3 Stars

Nov-May

17 hours

Beginners, all

From £1350

Magic Island Dive Resort

Wonderful sea views and a magnificent house reef equal a perfect retreat!

Magic Island Resort in Moalboal is only 90 km and a 2 hour transfer from Cebu international airport. This intimate retreat on a small quiet coastal area surrounded by hillsides covered with lush tropical greenery is designed specifically with relaxation in mind offering guests the perfect tranquil getaway. Ideally located on the water’s edge with fantastic diving within easy reach the resort boasts its own house reef with a drop off wall and visibility ranging from 15 to 25 meters. Divers will find an abundance of marine life to spot just on the house reef including schools of jack, tuna and a collection of hard, soft and fan corals. A night dive on the house reef will ensure encounters with decorator crabs, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, snake eels and sea snakes to name but a few! The surrounding waters also offer delights such as frogfish, turtles and possible encounters with whale sharks and white-tip reef sharks that have been seen in the area!

This peaceful family run dive resort consists of 10 cottages situated in lush green well-tended tropical gardens. Each elegantly adorned cottage provides everything you need for a hassle-free holiday including air-conditioning, a fan and a hot shower. All cottages have a private veranda with seating and serene views out to the sea or swimming pool where guests can kick back and soak up the atmosphere.

The spacious restaurant offers a great variety of food including traditional Philippine cuisine, as well as European dishes ranging from delicious pasta to refreshing salads; they also provide an extensive vegetarian menu. The resort consists of a lounge area complete with a library of marine life books and a bar serving San Miguel beer, a selection of wine, fabulous cocktails and fresh fruit shakes. The whole resort now has WIFI so whether you are at your balcony, at the bar or relaxing in the lounge area, you can now connect to the internet with your smart phone or laptop.

The on-site PADI accredited dive centre is located right by the water’s edge so guests can walk straight into the water for a dive by day or night on the fabulous house reef or visit one of the 20 dive sites in and around the area. This completely equipped dive centre is run by fully trained, experienced instructors and dive masters who are keen to share the magical underwater delights with you. The three day boat dives and one night dive are organised and planned the night before allowing the small groups to be ready for their first dive by 9am. The second dive is around 11am then back to resort for a scrummy lunch and a chance to lounge in the sun. The third dive is set for 3pm and the night dive is carried out around 6.30pm. Magic Island Dive Resort owns three well-appointed traditional banca dive boats, all the dive sites are relatively close by and are no more than 20 minutes away including Tongo Point where you will be enriched with come up close and personal with turtles, barracuda and whale sharks and Goby Point the perfect dive for macro lovers with boxer shrimps, signal gobbies, nudibranchs and Pegasus to name but a few!

When you are not enjoying the array of magical underwater delights why not try a wonderfully relaxing massage, foot scrub or a new colour for your nails at the spa or simply lounge around the pool with a good book.

What visitors say: Our holiday was excellent value for the money. The Magic Island Dive Resort was better than the description. The organisation and professionalism of Ari and Desiree and their staff was exemplary, everything went off smoothly without drama read more...
David Jones

Board Basis

Bed & Breakfast Daily breakfast
Half Board Daily breakfast and dinner
Full Board Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
Superior Deluxe Room

Superior Deluxe Cottage

All 10 spacious cottages have a native style look with a private balcony offering beautiful surrounding views. Cottages consist of double or single beds and are fully adapted to the European standards.

  • Fan
  • Hairdryer
  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air conditioning
  • Private Terrace or Balcony
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Bottled water

Map

Marcelina

Thursday, 05 November 2009

Andy McKay – 9 nights at the Magic Island Resort with 5 days diving

9 nights at the Magic Island Resort with 5 days diving

Andy McKay – 9 nights at the Magic Island Resort with 5 days diving

Available Experiences

Itineraries available in this destination

Click the enquire button to make an enquiry for this resort or if you are interested in a bespoke itinerary. One of our experts will discuss the products available and create your personal itinerary.

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What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate if the holiday is exactly what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

SOLO Divers Week in Moalboal

Hi Marcelina I would just like to say that the holiday to the Philippines was just great. The whole experience was really good from the easy booking service to the resort and the staff were fantastic we were really looked after. This was a solo diver holiday and I was a little apprehensive about who I would be with for the week, however I came home with what I feel are 9 good friends. I would highly recommend booking with Ultimate Diving and will definitely be a returning customer. Thanks again see you again.

