Magic Island Dive Resort

This has been the best dive resort we have been to. It was small and quaint. The dives were amazing. Food was really good. The staff was overwhelmingly friendly and accommodating. We felt right at home. We didn’t want to leave but we went to the sister resort magic oceans for our next dives.

Our stay at Magic Island Resort was superb. We were so well looked after by the friendly staff and the attention to detail was incredible. The food was delicious. We felt like part of the family. Nothing was too hard. The facilities were exquisite the diving amazing and the ocean views perfect. We can't wait to return again.

Band of Bubbles 2024 Philippines Dive Trip! This was the most SPLENDID vacation we've ever had! The Magic Resorts pair of Magic Island and Magic Oceans is just astonishingly great! The trip is long and grueling from the US, but it's worth every moment spent getting there! We spent one week at Magic Island and then transferred to Magic Oceans on Bohol. All of the transfers went without a hitch. What an AWESOME job they did at orchestrating all of that. Once we settled into Magic Island we had the most amazing week ever! The diving was awe-inspiring and the staff made our group feel like family. The pure joy and happiness was 24/7 during our stay. Not only was the diving incredible, but the food was seemingly endless and delicious! You won't go hungry here!!

We were at this same resort 10 years ago. Many majority of the staff are still there and make this resort a truly special place. Wonderful service and the staff is just great to interact with. The accommodations are soon to undergo a face-lift: 4 cabins being rebuilt and all getting bigger bathrooms with more counter space. We saw what the new bathrooms will look like come September 2024 and that will make these accommodations even better. Food was wonderful and you can pick from what's on the board for lunch and dinner, served family style, or order off the extensive menu is you choose. The grounds are lovely and the intimate nature of the resort (only 10 cabins) makes it and you feel special. The diving is good but still recovering from the typhoon of December 2021. You can see new life growing and there is still lots of beautiful soft coral. Lots of critters and the sardine experience is unique. All in all, the staff and the grounds make the resort excellent and the diving will continue to improve as growth happens.

Having stayed at Magic Oceans we had expectations for the sister resort. On arrival we were told " you just came from Magic Oceans so everything here is just the same". But it wasn't. Sometimes the water bottles were refilled, but not always and housekeeping never replenished the coffee packets in the cabin. We were expected to put our dive gear together (not really a problem) but also dismantle and clean everything at the end if the day's diving. Unusual, actually. The boats are cramped with no toilet and no room to move during the surface interval. 3+ hours can be a long haul without a toilet. Off loading the dive equipment from the boat consists of inflating the BC and tossing it overboard. Might be why we lost a weight pocket. There is a lovely cabana for massage (just make sure the curtains are closed before stripping down as it's right in front of the bar. Most disconcerting were the pedicures done in the bar! Snipping toenails next to people enjoying a cocktail is frankly rather gross. It's fair to say that we were disappointed. Here's hoping it was an "off week" and this is not the norm.

Magic Island in Moalboal is a wonderful experience. It just takes a long time to get there! Be prepared for a lengthy transfer from the airport in Cebu City. That notwithstanding, the rewards of great service and excellent diving adventures are abundant. The cabins are clean and comfy. The dive team is helpful and supportive. Cheers!