The more famous dive sites in the island of Cebu are located in the southern town of Moalboal. But, northern Cebu also has its share of dive sites that have gradually gained the attention of novice and experienced divers around the world. Daanbantayan, in particular, has a number of places that can be considered as a diver’s haven. One of the dive sites under the supervision of the local government of Daanbantayan is Gato Island.
Gato Island – image source: en.wikipedia.org
Gato Island
Gato Island is a rocky island situated in the Visayan Sea close to the coast of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu. It was once under the administrative supervision of the province of Masbate, but this changed in 1997 when the Municipality of Daanbantayan passed a resolution declaring the island a fish and sea snake sanctuary. This was actually practical since the island is close to the coast of Daanbantayan.
Gato Island is a rocky island situated in the Visayan Sea close to the coast of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu. It was once under the administrative supervision of the province of Masbate, but this changed in 1997 when the Municipality of Daanbantayan passed a resolution declaring the island a fish and sea snake sanctuary. This was actually practical since the island is close to the coast of Daanbantayan.
Gato Island – image source: sunstar.com.ph
Gato Island is also known as Isla de Gato or Cat Island. The name of the island came to be since it looked like a sleeping cat when it is viewed from the direction of mainland Cebu. When the island came under the administrative supervision of Daanbantayan, the Daanbantayan campus of the Cebu State College of Science and Technology - College of Fisheries was given the task of monitoring the island and developing it as well.
Gato Island – image source: tripavdisor.com.ph
Things to See at Gato Island
The island has a number of dive sites, including the Cave, Cathedral Rock, and the Tunnel, among others. While outrigger boats can enter the cave, it may not be easy to do so when the tide is high. But, the boats can dock outside or close to the mouth of the cave so divers can explore the area. Since the island was declared as a sea snake sanctuary, it is home to a number of venomous sea snakes, particularly the yellow-lipped sea krait, which is locally known as the balingkasaw.
The island has a number of dive sites, including the Cave, Cathedral Rock, and the Tunnel, among others. While outrigger boats can enter the cave, it may not be easy to do so when the tide is high. But, the boats can dock outside or close to the mouth of the cave so divers can explore the area. Since the island was declared as a sea snake sanctuary, it is home to a number of venomous sea snakes, particularly the yellow-lipped sea krait, which is locally known as the balingkasaw.
Gato Island – image source: youtube.com
In addition, visitors to the island can also look forward to seeing white-tip reef sharks that may be resting inside a cave in the island. Being a marine sanctuary, you can also expect to see a diverse marine life in the waters around the island. Some of the marine life found in the waters surrounding Gato Island includes the cuttlefish, puffer fish, mantis shrimp, and scorpion fish, among others.
Gato Island – image source: tripadvisor.com.ph
Getting to Gato Island
Your journey to Gato Island starts at the Cebu North Bus Terminal where you have to hop on a bus headed for the Maya Port. From the Maya Port, you can ride on a boat to Malapascua Island where you get on an outrigger boat to go to Gato Island.
Your journey to Gato Island starts at the Cebu North Bus Terminal where you have to hop on a bus headed for the Maya Port. From the Maya Port, you can ride on a boat to Malapascua Island where you get on an outrigger boat to go to Gato Island.
Gato Island – image source: tripadvisor.com.ph
While some people consider Gato Island as a mere islet, everyone agrees that the place is paradise for any diver. The treasures underneath the waters around Gato Island give divers something to look forward to when they visit the place. It is also one place where novice and experienced divers can have the time of their lives exploring the world under the sea.
Gato Island – image source: tripadvisor.com.ph
Have you visited Gato Island already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.
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