PHILIPPINE SECRETS DIVE SAFARI
Donsol - Ticao Island - Malapascua Safari Tour
8th - 24th April 2016
This is a trip primarily for underwater photographers of all abilities and an informal workshop for those who would like guidance (non photographers welcome who like the relaxed style of our diving).
As you can see from the itinerary below there is no internal flight between resorts and it offers a good variety of diving with excellent value. If you are interested in joining me on this trip please contact me on email len.deeley@btinternet.com
Itinerary
08 APR LHR 18.25 MNL 16.55 + 1 PR721
1 nt B & B Marriott Hotel, Manila Airport
10 APR MNL 09.25 LGP 10.25 PR2925
Transfers from Legazpi to Donsol / Whale Shark Interaction / Lunch at Miraya Restaurant / Transfers from Donsol to Ticao Island /
Dinner at Ticao Island Resort / Accommodations at Ticao Island Cabana
APR 11 to 16 : 15 Dives Total around Ticao Island (5 days x 3 dives per day) / Full Board Meals at Ticao Island Resort / Accommodations at Ticao Island Cabana
APR 17 : Depart Ticao Island to Malapascua at 0600H / All meals arrangement on the safari boat / 3 Dives along the way; diving the secret islands between Ticao and Malapascua / Drop off at Malapascua at 1600H / Accommodations at Tepanee Beach Resort
APR 18 to 22 : Breakfast in Malapascua / Total of 12 dives (diving schedule available at the dive centre / choice of 4 dives a day) / Accommodations at Tepanee Beach Resort
APR 23 : Breakfast in Malapascua / Transfers from Malapascua to Cebu
CEB 23.05 MNL 00.15 + PR2870
APR 24 MNL 07.10 LHR 15.35 PR720
Estimated rice per person £2699 inc flights, transfers, board, accommodation & diving as outlined above
Non Diver price £1699
Below are some links and information regarding the diving and resorts.
htt://www.ticao-island-resort.com/
http://www.ticao-island-resort.com/activities/whale-shark-interaction/
General information:
The Philippines has 7,107 islands and only 2,000 of these are inhabited and discovered. Roughly 70% of the Philippine Islands is still secret to the world. Donsol is renowned as the whale shark capital of the world where the highest congregation of whale sharks can be found during the season of November to June; Ticao Island is where the Manta Bowl lies and this is the Philippine’s
capital for Manta Rays. Manta Rays may be the staple, but since the Ticao Pass is characterized by cool waters, strong currents, and cleaning stations, other sharks and pelagic creatures like the whale sharks, threshers sharks, and hammerhead sharks drop by also. Malapascua is the only place in the world where Thresher Sharks can be spotted all year round. In between Ticao Island
and Malapascua is a channel with several small islands along the way. These islands are pristine, untouched, and generally uninhabited. Be among the first people to dive and explore these unknown islands of the Philippines . This safari tour will take you from Ticao Island to Malapascua (or vice versa) but will have you dive places that have been kept secret for generations.
What are these secret islands? – The areas that we are looking into for the 3 dives along the way would be a mix of the following places depending on weather and ocean conditions and the divers ability:
a) Tarnate which is a reef shark nursery. Current can be quite strong in this area depending on the tides, advanced diving certification required
b) The Maripipi and Kirikiti islands have amazing coral life and abundant fish life. These islands are so far from the main islands so this is not frequently visited and hence has been preserved. This area was discovered by private yacht owners that have a regular travel route between Ticao Island an Malapascua
c) The Dona Marilyn Wreck was a Cebu-Manila passenger ferry that sank in a typhoon over 20 years ago.. The wreck is around 100m long, and now lying on its starboard side, amazingly still all in one piece. Long lost fishing nets encrusted in coral are draped all over it, giving it quite a spooky feel! Marble rays, blue-spotted rays and whitetip sharks live under the bow and eagle rays and devil rays sometimes pass through. The wreck is covered in a healthy growth of soft coral, and the resident fish grow to a large size.
d) Gato Island which is a marine reserve and sea snake sanctuary. It has at least five dive sites with a huge diversity of marine life. We are constantly seeing new creatures. At all sites you can see such things as banded sea snakes, cuttlefish (often while mating), seahorses, nudibranchs, frogfish, scorpion fish, porcupine fish, and smashing mantis shrimp. Away from the reef you can see schools of squid and big-mouthed mackerel attracted by the baitballs. There are many whitetip sharks in residence at Gato, as well as bamboo and cat sharks.
