20/01/2022
29 Dec 22 - 9 Jan 23 Malapascua & Visayas LAMAVE Special 10n/11d Dive Safari onboard S/Y Phil. Siren
Experience True Exploration - LAMAVE Partners with the Philippine Siren
LAMAVE and the elegant Philippine Siren team up once again to bring divers right to the heart of conservation and exploration.
LAMAVE and the Philippine Siren of Master Liveaboards worked together to create a unique, exploratory liveaboard scuba diving itinerary for January 2023. Starting off from Cebu City and winding north to Ticao, this 10-day expedition will take you from the thresher sharks of Malapascua up to the spectacle of nature that is Manta Bowl. In between these sites, guests will get to explore the uncharted waters of the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape as they team up with a LAMAVE researcher to uncover the truth behind rumors of reclusive sharks, gorgonian gardens, and islands of outstanding natural beauty.
DOWNLOAD EXPEDITION INFORMATION PACK NOW by clicking this LINK:https://static1.squarespace.com/.../LAMAVE+x+Siren+2021.pdf
EXPERIENCE TRUE
EXPLORATION
LAMAVE has partnered with the elegant Philippine Siren to bring intrepid divers through waters unexplored.
Use the code DONATELAMAVE when purchasing via email or phone and 10% of your fee will go to LAMAVE's research efforts for the conservation of marine megafauna in the Philippines.
USD 4,400
BOOK A SPOT NOW!
EMAIL [email protected]
Call (Thailand):
+66 (0) 76 367 444
Call (USA):
+1 866 258 6398
Call (UK):
+44 (0) 208 099 2230
WhatsApp:
+66 (0) 93 574 4529
Malapascua Island - Daanbantayan, Cebu
Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte
Maripipi Island - Biliran
Naranjo Islands - San Vicente, NorSam
Manta Bowl, Ticao-Burias Pass, Masbate
San Miguel Is., Moreal, Ticao Is., Masbate
FOR INQUIRIES, EMAIL [email protected]
A unique itinerary designed by our LAMAVE research team, you'll be diving into unexplored ecosystems while learning about our marine megafauna conservation efforts through a series of special talks.
Your donations allow us to continue
our efforts to secure a prosperous
ocean for marine life and people alike.
On this expedition, you'll get a chance to
see one of the first Open Access
Acoustic Telemetry Networks in
Southeast Asia, which LAMAVE and other
researchers are using to study marine
megafauna to better understand their
movement and connectivity between
different priority sites.
Source:https://static1.squarespace.com/.../LAMAVE+x+Siren+2021.pdf
Malapascua & Visayas (LAMAVE Special)
29 Dec 22 - 9 Jan 23 10n/11d Dive Safari onboard S/Y Phil. Siren $4,400 - Waitlisted
Requirements: PADI Open Water or equivalent - minimum of 10 logged dives
Overview
Abundant Marinelife
Abundant marine life
Pristine Corals
Stunning reef systems
Great Visibility
Diving variety
Mountain ranges
Stunning Topography
Tropical beaches
The Malapascua & Visayas region is home to some of the best diving in the Philippines, with its nutrient rich water supporting a variety of eco-systems & a wide diversity of marine life. Dive sites are varied, ranging from vertical walls covered in coral to gentle sloping reefs and muck diving hotspots. During the tour we visit and dive the islands around Malapascua and Cebu, Cabilao, Panglao, Balicasag and Pescador. Along with Apo Island marine sanctuary and critter hot spot Dauin.
Maps & Itinerary
This 10 night Malapascua & Visayas liveaboard adventure allows up to 33 dives (including night dives) and takes you to some of the most beautiful regions of the Philippines, allowing you to experience some of the best diving in all of south east Asia, including thresher shark encounters at Malapascua, giant sardine balls at Pescador and world class muck diving and critter hunting around Dauin.
This itinerary involves some long distance travel and, whilst we attempt to ensure the number of dives we have scheduled are fulfilled, bad weather can hinder the boat’s ability to reach a specified dive site in good time.
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On a typical day we offer up to 4 day dives or 3 day dives and a sunset or night dive. The diving day is usually scheduled as follows:
Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1
Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3
Snack relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4, (where possible)
Dinner
Malapascua and The Visayas, Philippines
10 Nights Itinerary
● Meeting point for embarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Cebu Yacht Club
● Embarkation time: 13:00
● Disembarkation: 10:00
Transfers between Cebu Airport or local hotels and Marina Seaview Restaurant are provided free of charge on embarkation and disembarkation day.
Transfers to hotels and resorts outside of the Cebu City area can be arranged for an additional charge.