Eyres I

Magic Island Dive Resort, Moalboal, Philippines

Once again the whole diving experience at Magic Island was faultless. All members of the team worked really hard to ensure that everyone had a very enjoyable time. The Dive Guides on the boats also did their very best to help find those bizarre critters that we so like looking at under the water. When back on shore the service was exemplary. It appears that nothing is too much trouble. The food is exquisite and yummy! The beer was always chilled, my room was always clean. There is a buzz at Magic Island that makes your holiday great! I just want to say thanks! Thanks to everyone who wore a beautiful smile and had a laugh every day! It was fantastic.

Mark P

7 nights at the Magic Island Resort

An amazing place, friendly owners and staff, we had a great time and would happily go back.

Isabelle C

Magic Island Resort

My wife and I went to Magic Island not exactly knowing what to expect, what a gem of a place. The accommodation was first rate well cared for and adequate for our needs. The staff were very friendly, helpful and polite, nothing was too much trouble for them.The food was excellent and even though as we are both vegetarians we were well looked after and can have no complaints about any of the meals. The diving was very good generally in small groups with friendly and knowledgeable guides (we were able to see a whale shark, pygmy seahorse and mandarin fish during our stay so couldn’t be much better than that) the only comment we would make about the diving is that it is all a bit the same as apart from Pescador Island all the dive sites are along the same reef wall, but they were still very good and some quite challenging in a strong current. The resort had the feel and atmosphere of a liveaboard, particularly with everyone eating together. We will certainly be returning in the future to enjoy the whole experience again, well worth the long journey.

Cudmore

10 nights at the Magic Island Resort in Moalboal

My wife and I just spent 10 glorious days at this little gem. Staff, food and diving excellent, there was nothing that even I would complain about From the minute they picked up, to the moment they drop you back at the airport, you feel as if you are getting a holiday way above what you’ve paid for.

Mr & Mrs Walton

Philippines Solo Divers Week at the Magic Island Resort

I had a fantastic time in Moalboal! The diving was first class and just as described by the Ultimate Diving team. Being part of a group of divers meant I could share my diving experiences with them and be able to socialise at the end of the day with like-minded people. What a great experience! =The resort owners made me feel extremely welcome and I made friends for life. I would rate this holiday 9.5 out of 10 and cannot wait to get my 2012 trip booked! Many thanks,

Smith M.

7 nights at the Magic Island Resort with Open Water Course.

I am having an amazing time @ Magic Island. The owners have made me feel extremely welcome & I’ve successfully completed my Open Water. So thank you for arranging it all for me.

Lloiyd M.

7 nights at the Magic Island Resort with diving.

The Magic Island Resort was fabulous !!!!! Attention to detail at it’s utmost. In 35 long haul trips many being 2 centre trips we have never found a better resort. Could not fault it in any way. Welcoming, excellent food, terrific service, nothing too much trouble and the proprietors are about every day mixing with the guests ensuring that you have every thing that you could possibly want. The diving was well organised with high quality hire kit. Dives were varied and well briefed beforehand. Excellent divemasters and boat crew operating from good quality boats, although once again this type of boat would not have been easy for anyone with mobility issues. Regards Very happy to recommend Magic Island Resort, and also Ultimate Diving’s organisation.

Meeds C.

14 nights at the Magic Island Resort with 12 days diving.

The diving was exceptional and well managed the choices of site were always discussed and various requests accommodated (my air consumption) the diving was done in a very friendly, safe and relaxed manner. The Dive Masters and boat crew could not do more. We would rate this holiday as a 9 (nobody is perfect) joint top with our list. We would have no reservations whatsoever in recommending Magic Island to anyone who requires a memorable holiday and a great diving experience.

Jones D

7 nights at the Magic Island Resort with daily snorkling.

The holiday was wonderful, probably one of the best. Although I did not participate in any actual diving I snorkelled every day am and pm. I found that the resort (Magic Island) more than I expected; the owners and staff were wonderful, the food was excellent and the cottage was 1st class. All 10 out of 10. I wish I had booked for a longer period. I am already preparing to re-visit the resort for two week duration soon and hopefully participate in some diving this time. Regards

Mitchell S

9 nights at the Magic Island Resort with 5 days diving

November 2009 saw Belper Sub Aqua Clubs trip to Magic Island Dive Resort, Cebu in the Philippines. A chance email from Ultimate Diving stirred us to book this trip as something a little different from the Red Sea which was the original plan. Ultimate Diving were great in helping us organise the trip around the changing plans of a group of nine people (divers and non divers). They also had the challenge of getting the travel documents to us during the postal dispute – solved by meeting up at the Birmingham Dive Show.

McKay A

Click the enquire button to make an enquiry for this resort or if you are interested in a bespoke itinerary. One of our experts will discuss the products available and create your personal itinerary.

