Philippines Big3 Adventure. Donsol, Ticao, Malapascua

Join me as we travel to the Philippines in search of the islands BIG3. Stopping at Donsol, Ticao Island and Malapascua, our itinerary provides us with the best opportunity to enjoy encounters with whale sharks, manta rays and the incredible pelagic thresher sharks.

The plan:
Whale shark
We begin our journey in Donsol. Home to one of the largest whale shark schools in the world. It’s a reliable spot and one of the best locations to find these enormous fish during the November to June season.
Pelagic mantas
For manta rays, we’ll travel to Ticao Island and dive the ‘Manta Bowl’. This underwater atoll in the Ticao Pass boasts plankton rich water and constant current. Both of which create an ideal environment for a manta cleaning station. But, we’ll keep a watchful eye in the blue, as other large pelagics like whale sharks, thresher sharks, hammerheads and tiger sharks pass through the alley too.
Shush. Dive the Secret Islands
The boat transfer from Ticao Island to Malapascua pilots a course past the secret islands. These islands are pristine, untouched, and generally uninhabited. Diving along the way, we’ll explore places that have been kept secret for generations.
Thresher sharks
Our final destination is Malapascua, the only place on the planet that thresher sharks can be spotted all year round by recreational divers. Threshers are easily recognisable by their beguiling long tail. They use their tails to hunt, whipping it with such ferocity that it stuns prey such as squid, sardines and perhaps juvenile tuna.
And there’s more
For those people who are fond the ocean’s smaller stuff, throughout the trip we’ll have the opportunity to slot in a few macro dives. Whilst in Malapascua, there’s always the possibility of seeing mantas, devil rays, white tip reef sharks and grey reef sharks.
Location:
Ticao Island Resort (FB), Tepanee Beach Resort (B&B)
Accommodation and food:
Ticao Island Resort
Air-conditioned beachfront cabanas for 2 people. Full board.
Tepanee Beach Resort
Standard room for 2 people. Bed and breakfast.
Experience Level:
PADI Open water certification
What’s included:
23 dives, snorkelling with whale sharks, photography tuition, expert post-processing support, airport transfers, full board (FB) during our stay at Ticao Island Resort, all meals during boat transfer from Ticao Island to Malapascua, bed and breakfast (B&B) during our stay at Tepanee Beach Resort .
UK bookings
Flights are included
Overseas bookings
Flights are NOT included
Not included:
Personal diving equipment, crew gratuities, lunch and evening meals ONLY during our stay at Tepee Beach Resort
Price:
From the UK: £2550pp including flights. Overseas guests: $2350pp without flights. (rates based on costs double occupancy) Single supplement charge £275/$340
Contact:
Email about this trip
Telephone: +44 (0)1722 780810