Accommodation: Ocean Vida Beach & Dive Resort
Ocean Vida Beach & Dive Resort with Sea Explorers
Introduction
Nestled on the stunning island of Malapascua in northern Cebu!
Ocean Vida Beach and Dive Resort is on the beautiful island of Malapascua, located in the northern part of Cebu. More specifically, we are situated directly on Bounty Beach, just a few steps from the shore.
‘Ocean Vida’ is not only our resort name, it also represents the impression we hope to impart on you as our guest. Vida, which means life, represents our mission; we want to make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and also full of life during your stay with us. The beachfront ambience combined with the delicious, fresh food and the friendliness of our staff, make many people come back to Malapascua time and time again.
Bounty Beach, with its nice white sand beaches and the crystal clear, blue ocean, is right were Ocean Vida sits, inviting all those who stay with us for swimming or diving with our partner, Sea Explorers.
Bounty Beach is a true paradise, boasting soft white sands and shimmering turquoise waters. Whether you’re swimming or diving with Sea Explorers, adventure awaits you right outside our doors. Welcome to Ocean Vida, where unforgettable memories and vibrant experiences are just a heartbeat away!
Packages
Heading
Pricing ranges from $1,800 (call us for the complete package)
Accommodations
Beach Rooms Galore
- There are 12 Deluxe Sea View Rooms in a two-story building right on Bounty Beach. These rooms are just steps from the water and have private balconies or terraces with bean bags and couches.
- Deluxe Garden View Rooms (8 Units): Situated behind the reception and dive center. These rooms are quieter and offer more privacy, surrounded by tropical gardens.
- Family Rooms: The resort offers a family option with two garden rooms connected by a door, suitable for up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child per room.
Diving / Diving Site(s)
Diving in Malapascua with Sea Explorers
The Diving
Malapascua Island, situated just off the northern coast of Cebu, is an extraordinary dive destination that offers amazing experiences with thresher sharks throughout the year at both Monad Shoal and Kanumod Shoal. Early morning dives reveal the majestic beauty of these magnificent creatures as they visit their favorite cleaning stations. The island also features an array of fascinating sites, such as Gato Island, where you can explore swim-throughs and spot captivating sea snakes and vibrant macro life. With stunning coral reefs, intriguing jeepney wrecks, and a variety of marine treasures, Malapascua is perfect for everyone, from deep-sea adventurers to macro enthusiasts looking for nudibranchs, octopus, and seahorses.
Sea Explorers
The Sea Explorers PADI 5-Star CDC Dive Centers are situated on three beautiful islands in the Philippines: Negros (Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort), Malapascua (Ocean Vida and Buena Vida Resorts), and Bohol (Cabilao). Sea Explorers provides well-equipped facilities, including a small retail shop at each location. Dive with a smile! There is little doubt that the Philippines offers some of the best diving experiences for the money in the world. It is one of the few places where you can encounter both the smallest Frogfish and the largest fish on the planet, the whale shark. The service, both on land and underwater, consistently deserves a 5-star rating.
Scuba diving has been the passion of Sea Explorers Philippines since 1989. Sea Explorers Philippines is one of the most established scuba diving companies, dive centers, and dive operators in the Philippines. The team consists of experienced and ambitious divers, hosts, and travel specialists. Be convinced of their professional services and dive with a smile! The two owners, Tom and Margo Peyton, make an effort to dive in the Philippines almost every year.
Rare Thresher Shark Diving
Dining / Restaurant(s)
Laid back Dining
- The Upper Terrace is an open-air space with sweeping views of Bounty Beach and the ocean.
- Beachfront Dining features tables and comfy beanbags right on the sand beneath palm trees, making it perfect for a relaxed, toes-in-the-sand meal.
- Fresh Seafood: Local fishermen deliver their catch straight to the resort each day. You can enjoy sashimi and Kinilaw (Filipino ceviche) every day.
- Sustainability: The resort skips flavor enhancers and tries to use organic ingredients whenever possible.
- Vibe: Guests often mention the friendly staff and how the place changes from a sunny breakfast spot to a romantic, torch-lit setting at night.