Marine & Port Fees: 155 USD per person*
Marine park fees can be paid in advance, or on board.
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*There is an additional charge of 30 USD per person, payable on board for diving with whale sharks at Oslob should you choose to join.
Minimum dive certification and experience:
Diving conditions in and around the Visayas are suitable for all levels of divers although some sites can be challenging for inexperienced divers due to currents.
Divers wishing to join this itinerary are advised to have Advanced Open Water certification*, or equivalent, with a minimum of 10 logged dives and experience in strong currents.
*Advanced Open Water course can be completed on board
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Guests who do not fulfil the minimum certification and experience requirements may be denied participation in some or all dives.
It is a mandatory requirement for all divers to have insurance which covers scuba diving activities, including emergency evacuation and recompression chamber costs.
Participation in this liveaboard itinerary is subject to acceptance of our Terms & Conditions as
outlined here: www.masterliveaboards.com/terms-conditions.
Itinerary Details
This itinerary involves some long distance travel and, whilst we attempt to ensure the number of planned dives is fulfilled, bad weather and sea conditions can affect the boat's ability to reach a specific dive site in good time and may impact on the number of dives that are possible.
Number of scheduled dives: Up to 33
Safety and dive briefings are conducted in English. If you, or any of your group, do not speak or understand English, please contact us.
The following is an example of the day-to-day itinerary.
Day 1: Embarkation at 13:00 followed by lunch and briefings. If time allows there may be a check dive scheduled but diving on embarkation day is not guaranteed.
Days 2-9: Your Cruise Director will schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day div
Malapascua Island
Monad Shoal
One of the few dive spots in the world where the shy pelagic thresher sharks may be seen on a daily basis. Divers rest at approximately 25m (90ft) on the sandy bottom to watch the sharks approach and be cleaned. Diving with Nitrox is recommended to enjoy extended bottom time.
Please be advised it is not allowed to use strobes and/or flash lights here.
Chocolate Island
The topography of this little island is typical of the area around Malapascua with shallow reef tops full of soft corals and algae that are home for a variety of nudibranchs as well as eels and sea snakes. The shallow bottom of maximum 16 m (50ft) around this island is the perfect spot for odd shaped bottom dwellers like bearded scorpionfish, devil scorpionfish and dwarf cuttlefish but also many different kinds of sea stars, sea urchins with their urchin clingfish inside, black velutina and ringed pipefish can also be found.
Gato Island
The island of Gato, located less than 2 hours away from Malapascua, provides a diverse range of marine life; cuttlefish can be seen performing their mating rituals when it is the right season. White tip reef sharks seek shelter under bommies and a plethora of macro critters command the sea floor. There are several sites around the small island and we choose from
the following:
White Tip Alley
As the name suggests provides an almost guaranteed sighting of white tip reef sharks that enjoy their rest on the sand tucked under rocks and coral bommies. Other species found here include scorpion fish and seahorses. Whip coral shrimps which cling to the colourful whip corals adorn the overhangs of this Alley.
Nudibranch City
Rubble, rocks, sponges and corals provide a perfect habitat and create an “Undersea City” for a wide variety of nudibranchs and flatworms. Blue dragons, chromodoris, hypselodoris, and
flabellinas.
The Tunnel
Running underneath Gato Island at a depth of approximately 10 metres, the 30 metre long tunnel takes divers from one side of the island to the other. Keep a lookout for resting white tip sharks or use your light to search for lobsters and crabs that like to dwell within the cavern.
Inspirational Diving Experiences.
Moalboal, Cebu
The main attraction of Moalboal is the millions of sardines hanging out in the shallow waters.
Other than that the beautiful diving around Pescador Island is just 30 minutes away.
Panagsama Beach
Along with the millions of sardines, performing an underwater ballet, giant frogfish might be found together with reeftop pipefish and ringed pipefish.
Tongo Point
Schools of razorfish, crocodile needlefish, purple and threadfin anthias are to be found while reef squids and spade fish are making their way home. Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles are also commonly seen here.
Turtle Bay
This site is often scheduled for night dives where we can spot sleeping turtles along with different kinds of crabs and shrimps.
Dolphin House
Crocodile needlefish, drummers, milkfish and yellowtail barracudas are living just under the surface while zillions of damsels and anthias are darting around the coral reef top.
Pescador Island
Just 30 minutes away from Moalboal this island is a perfect place to explore the dramatic steep walls and the colorful and lively reeftop.
Zillions of damsels, anthias and chromis are darting around while schools of fusiliers, red tooth triggerfish, surgeonfish, long jawed mackerel, juvenile convict fish and big eyed trevallies are filling the blue. Pescador Island is also home for a couple of giant frogfish.
