If you just
got off the plane and looked this up online for a guide to get around Cebu to go diving,
you did the right thing. Sure, there are other sites and we've posted a few helpful ones, but this kinda puts it all together for you as a starting point.
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Cebu Provincial Capitol. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information office. |
Welcome to
Cebu!
I like to
call Cebu: Island Central.
Because you
got off on Mactan Island, one of the islands just off Cebu island that is home
to the Mactan International Airport - gateway to Hongkong, Japan, Singapore and many other
destinations, if you don't have to pass through Manila.
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Marcelo Fernan Bridge. Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information office. |
Coming from
the airport, you have the option to head straight for one of the resorts on
Mactan island, where you can just leave all the cares behind, get burned while
nursing a chilled or frosty drink beside a pool or pristine blue waters washing
over white sand.
Or, as you
probably will - get underwater as soon as possible to explore some of the
enjoyable sights off the reefs of Mactan island and other islets nearby, or
even an extended banca (outrigger or pumpboat) ride to one of several fantastic dive sites
in neighboring Bohol island.
You
have arrived at the hub to get to the many diving havens that Cebu island and
the nearby islands of Negros and Bohol are home to.
And this blog will helpyou on how to get there, where to ask your dive hosts to take you, where
to stay, and what you can enjoy while you're there.
And if you
didn't schedule enough time, well - there's always a next time. And a next
time. (We won't blame you if you decide to stay. It's that enjoyable on these
islands. If you notice a lot of foreign resident looking types, ask them.)
One more
important piece of information – wherever you go, have fresh ripe yellow
mangoes. Freshly made mango juice is
good too.
Whatever you do, have it as much as you can. And young coconut as
well. Drink the water and eat the young soft coconut meat. It’s delicious and
it’s good for you.
If there’s
one thing friends from abroad have told me is that they miss the mangoes and
the fresh coconut water they enjoyed here and are horrified to find out just
how much it costs to have it in the US or elsewhere.
So enjoy it
while you’re here. As much of it as you can. Because the next best thing is the
dried stuff. It’s good too, but not as
good as the fresh kind.
So - read on
and take the advice. Or if you're up for an adventure, ask around. But you get
the picture.
Enjoy Cebu:
Island Central - right at the heart of the Philippine islands.
For first
time visitors:
If you would
want to explore the city first, you can take one of the taxicabs into the city
and get off at one of the hotels or boutique hotels that dot the city. If you intend to leave your belongings and
roam around the city, boutique hotels are the way to go. They're very
affordable and many offer a package of breakfast along with the room. Check out is normally at 2pm.
The way to
go is to check in, and have your meals at the mall or elsewhere. Go for
something uniquely Cebu - you can pick from native: Chika-an sa Cebu, Golden
Cowrie/Hukad, Cafe Laguna/Laguna Garden Cafe, Zubuchon (no less than Anthony
Bourdain raved about the roast pig! You can read about it here.), and if you're into finding places - STK
ta Bai! along Orchid Street near the Capitol is a favorite.
The Ayala
mall has breakfast options at an early time. Otherwise, you may have to wait
till ten for your first meal and a good cup of strongly brewed coffee.
You can ask
for recommendations for the resorts, and you're better off staying there when
you're diving. For really interesting
and exotic sights underwater, you're going to have to go farther than Mactan
island.
The options
include Moalboal in the southwest of Cebu, Capitancillo island just off Bogo
City in the north - if you like seeing schools of barracuda and an occasional
manta ray - the thresher sharks off Malapascua are also interesting. And just off the southern tip of Cebu, near
Dumaguete is Apo island - where the largest fish sanctuary is located. And
nearby are Sumilon and Siquijor as well.
Of course,
there's Bohol with Panglao, Balicasag and Cabilao islands. Make sure you
brought a good camera and plan on a deep dive in the morning, a shallower one
early in the afternoon and a night dive for the early evening.
And don't
plan on flying the next day.
Before, it
used to be - take along lots of film.
These days it's bring along a good charger and a lot of memory for your
transfers. You won't regret it.
Of course,
people will tell you of the other exotic locations such as El Nido and the
reefs off Palawan. Definitely, they're wonderful places. Of course, you need to live aboard and you
won't have the island night life that you'll enjoy while you're here in Cebu.
Just make
sure you leave at least two days free after the diving days to recuperate in
the city.
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Fuente Osmeña, Courtesy of Cebu Provincial Information Office. |
Leave one
day open for shopping and mingling with the friends you made in Cebu City.
Confirm your reservations for your flight out and let the memories of a
vacation well spent linger in your mind on your way back home - as you resolve
to come back and go to other places.
Enjoy your
stay!