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MALAPASCUA'S powder white sand, clear water, and laid back atmosphere reminds me of Boracay fifteen years ago. Although getting there is a bit of a trek -Malapascua lies 130 kilometers north of Cebu City, which means a five-hour travel by bus and another half hour by banca - the long trip dissolves into a blur once you step on Bounty Beach. Your mobile phone doesn't work here although most resorts have installed mobile phones with large antennas for their clients' use. The islands gets it power supply from a generator which is switched on from 5:45 PM to 11:45 PM but, again, most resorts supply their own power which is available 24 hours a day.
T HIS IS THE PLACE to get away from it all. Many tourists come to the island to relax, swim, and bask under the sun. If you like, you can also take a 30-minute hike to the lighthouse. Along the way you will pass through small rustic villages and be greeted by friendly children. Malapascua's biggest attraction, still, is what lies beneath: its dive spots which are among the best in the Philippines.
Twenty minutes away by boat from the island is Monad shoal. At a depth of 18 to 22 meters (59 to 65 feet), thresher sharks can be seen almost every morning and from the months of June to December. There are also giant manta rays. After seeing five thresher sharks in one of my dives, we chanced upon a great hammerhead shark during our safety stop.
At nearby Gato Island, whitetip reef sharks can be found sleeping under ledges where also large cuttlefish proliferate. For divers who like the small wonders of the sea; there are seahorses, frogfish, and a kaleidoscope of Nudibranches. Gato was once a breeding ground for sea snakes, but overfishing of these animals have caused a large decline in their number.
Don't be deceived by
the calm surface
(PREVIOUS PAGE):
Malapascua's waters
are exploding with life
- a large thresher
shark, and a cute
blenny, a spiny-rayed
fish.
WHERE TO STAY

THERE are numerous resorts on the island which are rustic and spartan. Most rooms have their own toilet and shower as well as electric fans and mosquito nets. On Bounty Beach stay at Cocobana Resort (24-hours electricity), Sunrise Resort, Blue Coral Resort and Mila's place. On the end of Bounty Beach is Malapascua's exotic dive resort. Room rates range from 300 to 850 pesos a night while the air-conditioned room at Blue Coral will cost you 3,000 pesos a night.

WHEN TO GO
MALAPASCUA is accessible all year round, but the weather is best from March to October.

.......WHERE TO EAT
MALAPASCUA has adequate places to eat but some of the better ones are Cocobana Resort, Sunsplash, Isla Bonita, Mila's Place, and Malapascua Exotic.
SCUBA DIVING
THE FIRST DIVE shop on the island is Malapascua Exotic Dive Resort; it is a top-notch dive facility, which now even offers Nitrox. Others include Philippine Island Divers, Sea Explorers and the catchy Bubble O Seven.
They are, however, still seen occasionally. If you get a chance, do at least a one-night dive in Gato; it is well worth the effort. Bamboo sharks, crustaceans of every kind, and other night critters abound. Aside from the wonderful reef dives Malapascua also offers five different wreck dives, for every level of diving skill. These include the Japanese cargo ship that was torpedoed in 1944, to the Doha Marilyn, an inter-island passenger ferry that sank in 1988 at a depth of 30 meters.
Whether you come to relax and see the thresher sharks and mantas, Malapascua has something to offer for everyone.
Philippine Airlines has daily flights to Cebu. From Cebu it is a three-hour taxi ride to Maya or a five-hour bus ride. Taxis cost about 1,000 pesos while the bus cost 65 pesos. From Maya, passenger bancas take you to Malapascua for 50 pesos or 350 pesos for a special trip.
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