Malapascua (Cebu - Cebu)

Seadoors · Philippines · 6 nights

Duration
6 nights
Embarkation
Cebu, Philippines
Disembarkation
Cebu, Philippines
Dives
Approximately 16 dives in total

About this route

This classic 6-night liveaboard itinerary explores the vibrant Visayas Archipelago in the Philippines, starting and ending in Cebu. Divers can anticipate exhilarating encounters with thresher sharks in Malapascua, as well as diverse marine life and stunning coral gardens across various dive sites. The journey also includes visits to Camotes Island for unique land activities and opportunities to spot whale sharks in Southern Leyte, offering a comprehensive dive and adventure experience.

Regions on this route

MalapascuaVisayasCebuCamotesKinud ShoalGato Island

Highlights

Camotes

Camotes is a hidden gem known for its unique underwater landscapes, including fascinating rock formations, caves, and vibrant soft coral gardens. The area's diverse habitats support a wealth of marine life, from schooling barracudas and jacks to various reef fish and invertebrates. Topside, the island also offers natural underground swimming pools.

  • Underwater caves and grottoes
  • Soft coral gardens
  • Schooling fish
  • Unique geological features

Cebu

Cebu serves as a central hub for exploring the Visayas, with dive sites offering a mix of vibrant reefs, interesting macro life, and occasional pelagic encounters. The waters around Cebu are known for their healthy coral ecosystems, providing a home to a variety of reef fish and invertebrates.

  • Healthy coral reefs
  • Macro photography opportunities
  • Starting point for expeditions

Gato Island

Gato Island is a unique marine sanctuary famous for its underwater tunnel, which divers can swim through. The island's waters are also known for encounters with whitetip reef sharks, sea snakes, and an array of macro critters. Its diverse topography includes walls, caves, and coral gardens, making it a favorite for both wide-angle and macro enthusiasts.

  • Underwater tunnel
  • Whitetip reef sharks
  • Sea snakes
  • Macro life

Kinud shoal

Kinud Shoal is often visited for its rich marine biodiversity and healthy coral formations. This area typically features strong currents, attracting pelagic species and supporting a thriving ecosystem of reef fish. It offers dynamic drift diving experiences.

  • Strong currents
  • Pelagic encounters
  • Rich biodiversity
  • Healthy coral formations

Malapascua

Malapascua is renowned as one of the few places globally for reliable encounters with thresher sharks at cleaning stations. Beyond these majestic pelagics, the area boasts vibrant coral reefs, an abundance of macro life including pygmy seahorses and various crustaceans, and diverse reef fish populations. Its unique underwater topography creates a dynamic environment for both wide-angle and macro photography.

  • Thresher shark cleaning stations
  • Manta ray sightings
  • Macro critters
  • Diverse reef ecosystems

Visayas

The Visayas region encompasses a vast array of dive sites, from the vibrant coral gardens around Cebu and Camotes to the pelagic-rich waters of Southern Leyte. This area is characterized by dramatic walls, gentle slopes, and unique underwater rock formations. It is a hotspot for marine biodiversity, offering chances to see everything from schooling fish to rare macro species.

  • Rich marine biodiversity
  • Wall dives
  • Unique underwater topography
  • Vibrant reef health

Requirements

  • CertificationOpen Water
  • Minimum logged dives30
  • ExperienceDivers should have a minimum of 30 logged dives.

Shore excursions

  • Visit the underwater swimming pools of Camotes Island.
  • Explore the white sand beaches of Kalanggaman Island.
  • Participate in whale shark snorkeling in Southern Leyte.

Good to know

  • A waiting period of 24 hours after the last dive is recommended before flying.
  • Itinerary is subject to change based on local regulations, weather, and logistics.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation – Cebu

    Boarding for the Seadoors liveaboard begins in Cebu between 13:00 and 17:00 at the Cebu Yacht Club or from your hotel in Cebu City. Guests will receive a warm welcome, attend a briefing on the upcoming trip, and settle into their cabins as the vessel prepares for departure.

  2. Day 2: Malapascua – Thresher Shark Encounters

    Today's dives focus on the Malapascua region. Known for its unique cleaning stations, divers often encounter thresher sharks, especially in the early mornings. Other sites feature manta rays, as well as a diverse array of macro life such as pygmy seahorses, harlequin shrimps, and spider crabs, set against vibrant coral reefs.

    Dive sites: Malapascua Unique cleaning station for Thresher Sharks, Malapascua where Manta is often passing by, Malapascua the tunnel passage, Malapascua Canyon

  3. Day 3: Maripipi & Camotes – Reefs and Caverns

    The day's diving explores the Maripipi region, renowned for its highly preserved, vibrant coral reefs and abundant fauna. Divers can expect to find impressive black corals and massive gorgonian sea fans. The itinerary also includes exploring the fascinating rock formations and submerged caverns of Camotes, an area known for vibrant coral formations and schooling barracudas and jacks.

    Dive sites: MARIPIPI magnificent high bottom, MARIPIPI a mess of black coral, MARIPIPI easy drifting scuba dive, CAMOTES

  4. Day 4: Malapascua South & Kalanggaman – Diverse Marine Life

    Diving today continues to showcase the diversity of the Visayas, with a return to Malapascua for potential interactions with schooling thresher sharks. The itinerary also includes visits to Camotes, known for its well-done caves and vibrant soft coral gardens, along with Kalanggaman Island. This island offers incredible wall dives covered in soft corals and is a popular spot for encounters with whitetip reef sharks and other pelagic species.

    Dive sites: Malapascua in season, Camotes, KALANGGAMAN

  5. Day 5: Southern Leyte – Whale Shark Bay

    The expedition moves to Southern Leyte, a region known for its deep walls boasting wonderful coral gardens and massive sea fans. In season, divers may have the opportunity to encounter whale sharks. Local fishermen often guide the boat to areas frequented by these majestic creatures, offering opportunities for snorkeling and observation. Untouched coral gardens with unique macro life such as frogfish, ghost pipefish, and pygmy seahorses also feature.

    Dive sites: SOUTHERN LEYTE deep wall, SOUTHERN LEYTE Old local fishermen, SOUTHERN LEYTE Untouched coral garden

  6. Day 6: Southern Leyte – Vibrant Reefs and Hidden Rivers

    Diving continues in Southern Leyte, considered one of the top dive destinations in the Visayas, boasting exceptional biodiversity in flora and fauna. Sites feature black corals, sea fans, pygmy seahorses, and explorations of an underwater river of fresh water supporting a unique ecosystem. The area is also known for its extensive walls covered in black corals, with opportunities to spot whitetip reef sharks resting in small caves.

    Dive sites: SOUTHERN LEYTE is one of the top ten dives in the Visayas, SOUTHERN LEYTE This part of the wall is covered by black corals, SOUTHERN LEYTE

  7. Day 7: Disembarkation – Cebu

    On the final day, guests will disembark from the vessel between 08:00 and 11:00 at Cebu Yacht Club. Transfers will be arranged to the airport or your hotel in Cebu City, concluding a memorable diving adventure in the Visayas.

Upcoming departures

  • 2027-01-30 – 2027-02-05from 2,716.07 USDBook
  • 2027-11-28 – 2027-12-04from 2,716.07 USDBook
  • 2027-12-12 – 2027-12-18from 2,716.07 USDBook
  • 2028-02-17 – 2028-02-23from 2,795.62 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

SeadoorsSeadoorsPhilippines
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