Diving around Cebu in December - need advice

[eran_coh]

Hi,
We are 2 experienced divers arriving to Cebu early December for 12 days.
We contacted a dive operator that has dive clubs in the following locations:
Alona beach, Cabilao, Dauin/Dumaguete, Malapascua, Moalboal

We are planing on spending 2-3 days in about 3-4 of the above locations.
We are looking for reach colorful reefs with plenty of fish and some chances for bigger stuff (sharks, mantas, turtles)

We thought of the following plan:
2 days in Cabilao
2-3 days in Alona beach (diving Balicasag + local sites)
2-3 days in Dauin (diving in Apo Island + local sites)
2 days in Malapascua

How would you recommend dividing our time between the locations above?
Any specific location that we should spend more time?

Does Malapascua worth the long trip?
Any good diving around there other than the thresher sharks?
What are the chances of seeing sharks/mantas in Malapascua during December?

How is the diving around Dauin?

What are the sea and diving conditions around these locations during December?

Thanks.

 

[abu]

Hi eran_coh,

We were in the area for 10 days last December. We had 3 days in Malapascua which is well worth the trip.We saw Thresher sharks on three dives,Manta rays once,Mandarin fish,sea snakes and all the usual.
Second stop was Dumaguete where we mostly dived Apo Island (not to be missed) and finally Alona Beach which was fantastic.

Cabilao is supposed to be good too, but we didn't want to be rushed.

We dived with Sea Explorers and have no complaints.

Have a great trip.

 

[travelpro]

That's a lot in 12 days. As most would agree. I would do max 3 locations. You should investigate the travel time to each.

 

[Centrals]

+1

Malapascua, Moalboal and either Dumaguette or Alona Beach(some dive shop might run day trip to dive Cabilao during your stay, just ask around) are more than enough in term of travelling.
Only Sea-Explorers have connecton among all these places.
Reservation is very important during the month of Dec.

 

[rob1967]

Yup, all great sites, but I would say pick just two out of the 4 sites. Otherwise you will spend too much of your precious holiday time transferring around.

 

[eran_coh]

Thank you all for the good information, it really helped.
As some of you guessed, we are booking a "island hopping" trip with sea-explorers, so in some of the short transition days it will still be possible to dive (the transition is done on a dive boat and includes 1-2 dive on the way to the next island).
We will probably not go to Malapascua this time due to the long trip.
Thanks,
Eran

 

[thebib]

Is it possible to combine Malapascua, MoalBoal & Apo island all together in 10 days ? Or shall i Focus on 2 locations