Scubaguam Special Dive Trips

Why Malapascua?  Fours hours north of Cebu is the "picture perfect" island of Malapascua. I've been there in 2010 and 2011, and I'm ABSOLUTELY going back n 2013.  It's a lot better to show you what you'll see then write all about it here: Gato Island, the reefs of Malapascua pt1, the reef pt 2, the Thresher Sharks.   James McLoed has his Malapascua picture album here.

If you want to see Thresher sharks, Malapascua is THE place to go. There is not another area in the entire world that will give you the consistant opportunity to see these very unusual sharks.

 THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

-all transportation to and from the Cebu airport to the island.

-Breakfast is included.

-5 days of diving with 3 dives a day, total of 15 dives.  Additional dives or a night dives are optional and can be paid direct there. Nitrox packages are available but not included.    Almost every dive will be no deeper than 70 ft or shallower.

-Deluxe air conditioned rooms adjacent to the dive shop for 6 nights. 

-Unlimited free internet service at the dive shoo restaurant.

-One trip to Gato Island (the special island that we dive underneath and come up on the other side..

-Nitrox: Nitrox is not included but if If you want nitrox the fee is $85 for all dives.

 

June weather: The weather should be very good. This is the "quiet season" and it's the reason we picked these dates. The water temp is just like Guam. A full suit of some kind is highly suggested due to the plankton and no seeums in the water.

Why no airfares? I schedule the trip so we avoid a hotel stay ovenight in Manila.  You can get youw own tickets on line or wwith Miriam at ITSA Gateways Travel.

 

DON'T GET LEFT AT THE AIRPORT! Your passport can't expire within 6 months from your return date of travel. Please check the expiration date. We'll need your name exactly as it's on your passport, your date of birth, adn your phone number after your reservatiions are confirmed.

A DEPOSIT HOLDS YOUR SPACE: I hate to be pushy about this, but that's the only way you'll be officially on the trip. This trip is limited to 8 divers. If you're serious about going I'll need the full payment by May 1st.  Once we reach the limit the trip will be closed.

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS:  These are very special prices that my dive and hotels partners have committed to.  There are no refunds within 30 days of your departure unless very extenuating circumstances prevent you from going. The criteria for this would be military leave cancellatinons, deployments, and medical emergencies.  In such cases we will need documentation to verify the cancellation.  We are also not rresponsible for any penalties imposed by airline cancellations. These are way out pf our control.

Can you extend your dates for this trip?  Yes. Let me know how many more days you want to stay there.  I can give you a quote.

Are there any extra fees not included: Yes...but not much.

Marine Sanctuary fee: I've included the normal sanctuary fees but if we go to an island that's not normally on the list there will be a fee for this.  It's usually not much.

Airport taxes:  Each airport in the Philippines has it's own departure tax.  Usually it's between 30-50P (42.95P to the US dollar as I write this).  The Manila domestic airport has a 200P departure tax when we go to Bohol, and the departure tax is 550P when we leave Manila to come back to Guam.  Overall figure about 1,000P ($23-24) to cover these taxes.

Misc porter fees:  If you want these plan on approx P30 per bag.

Ice Cream fee: Depending upon what you buy.  We make a MANDATORY ice cream/comfort room stop on the way there and back to the airport.

How much extra money to bring? Lots of travel tips are here.

How do you get on the trip? Send me an email at info@scubaguam.com. 

Diver comments on the 2011 trip:

Reed Nelson: "The trip to Malapascua was a very enjoyable experience. The resort
accomodations were excellent. The food was terrific (if not too much).
The diving more than lived up to expectations. The opportunity to see the
thresher sharks was thrilling. I would say that this was a great dive
trip all around."

Alice Leliukas: "All around one of my top dive trips! The dive shop could not have been
more accommodating with good food, good selections and great drinks. NO
worries about my gear, always ready to jump into and drop in, really
spoiled us all week.

Of course the critters were fantastic! The PI in general has such diversity, but the blue ring octopus was a real find.  Huge beautiful nudibranchs and even saddleback anemone fish! Corals and fans, pigmy and full size seahorses, and on and on.

The Tapnee Resort where we stayed was also a treat. Rooms large enough to spread out, private settings with nice front decks for happy hour, clean large bathrooms, plenty of hot water and a GREAT massage area with a fantastic view. One suggestion....bring towels for the boat. None were supplied OR sold at and shop. GO THERE!!"

Banka boat photo by James McCleod