Top Philippines Eco-resort Promotes Progressive Diving and a Sense of Community
In the latest instalment of our new blog series, Resorts Beneath the Surface, we interview one of the Partners from the sensational Evolution Resort in Malapascua.
David Joyce is a TDI Trimix Instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer and underwater photographer who has dived extensively across five continents. We pick his brains about Evolution’s eco and community initiatives and why it is regarded as one of the best diving resorts in the Philippines.
Evolution Resort has become one of the iconic spots on Malapascua Island. How did it all start?
It probably started about 60 metres below the surface on a tech dive in Dauin when I realised that I was not going to finish my dive holiday and go back to my career in Dublin. It was a trimix dive, so I can't blame narcosis! Matt was my instructor and by then a good friend. Our diving discussions eventually turned into the resort we have today.
Malapascua has become very popular among divers in recent years. What makes it stand out?
For me, it is because this island offers a modern take on tourism, with good food and rooms, while still being anchored in a very provincial, Filipino way of life. It's truly charming. Add in the fact that you can see a three-metre-long thresher shark in the morning and minuscule blue ring octopuses or pygmy seahorses in the afternoon and you have a winning combination.
What was the original ethos behind the resort, and has that changed over the years?
The original vision was to offer what we termed 'Progressive Diving', meaning that our diving skills and those of our students and customers should always be improving, adapting and evolving. Hence the name.
We realised very early on that the privilege of working in a tropical paradise came with great responsibilities. We could see how easy it would be to harm the environment, so we quickly incorporated a strong eco-tourism element into everything we do.
We believed then, and still do now, that the dive industry can do a better job at training divers to understand their impact on the marine environment. We do what we can to instil this awareness from Open Water qualifications right through to Divemaster and Trimix level training.
Evolution is well known for its strong environmental ethos. What are some of the initiatives you are involved with, and encourage?
We have two main pillars for our environmental efforts - protecting the resort and changing behaviour underwater.
We quickly learned that divers were negatively impacting the reefs around the island, especially in the areas best known for daily sightings of our famous thresher sharks. We started by teaching our Divemasters and guests not to kneel on the delicate corals, then helped introduce similar guidelines for all divers on the island.
We actively encourage diveshops to pay attention to things like crown-of-thorns starfish population control following Green Fins methodology. All of our guides carry bags to ensure #EveryDiveIsACleanUpDive and our guests soon realise they can help marine ecosystems by picking up rubbish any time they see it underwater.
We were also shocked by the plastic waste we were creating on land, so in 2011 we were the first resort to stop offering plastic straws. We stopped offering bottled water shortly after that and encouraged people to refill their own. We incorporate the mantra 'Reduce, Recycle, Reuse' in all our planning.
You also run the Evolution Kids’ Book Club. Can you share what this project is about, and how it helps local children?
This project came directly from our own experience of having children. We love reading for our kids, but it is easy to take books and stories for granted. Most island children only have access to school textbooks, so culturally books are rarely seen as a source of enjoyment and fun. This felt wrong.
We have gathered hundreds of books - from The Gruffalo to The Cat in the Hat - and brought them into local schools. We also gather reading groups on our beautiful beach and encourage guests to get involved in these sessions. If you do your Divemaster internship with Evolution, you will find yourself at the local school reading Giraffes Can't Dance before you know it.
Donated gifts serve as rewards and encouragement for the kids who get involved and this helps to motivate everyone. We're extremely grateful to guests and divers who bring books or donations for the program.
Evolution seems to do a lot to build community spirit. Tell us about the Craic House.
The Craic House is the world's least authentic Irish bar. Picture mahogany panelling, snugs and ‘aul fellas in flat caps and you are a million miles off. The Craic House is situated on the best part of Bounty Beach and in place of sticky floors and cosy corners you’ll find amazing white sand and expansive ocean views. Not quite like my old local in Dublin!
In the Irish language, 'craic' means a sense of fun and enjoyment, and we love a cheeky bit of wordplay. For almost 15 years, Craic House has fed and watered divers who come to relax and enjoy the island vibe. Divers love to socialise and share stories, so we aimed to create the ideal melting pot for them to come together.
What are your top tips for divers visiting Malapascua?
It is worth the effort! It takes a little time to reach us, but the rewards are huge. Don't rush your trip because you will want to stay longer once you arrive.
Be prepared to leave the world of big brands and high street chains behind and please remember to remove anything from the island that you bring onto it.
The diving here is so varied, so if you are an underwater photographer you had better pack your wide angle AND macro lenses, or if you're like me, get a decent clip for your underwater magnifying glass!