Activities
Other things to do in the Philippines
- Photography
- Fish ID
- Diving
- Spa
- Village tour
- Culinary classes
- Snorkeling
- Volleyball
- Site seeing
- Gym
- Yoga
- Learn to dive
Know Before You Go
- Fly into Manila airport
- ???Second, fly into Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB).
- Next, take a car or bus for about four hours to reach Maya Port.
- From there, board a boat for a 45-minute ride to Malapascua Island.
Tip: Many divers also visit Gato Island, known for sea snakes and whitetip sharks in its tunnels, or explore the Dona Marilyn Wreck. Both sites are easy to reach from Malapascua.
Passport and Documentation
All travelers must have a current passport, adequate funds to support themselves, and a return airline ticket to depart the USA. Travelers must have a passport valid for 6 months from the date of entry into any foreign country. It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure they have the proper documentation to travel into each country on their itinerary, as well as for re-entry and return to their country. Please check with the appropriate consulate and your chosen airline to ensure you have the proper documentation. Always check your passport and visa requirements. US citizens may go to the US Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov for more information. The website also has information for consulates by country to assist with requirements. There are special requirements for children leaving the US, and many countries have adopted special requirements for the protection of children. If you are traveling with a child that is not your own, a single parent with a child, a child with a different last name, or traveling without both natural parents of the child, you will require documentation proving your right to travel with children. Since regulations vary by country, contact your consulate or embassy and visit the immigration site of the country you are traveling to for the requirements. The Kids Sea Camp Reservation Office and staff will not assume responsibility for passengers without the required documentation.
We are all super excited to welcome you to the hidden paradise with Sea Explorers in the Philippines. The best choice for hotels close to the airport is the Marriott, as well as the stunning new complex called City of Dreams, which includes the Hyatt and the Nobu Hotel (located at City of Dreams). We will have our meet-and-greet person to welcome you on your international flight and transfer you to the hotel.
Please make your reservation at one of the hotels listed above and let us know which one you choose. We will then get transfers organized for you. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you need any additional information
Counting Shaun the sheep at Kids Sea CAMP
Shaun the Sheep, a tiny sea slug, has been discovered.
Destination: The Philippines with Sea Explorers, Amun ini, and Kids Sea Camp. Neither my wife nor I had ever been to the Philippines before. Margo and Tom Peyton, fellow dive industry friends, had invited us multiple times. Tom talked about a strange alien life he found mesmerizing and how incredible it would be to experience. It’s just impossible to describe, he said, but mindblowing and life-changing, a world you will become obsessed with exploring.
My first muck dive in the Philippines: Marcio, another guest, fellow photographer, and avid, loyal Kids Sea Camp adventurer, spoke of a sheep. I was curious; he had my attention. The guides you see can show you almost anything you request, but who knows what to request in a land of aliens? Marcio named the critter focus of this trip for himself and piqued my curiosity: Shaun the Sheep.
As I descended below the surface of the clear Philippine water, I was not fooled by the desolate, grey, bare sand. Tom Peyton said, “This is the home for some of the most incredible creatures I will ever see.” With all the colors of the universe residing on the most minuscule of animals, like the hundreds of nudibranchs found here or pygmy squid, and then there are the mesmerizing colors of the mandarin fish. Tom was so correct. The obsession began as I saw the true master of camouflage, the pygmy seahorse. While the Philippines’ underwater world is nothing short of a new planet, one critter in particular stole my heart even before we met: Shaun the Sheep. Marcio showed me a photo from his dive, and I was hooked.
Keep in mind my wife, Cristina Zenato, and I dive with sharks for a living, so it was pretty interesting to watch myself get so excited about a creature I could barely see with the naked eye. When you see how cute this little guy is, you will understand why.
What is Kleptoplasty?
A tiny leaf slug (Costasiella Kuroshimae) that grows to a length of 7 millimeters. They graze on algae, suck up their chloroplasts, and retain them within their tissues, allowing them to supplement their diet through photosynthesis. This process is called kleptoplasty.
