Malapascua Island

Malapascua Island This small island of the north tip of Cebu is famous for it's long tailed thresher sharks. Divers that get up early in the morning have the best chance of seeing the thresher before it moves to deeper waters as the day progresses. There are a variety of dive shops and places to stay available along the beach. Malapascua is undergoing quite a bit of development but the place still has some native charm about it. You might notice some bungalos and shops with several red x's on them as you walk along the beaches. According to Philippine law there must be no buildings within 20 meters of the high tide line on the beach. Some developers got a bit carried away and built way over the line. No one was spared as the enviornmental enforcement people directed that these buildings either move or get torn down. It doesn't look like anyone was able to buy their way out of this predicament which is very refreshing to see in the Philippines. This will be better for the island over the long term as everyone including tourists will have the freedom to move along the beach unimpaired. Fishing communities are spread around the island and the locals are tolerant of the tourists and are quite friendly. Most foreigners are there to dive but there are nice enough beaches to lounge on for those not interested in diving. A small army of massage ladies are in force along the beach but Malapascua doesn't have the girly scene that is prevelant in Sabang on Mindoro. The one disco, Malditos, has been closed down and the life on this island is quiet and peaceful. There are some other good dive sites in the area where mantas and mandarin fish are often spotted. A few wrecks also are within easy reach of Malapascua. It is an easy enough trip from Cebu and most travelers will enjoy a few days here. Say "hello" to Josephine and Edet for me. dp tip - Take along a few large plastic bags to put your luggage in on the boat ride over. Sudden rain showers are common. 2007   www.dutchpickle.com

 

< Prev		Next >