Malapascua

Malapascua, a term that literally means "Unfortunate Christmas," is a paradise where time stands still.

The island is blessed with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.

The west coast is especially ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

It takes about three hours by land from Cebu City to reach the island, which lies at the northern tip of Cebu and west of Leyte.

Malapascua is a tiny island, only about 2.5 kilometers long and 1km wide, located across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of mainland Cebu island.

The island is covered by the insular barangay of Logon (part of the Daanbantayan municipality), with eight hamlets.

As a diving destination, Malapascua was "discovered" fairly recently, only in the early 90s.

The island was first known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach; it has become known for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots nearby, including Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can be sighted on a regular basis.

To date, this is the only place in the world where divers can reliably sight thresher sharks.

Most of the islanders derive their livelihood from tourism, while some still rely on sustenance fishing and farming.

Malapascua Island has something for all divers, so come and dive the best kept secret of the Philippines - indeed of South East Asia.

The Philippines is the new Thailand, but with much better diving and without the crowds! So make your next scuba diving trip to Malapascua Island!