How could I not become obsessed with an animal the size of a grain of rice capable of using photosynthesis? To feed my obsession, I needed to learn more. Shaun has multiple siblings, like the Bumblebee-looking (Costasiella Sp), and distant cousins living in the Caribbean.
But how do you find something so small in the vastness of the ocean?
In the same way, you find any small creature in the Philippines, you find its home. Shaun the Sheep lives on a specific algae called Avrainvillea. Find the algae, see Shaun the Sheep. Rest assured, my quest for Shaun the Sheep is not over. I am looking forward to seeing and photographing its Caribbean cousin.
By Kewin Lorenzen
Family diving in the Philippines; Malapascua, Cabilao & Dauin
The owner’s favorite destination to dive
The Philippines is hands down my favorite place for diving over the past 30 years. I personally feel it’s perfect for kids of all ages. We work only with Sea Explorers, as I feel they are the only kid-friendly, safest operator for kids in the Philippines. Most of their Philippines staff are parents, and they just really get the concepts of Kids Sea Camp.
Malapascua is Thresher’s heaven
This destination is an add-on pre-trip to our Kids Sea Camp main week. We are here specifically to dive with the Thresher sharks that come up from the deep each morning to a cleaning station at 70ft. It’s one of the most humbling and majestic dives I have ever done. Watching these beautiful sharks with tails as long as their bodies, shimmer through the water as they pass overhead. This dive is a WOW for anyone who loves sharks.
Diving in Malapascua is not for little kids to dive. Having said that, we can and do arrange for younger kids to be watched while parents are diving. We offer Malapascua for 3 nights, with a 2-day add-on. The resorts are located in a beautiful village on an amazing white-sand beach. Pura Vida Resort and Buena Vida Resort are the two resorts we use. Buena Vida Resort is a luxury Spa and offers vegan and Paleo foods, yoga, etc. and is located in the Village and a 3 min walk to the beach. Ocean Vida Malapascua Resort in the Philippines is oceanfront and features the Sea Explorers dive show on-site, with 1 restaurant.
Kids can be accommodated with child care at either resort while parents are diving. Diving here starts at 5 AM in the morning. We put Malapascua first because jet lag is a bonus here, as most people are waking up around 4 am. So, diving for kids age 12+ and adults starts at 5 A.M., out to Monad Shoal for 2 dives, and back by 9 A.M. for breakfast. The rest of the day is spent enjoying the beach and village, etc. There is no pool at this resort.
Amun ini is in Ando on the island of Bohol
This is a beautiful boutique resort with a large beach and an infinity pool. It is a 5-star resort about 2 hours from Cabilao, and TAG is the airport to fly into for both this property and Cabilao. Amun ini mostly features macro diving. The rarest of nudibranchs, octopus, and pygmy seahorses are the norm to see on dives.
Dauin Pura Vida Homes and Pura Vida Resort with Sea Explorers
We will include a trip to Oslob to snorkel and dive with whale sharks. Little kids will be supervised and allowed to come and snorkel. We also have a dive excursion to Apo Island and a tour to the Mountain Village School. Dauin is our main Kids Sea Camp event, and we have a lot going on there from SASY to Seal Team (in the ocean), Jr. Open Water courses, specialty courses, Whale Shark Aware, and even a Dive Master program. Families from all around the world attend, bringing kids ages 5 to 18. The younger kids’ programs here are heavily supervised with 1 instructor to every 2 kids in the water. The rooms offered are 1,2- or 3-bedroom villas with ocean and garden views at Pura Vida Homes. These are the luxury rooms in a private area we have chartered, featuring private pools, a swim-up bar, and beach access.
Some guests can also choose to stay at the sister property just next door, attached to Pura Vida Homes, called Pura Vida Resort. This resort offers lower-priced hotel rooms. Guests can stay longer, arrive earlier, or even visit Dauin Kids Sea Camp. There are lots of options. We can also arrange individual trips outside our Kids Sea Camp events year-round and create a custom family trip for you on other dates that better fit your schedule.
I hope this information helps you decide whether to travel with us to the Philippines this year.
Margo Peyton