you to Maya, the port at the very north of Cebu Island where you can catch a ferry to Malapascua. It takes only half an hour to get to Malapascua from Maya.

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