MALAPASCUA, CEBU
THE PHILIPPINES SERIES PT2
After a great week in Boracay I said goodbye to the family and headed off to Cebu Island. Stayed in Cebu city at a hostel called La Village. Not going to lie it wasn’t great so decided to cancel my second night and head to Malapascua, A little island just north of Cebu.
$10 FOR A SHARK DIVE? OH HOW I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES!
I jumped into a taxi and of course the driver wanted to know why I was going to the bus station. After some negotiating, we agreed and price and made off north. The buses here are a different level and a 2-hour journey could take up to 4 hours.
WHERE IS MALAPASCUA?
Diving with sharks in Malapascua
PARADISE
It reminded me of Koh Rong (link) as it was completely rustic. Like a lot of islands, rubbish is a big problem here and if tourism is really going to kick off, I’m not sure how they would cope. But it doesn’t take long to see past it and appreciate it for what it is, a true paradise where you can count the westerners on one hand!
DIVING
The reason any tourists come here is to dive with thresher sharks. I got the recommendation from my mate Paddy who said it was his best dive he had ever done, so I’m looking forward to it.
VILLA SANDRA
Went to check into Villa Sandra but it was fully booked so they took me to the most basic accommodation I have ever seen. I wasn’t complaining but it was an experience to stay in a place with a pipe as a showerhead and a bucket of water as toilet roll, not to mention the lack of a sink. Not what I was used to back in Boracay. At least the cold showers made the heat bearable.
Diving with sharks in Malapascua
SUNSET
Went for a walk and a chill on the beach and the bonus had the added bonus of seeing the sunset. There aren’t many places which can compete with the sunset from the Philippines. On my way back to the accommodation I walked past a basketball game so decided to have a little watch. For such a small island the level was amazing! I’m not sure how but they do it every night, the humidity is wild! This island is growing on me!
RELATED READ: DIVING WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS
WAKE UP CALL
Up and away for 4:30am for the shark dive his morning. Another fella was to join us but he didn’t turn up so that should’ve cancelled the dive. I decided to do a deal, not make the difference but give them some extra ($3) to make it worth taking 1 person out. I considered it might have been another way to get some more money from me but the dive cost $15, so I have no idea how they would make money even if there was 10 of us!
Diving with sharks in Malapascua
SHARK DIVE
The experience was brilliant and it was bizarre and worth it for only $15. I’m not sure why the shark comes to the same spot every morning as all he seems to do is circle about. There is nothing like swimming with sharks for the first time! As soon as I got back I signed up for tomorrows dive as my boat isn’t until 9am.
Later I took to a restaurant and had a little kid come up to me and offer to sing. I knew it was for money so declined but he sang anyway. He sang “you raise me up!” haha!
Diving with sharks in Malapascua
RATINGS….
- PEOPLE – 8/10
- BACKPACKING – 8/10
- BEACHES – 8/10
- WEATHER – 8.5/10
- THINGS TO DO – 7.5/10
Diving with sharks in Malapascua
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have dived with Whale Sharks before but never Thresher Sharks and there was really nothing quite like it. All for just $15!
NEXT UP
Back down to Cebu and then Oslob to dive with more Whale Sharks. Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
34/229
This episode is part of The Philippines Series. Click to view episode1.
