The Philippines is, according to the local tourist authority’s tagline, “more fun” than any other destination in Asia. The country though is more diverse than most, and in recent times has been developing fast – not least in Cebu. Malapascua, just 2.5 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, is home now to 6,000, of which most are young kids, many of which relocated here once Dutchman Dik de Boer discovered that the surrounding waters are home to one of the blue planet’s most majestic of creatures, the thresher shark. De Boer soon set about building the first resort on the island, opening Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort in 1998. Now recognized as a National Geographic Dive Center it sparked a flurry of resorts, bars and domestic immigration, but is still far from the overdevelopment of other parts of Cebu.