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Dive Review of Exotic Divers/Malapascua Exotic Island Resort in
Philippines/Malapascua

Exotic Divers/Malapascua Exotic Island Resort, Oct, 2010,

by Bob Penhearow, ON, CA (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 5730.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Exotic Divers and resort is a 5-Star operation. The staff are friendly, helpful and efficient. The dive centre 'top notch,' The food superb, the accommodation excellent -strongly recommended.

Travel: 1.15 hr flight from Manila to Cebu. A 3-hr taxi (resort pick-up), followed by a 35 min NE boat ride to the resort.

Accommodations: Housekeeping excellent, clean and comfortable, well maintained. Probably the best accommodations on the Island. However, little things missing like fresh water showers (salt water), toothpaste, kettle & coffee.

Massage: Absolutely outstanding ask for Wilma! $25/hr.

Dive Staff: All dive gear placed in designated plastic crate which is then taken to the boat, assembled and cleaned by staff ready for next dive. Multiple choice dive sites are offered each day. Multiple dive times offered each day ranging from 5AM -5:30PM. You sign up and your name/dive site/boat is posted at 5PM the day before the dive. Dive profiles/briefing with maps were excellent. Emphasis on care/safety. DM well trained, Ronel is simply outstanding!

6-dives over two days.
1. Pantaw Pantaw (65'/20.3M)
Lots of micro: Sea Horses, Pipe fish, Nudi, Shrimps etc.
2.North Point (90'/21M)
Interesting: Frog Fish, Nudi, Squat Shrimp, Manta shrimp etc.
3. Night Dive Light House (25'/7.7M)
Excellent dive: Mandarin Fish, Nudi, Sea Horses, Giant Slug, Scorpion Fish, Spider Crab etc. The Mandarin Fish alone made the dive!

Now the bigger stuff...
4. Monad Shoal (65'/21.4M) - 45 Min from Resort.
This was an outstanding dive. Up at 4:45AM diving at 6:00AM. The Thresher Shark is the main attraction where divers come from all around the world to this sunken Island which acts as a cleaning station for the Threshers. They did not disappoint!! Within 10 mins a Thresher passed between our little group of three divers. Then 20 Mins later a large Thresher came gliding slowly by me about 6' away! It was an unforgeable experience - overwhelmed by the immense size, gracefulness & power. In addition we saw: groupers, Snappers & an octopus. Beware - there are many divers at the resort who have been disappointed with a 'no show.' The Threshers simply do not turn up at our bidding!

5. Gato Island (15M/48' -20M/65')- 50 Min from resort.
This is a day excursion with lunch provided. We had two dives at this site. Saw: Sleeping White Tip Sharks in cave, Commensal Shrimps, Banded Pipe fish, Clown fish, Nudi etc.

Summary: A fabulous two day dive experience. Would I return absolutely!
Websites Exotic Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Ft. Lauderdale, Boracay, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 29-31°C / 84-88°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 45-60 Ft/ 14-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Depth & exit (750psi) were enforced.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 2 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments There were no facilities on the boats for a camera. However, back at the dive centre there was a dedicated tank & battery charge area.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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