The big cave on the northwest side of the island is a nice gimmick to the dives.
Dauin, Negros
Dauin, with its black volcanic sand, is famous for muck diving. Depending on the season, different types and sizes of octopuses, sea horses, (baby) frogfish, a variety of ghost pipefish and flamboyant cuttlefish can be found.
The Cars
Between 25-30m (80-100ft), car parts forming an artificial reef attract porcelain crabs and different kinds of shrimps amongst the many weird and wonderful creatures found at this site.
Inspirational Diving Experiences
Secret Corner
This sand and pebble dive site is the perfect habitat for the smallest, weird and unexpected creatures such as cockatoo waspfish, short-fin lionfish and snake and garden eels.
Ceres
Named after the local bus company that donated its tyres to create an artificial reef which attracts schools of reef fish. Different kinds of shrimps live on this reef together with a variety of juvenile reef fish.
Mainit
A mix of black volcanic sand and coral boulders with soft corals. Due to the currents, all fish are very active which makes this dive very lively and exciting ending in an area with hot sand at
the bottom, hence the name Mainit meaning ‘hot’.
San Miguel
A relatively shallow dive site with sandy slopes and seagrass beds, San Miguel is another critter wonderland! This is the place to find all your favorites including a variety of nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, tiny juvenile frogfish and even the possibility of finding Pygmy Squid.
Apo Island
Apo Island Marine Reserve is one of most successful marine sanctuaries established in the Philippines. Reef hooks and gloves are not allowed and night diving is unfortunately not permitted. The order of dives will be based on the currents and conditions of the day choosing from:
Coconut Point
An often fast paced drift brings divers over the sloping coral reef wall. Along the way giant trevally, blackfin barracuda, big school of big-eyed trevally and plenty of sea snakes can be encountered.
Rocky Point West
Just beyond the chapel opposite the marine park warden’s office,
Rocky Point West offers
some of the most stunning hard corals to be found in the region with endless patches of leather corals on the top. The steep reef walls support numerous colourful reef species –pyramid butterflyfish and red-toothed triggerfish are here in their hundreds, frogfish, cuttlefish, banded sea snakes and hawksbill turtles are amongst the common sightings.
Cogon
The colourful bottom divided by sand channels is the place to find a big school of big-eyed trevally, huge brown marbled groupers and sea snakes.
Inspirational Diving Experiences
Oslob
The optional whale shark encounter, where the whale sharks are hand fed, can be done by diving or snorkeling, subject to additional fees payable at destination. Please be advised it is not allowed to use strobes and/or flash lights here.
Balicasag Island
The small island of Balicasag, just off the tip of Panglao, is characterised by its many turtles, coral gardens and steep walls which provide overhangs, cracks & crevices in which to search for a variety of marine species. This area has become a marine protected area since July 2017 and allows two dives per day only with valid permits.
Divers Heaven
The main attraction of this beautiful dive site is the green sea and hawksbill turtles in the shallow waters. The reeftop edge is a nice habitat for schools of colourful damsels and anthias and when lucky also for giant frogfish.
Black Forest
Once famed for its black coral is where we encounter schools of jacks, long-jawed mackerels, red tooth triggerfish and different kinds of fusiliers.
Cabilao Island
There are several interesting wall and coral garden dives around the island of Cabilao and we choose from the following:
Gorgonian Wall
Provides a gentle drift along a fantastic coral reef with schooling fish and plenty of macro life in the shallow water, including the possibility of spotting a Denise’s pygmy seahorse.
Lighthouse
Sloping walls full of sponges and gorgonian fans. This is a great place to dive with large green turtles. Also being seen are giant frogfish which can be spotted resting on sponges and
numerous cowries hiding amidst the stunning hard coral garden.
Talisay Tree
Beautiful wall with gorgonians where bubble coral shrimps and orangutan crabs can be found in the bubble corals. The shallow grassy garden with its elephant ear sponges and barrel
sponges is a perfect spot for wide angle photography.
Inspirational Diving Experiences
Cambaquiz
A fantastic spot where we often make night dives. A gently sloping reef and sandy bottom to 20m – soft corals and sea pens can be found dotted over the sand; also a great site for sightings of bottom dwellers. The grassy top is a favourite crab hideout.
Should you have any questions or queries concerning the dive sites or whether this itinerary is suitable for your experience level, please contact our reservations team
[email protected] who will be pleased to assist and advise you.
Text source: https://masterliveaboards.com/philipp.../malapascua-visayas
