aCou Sa Tika e

Daanbantayan, Cebu

Map of Cebu showing the location of Daanbantayan

Daanbantayan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 73,254 people. The island of Malapascua is part of the jurisdiction of the municipality of Daanbantayan.

Every year, Daanbantayan celebrates the Kandaya Festival which is in honor of Datu Daya, the legendary founder of the town.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
* 2 Transportation
* 3 Barangays
* 4 External links

[edit] History

The name Daanbantayan was derived from two words: the word "Daan" (which means "old" in the Cebuano language, and the word "Bantayan" which refers to a place that served as a "look-out-station" for Moro raiders before the Spaniards obtained control. The original site of the town might have been located at an elevated vantage point near Punta which is situated near Tapilon. Some older maps and publications use both words independently from one another, as "Daan Bantayan".

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces occupied in the town of Daanbantayan, Cebu.

On 1945, the liberation by the Philippine Commonwealth troops entering in the town of Daanbantayan, Cebu with the Cebuano guerrilla units attacked from the Japanese forces in the Battle of Daanbantayan during World War II.

[edit] Transportation

Buses to Daanbantayan and Maya are available at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City. At the public market of Daanbantayan, it is possible to hire rickshaw|motorcycles (the local version of a taxi) for transportation to one of the local beach resorts.

[edit] Barangays

Daanbantayan is politically subdivided into 20 official "neighborhoods (called Barangays) -- as follows:

* Agujo
* Bagay
* Bakhawan
* Bateria
* Bitoon
* Calape
* Carnaza
* Dalingding
* Lanao
* Logon

* Malbago
* Malingin
* Maya
* Pajo
* Paypay
* Poblacion
* Talisay
* Tapilon
* Tinubdan
* Tominjao

Malapascua Diving with Thresher Shark Divers

Dive site descriptions

At Thresher Shark Divers we offer a mixture of single boat dives and two or three tank day trips. We dive in small groups supervised by experienced PADI divemasters and instructors. If you want to see something special, just ask. It is more than likely you can see it in Malapascua! We are a small outfit and we offer a more personalized service than you may find elsewhere. We can often go to the dive sites of your choice and we will go diving even if you are the only one on the boat. All our dive boats carry first aid kits, phones, and oxygen and our emphasis is on your safety and your fun. We offer Nitrox which is perfect for several of our dive sites.

On your first dive with us, if you wish you can dive with an experienced PADI instructor, so if it has been a while since you have been diving, you can be assured you will be safe. We also offer a free basic refresher and buoyancy clinic on your first dive with us. If you wish for something more comprehensive, you can request a full refresher.

Please remember to bring your certification card.

Our Dive Schedule

Our dive schedule is not fixed, but below is a typical example. As always if you have something special you want to do, we will do our best to make it happen.

5.30am / 7am - Thresher Dive Our first dive of the day is at 5.30am. One of the earliest dives you will find anywhere, it is well worth getting up this early. We provide plenty of coffee and tea, and you will get to see an amazing sunrise. On the dive you should get to see the rare sight of thresher sharks! You will be back in time for an early breakfast. If you wish to leave earlier or later we are very flexible. In January we often leave earlier to catch the hammerheads.

Day Dives During the day we have single dives at 10am and 2pm, or 2-3 tank day trips, depending on the dive site. See our list of dive sites for more information.

5pm - Thresher Shark Divers Famous Randy Mandy Dive! This dive is not to be missed. Dusk is the time when all the action takes place on the reef. Daytime animals mix with night-time animals, and all hell breaks loose! Feeding and mating happen everywhere. This is particularly so with our mandarin fish. Mandarin fish are quite rare and very skittish, but in Malapascua you are almost guaranteed a sighting at this time of day. You will often see their unique mating dance, particularly around full moon. The male (who is larger) takes his time choosing, as he dances with the females one by one, spiraling up towards the surface. When he finally decides on his mate, they shimmy together above the corals, explode in a puff of gametes, and dart off separately into the corals. A unique experience, not to be missed. What a photography opportunity! As day turns to night and the mandarin fish return to their hiding places, the creatures of the night come out. Octopus, squid, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. And always there are many seahorses. Many of our divers have told us this is the best night dive they have ever done.

What can you see in Malapascua?

Some of the creatures we are best known for are: Thresher sharks, manta rays, devil rays, whitetip sharks, pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, smashing mantis shrimp, pipefish, mandarin fish. For a more complete list of marine life click here.

Manta Madness Month

September is Manta Madness month at Thresher Shark Divers. It is the best month to see manta rays and we usually see them on a daily basis*. They come to the same cleaning stations as the thresher sharks at Monad Shoal. They usually come one at a time to be cleaned of parasites by the cleaning wrasse, and will circle around and around above, sometimes as close as 1m!

We offer special manta spotting packages for Manta Madness month. Contact us for details. Mantas can be seen year round.

You can be Captain Kirk! Go where no man has gone before!

Malapascua is a relatively undived area, and there are many undiscovered dive sites just waiting to be found. We love to go out and find new places, so if you are interested in some adventure, let us know and we can go out searching! Who knows, you may even get a new dive site named after you!