Enquire Now
Image description

Magic Island Dive Centre

Magic Island Dive Resort

Magic Island’s 5 Star PADI dive centre is conveniently located on the water’s edge enabling guests to walk straight into the water for a relaxing dive on the fabulous house reef by day or night. With an experienced team of dive masters and instructors you can ensure you will receive a safe and first class service whilst exploring surrounding waters which are abundant with macro and colourful marine life. On your return you can rinse your gear, take a shower and retire to the lounge to chat about what you saw and to look it up in one of the many marine life books. At a small quiet coastal region the Magic Island Dive Resort offers you absolutely top of dive locations all within reach.

Walk from the dive centre straight into the water for a relaxing dive on the fabulous house reef by day or night. On your return you can rinse your gear and take a shower. Afterwards retire to the lounge to talk about what you saw and to look it up at one of the many marine lifes books. We have a well equipped classroom for all the courses we offer, but prefer teaching on one of our terraces.

The centre boasts a well-equipped classroom for all the courses on offer however in keeping with the laid back atmosphere of the resort they do prefer teaching on one of the terraces. Every evening the dive centre staff will meet with guests and plan an assortment of dives for the next day consisting of three boat dives and a night dive. All dive sites are relative close by with the furthest only a 20 minute boat ride away so you often come back to the dive centre between dives unless you are doing a double morning dive.

For double dives you will leave at 9am so that you can be underwater by 9:30. After that you go to a beautiful white sandy beach to have your break and around 11:30 you do the second dive before heading back to the resort in time for lunch. The centre has three traditional banca dive boats that were built specifically for the centre to take you to nearby sites such as Goby point, Panagsama beach, Dolphin House and Pescador Island.

Every evening the dive centre staff will plan a variety of dives for the next day and write them up on the board. There are usually three boat dives and a night dive. The dive sites are relative close by (maximum 20 minutes by boat) so you often come back to the dive centre between dives unless you are doing a double dives.

Diving Courses:

Course prices include manual and certification fee. Diving equipment is only included with the Open Water Course. Ultimate Diving can arrange your equipment rental for all other courses and daily diving at the time of booking.



Marine Park Fees:


The Moalboal Provincial Government introduced the Moalboal Marine Park Entrance Fee system. Tickets are purchased for a fee of 100 Pesos per dive and must be carried at all times whilst on the boat diving. The boat crew at the Magic Island Resort will take care of that for you, the entrance fee system is similar to the well-known Bonaire and Bunaken Marine Park systems. We greatly appreciate your support and co-operation with this entrance fee system. Conservation of Moalboal's spectacular marine habitats requires funding, and your entrance fee is a valuable contribution to saving Moalboal's reefs.



PADI Discover Scuba Diving

This course is a subset of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you're short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be right for you.

The PADI Scuba Diver course consists of three main phases:

PADI Open Water Diver (Inc Equipment)

This is the most popular dive program in the world! And can be your chance to have a lifetime of intense adventures.

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge Development ( online, independent study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore!

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver

The Advanced Open Water Diver program gives you the opportunity to take your diving skill to the next level through three new areas of diving.
You complete your Deep Dive, Underwater Navigation Dive, Night Dive and two other dives for a total of five to attain your Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

This certification includes five dives, including the Deep Diver, the Underwater Navigation Diver and three of the following: You’ll plan your learning path with your instructor by choosing from a long list of Adventure Dives. There are two required dives – Deep and Underwater Navigation – and you choose the other three, for a total of five dives. During the Deep Adventure Dive, you learn how to plan dives to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving. The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive refines your compass navigation skills and helps you better navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time.

The other knowledge and skills you get vary with your interest and the adventures you have – photography, buoyancy control, fish identification, exploring wrecks and many more.

PADI Scuba Refresher

Refresh your scuba diving skills and knowledge. Go over important dive safety concepts.

You’ll go over important dive safety concepts, dive planning essentials and problem management. Your PADI Professional will have you practice putting your gear together and doing a pre-dive safety check with your buddy. In the water, you’ll review all the basic scuba skills with a focus on good buoyancy control.

PADI Rescue Diver

Become a Rescue Diver. A great level to be. You will have the skills to aid your fellow divers in an emergency.

The PADI Rescue Diver course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, minor and major, using a variety of techniques. Through knowledge development and rescue exercises, you learn what to look for and how to respond. During rescue scenarios, you put into practice your knowledge and skills. Topics include:

PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver

The most popular PADI specialty course. Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives.

You’ll learn why diving with air that has higher oxygen and lower nitrogen content gives you more bottom time, along with enriched air equipment considerations. During a practical session, and two optional (or required) scuba dives, you’ll: