It all started with a great ocean view.

Gary Cases, a seasoned scuba instructor and a dive shop owner in Malapascua had been toying with the idea of setting up a marine sanctuary ever since he first set foot on island, seeing there was a lot of potential for marine conservation and eco-tourism in the area. He established a few local organizations, but support from the local community was underwhelming. He also started lobbying with local officials but the response to his effort is very slow.