Malapascua Island – the renowned dive destination in Cebu. Let us explore the majestic Malapascua Island.
Onboard on a motorboat bound for Malapascua Island from Maya Port in Daanbantayan, Cebu.
Malapascua Island is part of barangay Logon in Daanbantayan Cebu. It is a small Island but rich in marine assets with its wide white sand beaches, clean – clear sea water, coral reefs and world famous dive sites.
Back then, most natives or locals in the island depend their livelihood through fishing and farming. Malapascua was discovered by foreign tourists for having a good dive sites, fine white sand beaches and beautiful corals.
The main transportation going to malapascua is through motor bangka or motorboat.
In recent times, The islanders or the natives are directly or indirectly benefitting the booming tourism business in Malapascua Island. Most of them are making a living from the tourists visiting the island.
Motorboats wait the tourist passengers at a certain distance and depth from the shore so that corals will not be damaged.
For local or foreign tourists who want to have a day visit, Malapascua has bounty beach, a wide white sand beach where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. You can also tour the whole island for a day. For those who will stay overnight or for quite long, you can avail from budget to high end room accommodations in some resorts or hotel in the area.
It is easy to find a resort in malapascua island because hotels and resorts are just near with each other.
Choose the best place for you and ask directly the hotel or resort’s staff when negotiating for your stay. The place is quiet and very relaxing especially in the night. In the morning, during sunrise, you can see the glorious waves of clear blue waters that surrounds the island.
This is one of the islands I saw during my visit in Malapascua.
There are lots of swanky green palm trees in the area which added more shades and the cool fresh air. Locals are friendly and hospitable. Some will greet you “Good morning” or “Maayong Buntag” and “Good evening” or “Maayong Gabii” in Cebuano dialect. Most tourists visit Malapascua Island for two reasons: 1. to relax 2. to enjoy.
There are resorts which are offering massage service for a reasonable price. So, while engrossed with the pleasure produced by the natural elements in the island, your body will be refreshed through a massage. After having relaxation, you can enjoy your stay in Malapascua by swimming at the beach, snorkeling, island tour, island hopping and scuba diving. The two reasons mentioned above can be interchanged, either way for as long as you will be satisfied and enjoyed.
As called by many professional divers, Malapascua is known as one of the premier diving destinations in the Philippines. The main reason must be the various exotic dive sites near Malapascua Island.
Dive sites:
- Monad Shoal – best for thresher sharks sightings and manta rays
- Lighthouse Reef – many mandarin fishes can be seen including seahorses and blueringed octopus during full moon
- North Point – colorful corals, rock formations, frog fish, lion fish and seahorses are visible in this site
- North Rock – soft corals, a sanctuary of various marine life
- House Reef – scattered corals, sea grasses, different fish species, an artificial habitat for sea creatures
- Kemod Shoal – chance to see sharks like hammerheads and requiem, manta rays can also be seen
- Chocolate Island – many inhabitants like nudibranch, seahorses, spanish dancers and frog fishes
- Small Beach – cuttlefishes and moray eels are mostly seen
- Dakit Dakit – many soft corals where flatworms, piper fishes and seahorses are dwelling
- Bugtong Bato – seahorses and frog fishes are also visible in this site
- Dona Marilyn – named after the ferry boat sunk due to a typhoon way back in 1988, many soft and hard corals, wreck is covered with variety of corals
- Gato Island – a sanctuary with many sharks and sea snakes, some white tip sharks are resting also in this site
- Calanggaman Island – possible sightings of large sharks and manta rays
- Nunez Shoal – starfishes, frogfishes and other species of fish dwelling in this site
Above are some of the dive sites that are being explored by many of the tourists and local divers.
How to get there?
We’ll going to Malapascua is easy and simple. To help you on your travel, kindly see my guide below;
If your are in Cebu City; then, Go to Cebu City North Bus Terminal and ride a bus bound for Maya Sea Port -Barangay in Daanbantayan Cebu
- When you arrive in Maya Port, board a motorboat that will take you to Malapascua Island
- When you arrive at Malapascua, since there is no designated port in the area and the sea water level is shallow, the motorboat cannot directly unload its passenger near the shore so as to protect the corals below.
So there are many locals who will offer a paddle boats that will disembark the passengers from the motorboat to the higher ground.
- Hire a tricycle or habal-habal (motorcycle) that will take you to the resort of your choice
- Enjoy your stay
If you are in Mactan Cebu International Airport (Authority) (MCIAA); then,
- You ride a taxi (yellow taxi or white) that will take you to Cebu North Bus Terminal
- In the North Bus Terminal you can hire some available transportation you like, but I would suggest you to ride a Bus bound for Maya Sea Port
- If you arrive in Maya Port, board a motorboat that will take you to Malapascua Island
- When you arrive at Malapascua, since there is no designated port in the area and the sea water level is shallow, the motorboat cannot directly unload its passenger. So there are many locals who will offer a paddle boats that will disembark the passengers from the motorboat to the higher ground.
- Hire a tricycle or habal-habal (motorcycle) that will take you to the resort of your choice
- Enjoy your stay
If you have pre-arranged from travel agency, you can directly go to Maya – Port via VAN or transport service provided. Thus, no need to go to the North Bus Terminal and ride a bus.
Travel Information:
- Travel time from Cebu North Bus Terminal to Maya Port will take 5 hours to 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Motorboat travel time is within 25 minutes to 30 minutes (Motorboat can accommodate 10-15 passengers)
- Paddle boats mostly can load 4-5 passengers depending on the size of the boat and the baggage of the passenger
Fares, Fees, other expenses:
Estimated Bus Fare is Php180 per person for Air-conditioned Bus and Php160 for the Regular Bus
- Motorboat fare is Php100 per person
- Paddle Boat charge is Php20 per person
Accommodations:
- There are budget hotels and resorts in Malapascua
- Several Dive shops in the area
- You can find bars and restaurants also
Things to bring with you when you visit Malapascua Island:
- No available ATMs in the island so bring enough cash (Philippine Peso)
- Weak Cellular Signal but still bring with you your cellphone, chargers and spare batteries if possible since some resorts are just using generators as their source of electricity.
- Wifi or hotspots may be available in some bars, hotels and resorts. You can bring pocket wifi with you or usb stick (broadband stick) for your convenience
- Bring enough clothes
- First aid kit and vitamins or dietary supplements
- Your camera to capture many beautiful spots in Malapascua
One thing, the place maybe crowded during weekdays and holidays.
So, opt to visit Malapascua during regular days if possible. You can find fine nice diving spots and white sand beaches also in Bantayan Island Cebu.
Here’s how to go there : Travel guide going to Bantayan Island Cebu
There are some famous places in Cebu that you may visit, just follow this link Tourist Spots in Cebu