ABW Dec 2017
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CEBU<br />
Bantayan Island<br />
70<br />
staff are well versed in the top dive sites and are<br />
also innovators of Project Sharklink.<br />
Project Sharklink is a collaborative undertaking<br />
by Singapore and Philippine Education,<br />
Research, and Diving institutions to investigate<br />
and monitor the state of the Monad Shoal reef<br />
and propose measures to limit the degradation<br />
caused by increasing numbers of scuba-divers<br />
to the region, both in the water and on the<br />
fragile ecology of Malapascua Island. This<br />
includes “mapping and comparing topography<br />
and biodiversity of two underwater ‘cleaning’<br />
stations that support cleaner-fish services.”<br />
Cleaner-fish, known as elasmobranch, include<br />
the grey reef and thresher sharks as well as manta<br />
and devil rays which are frequent visitors to<br />
Monad Shoal. Project Sharklink will also identify<br />
“sustainable management of natural resources,<br />
such as fresh water,” on Malapascua island as<br />
well as monitor the quality of the ground-water<br />
which is in danger of long term contamination<br />
by pit latrines and open refuse sites. The teams<br />
will also establish workshops to conduct training<br />
on an alternative livelihood programme for local<br />
volunteers.<br />
When island hopping, some of the better dive<br />
sites are at Chocolate Island, for coral and a<br />
variety of fish. While Isla De Gato is prolific for<br />
sea snakes, sea horses and juvenile sharks.<br />
Situated atop Guimbitayan is the lighthouse that<br />
guides all the vessels plying the shipping lanes<br />
between Cebu and Manila.<br />
One of the more interesting dive sites is Monad<br />
Shoal, a sea mount rising 250m from the floor<br />
bed, 8km east of Malapascua. It is increasingly<br />
popular with divers and snorkelers attracted<br />
by the thresher sharks and manta rays which<br />
regularly bask in the crystal waters of the reef.<br />
Get in touch with Dive Link for details on trips<br />
to Monad Shoal.<br />
One can only say about Malapascua is that it’s<br />
the one destination in the Philippines that every<br />
diver should make time to visit and dive. Its<br />
delightful beaches, water as transparent as fine<br />
glass and intriguing marine life combine to make<br />
this diver’s paradise the holiday of a lifetime.<br />
Handy Hints<br />
There are no cars on the Island so transport<br />
around the island is by motor bike, or if nearby<br />
walking, which is more of a pleasure than a task<br />
as you stroll along the beautiful beaches to your
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