Philippines Dive Trip
Malapascua to Dumaguete
With easy beach entries and plentiful macro life, thousands of divers use the area to get certified every year, however my entire trip of diving was from well fitted out Bunker Boats courtesy of 'Sea Explorers'.
I would have to say to date, this trip has been my best diving experience due to the diversity of Islands, Marine life and Dive Sites we dived from, along with the exceptional service and accomodation provided by Sea Explorer's.
Divers interested in pelagics should make a point of heading to the central Visayas. In Malapascua, visitors can see skittish thresher sharks. While Oslob has a resident population of whale sharks. The biodiversity doesn’t end there. Moalboal, Balicasag and Apo Island are world-class dive sites rich in marine life such as schools of jacks, sardine balls, rays and the occasional shark.
The Philippines is the perfect destination for gaining and perfecting new scuba skills while enjoying a wide array of underwater life and an easygoing vacation above the water.
Malapascua
If you go there to Malapascua for diving, it is almost guaranteed (there is no 100% when it comes to nature) that you will spot thresher sharks. Other than that there are many dives sites plentiful with corals and fish. Malapascua is also very well known for macro diving (small critters, yes it very confusing), and you will see seahorses, shrimps, crabs and sea slugs in most of the dive sites.
Monad Shoal is the 1# dive site in Malapascua, where thresher sharks (not dangerous) come every early in the morning to bathe in the depth of 30-40m. Many divers we met said they saw as many as 10 sharks in their dive. The dive instructor told us that during the BER months divers can usually spot manta rays here too.
Gato Island is known for the white tip sharks dwelling here. There is an amazing tunnel dive here that ends with a small cave, and lots of marine life. There are plenty more dive sites around Malapascua, and even in Kalanggaman and Kemod shoal closer to Leyte, where you can see many interesting things.
Coming Soon!!!
Cabilao - Bohol
Cabilao is further offshore and requires a day trip to get there and back, but it’s worth it. If the time of year is right, you can see a large group of schooling hammerhead sharks (January - June). During other months, the wall dives offer giant fans and plentiful macro life.
Balicasag, known for great snorkeling, is also worthy of half a day away from Bohol. Diving here will have you gaping at beautiful corals and colorful fish.
Pamilacan is famous for its pelagic fishes and superb visibility. Barracuda, dogtooth tuna and trevally are common. On a lucky day, you might also catch a glimpse of a dolphin or even a whale.
Finally, Panglao, connected to the south end of Bohol by bridges, also has a few dive sites of its own. The reef around here is covered in soft coral and teeming with sea snakes, turtles, glass fish and giant frogfish. Occasionally, a manta ray or whale shark might swim by.
As the slogan goes, diving is definitely more fun in Bohol.
Coming soon!!!