Diving around Malapascua
Most of the divers come to Malapascua because of the thresher sharks which can be seen in Monad shoal all year around. Also giant manta rays and mobulas are often seen on this sunken island. Most of the divers coming are surprised at the great diversity on the dive sites around the Malapascua. The dive sites offer a great range of macro, wreck, cave and wall diving.
Thresher sharks in Monad shoal
Wreck diving on the Dona Marilyn
Cave diving in Gato
Wall diving in Calangaman
Muck diving
Diving schedule Sea Explorers Philippines
Maximum of 4 dives a day are possible
Early morning dive
Dive site: Monad Shoal
Departure time: 5 am
Back in Malapascua: 7.30 am
Single dive in the morning
Dive sites: Malapascua north side, house reef and chocolate island
Departure time: 9 am
Back in Malapascua: 11 am
Single dive in the afternoon
Dive sites: Malapascua north side, Monad shoal, Chocolate island and house reef
Departure time: 1:30 pm
Back in Malapascua: 3:30 pm
Day trips with 2 dives
Dive sites: Gato island, Calangaman island, Dona Marilyn wreck and Marias point
Departure time: 9 am
Back in Malapascua: 3-4 pm
Sunset dive
Dive site: Light house
Departure time: 5 pm
Back on Malapascua: 7 pm
Dive sites around Malapascua
Dive site : Monad Shoal
Distance : 9 km
Travel time : 25 min
Experience : Open Water with min. 30 dives or Advanced Diver
Visibility : 10-30m
Depth : 15-25m
Current : usually no current, can be strong by full moon
Description
The dive site which made Malapascua famous.
The only place in the world were you can see the Thresher shark getting cleaned in the early morning.
Marine Life
Pelagic Thresher shark, Common Thresher Shark, Manta Ray, mobulas, barracudas, snapper, lion fish
Dive site : Kimud Shoal
Distance : 16 km
Travel time : 45 min
Experience : Only Advanced diver with 30 logged dives
Visibility : 15-30m
Depth : max. 40m allowed
Current : usually no current
Description
Kimud shoal is a much smaller plato compared to Monad shoal but the chances to see the hammerhead sharks makes it easy to get up even earlier in the morning.
Sea Explorers departs at 4.45 am to make the 45 min. journey .
You dive into the blue water around 50 meters away from the wall and there you have a big chance to see the Hammerhead sharks.
Only from February to April we go there when the water is colder.
Marine Life
Hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks and mobulas
Dive site : Lapus Lapus
Distance : 2 km
Travel time : 10 min
Experience : Open Water
Visibility : 10-20m
Depth : 8-25m
Current : can be strong
Description
The nicest coral garden around Malapascua with a beautiful overhang.
Have a look in the diving article from a marine biologist who visited us in 2011. click here
Marine Life
Pygmy seahorse, frogfish, cardinal fish, nudibranche, lion fish, scorpion fish
Dive site : Deep Rock
Distance : 2.5 km
Travel time : 10 min
Experience : Open Water
Visibility : 10-25m
Depth : 16-26m
Current : can be strong
Description
A beautiful rock, 20 meter wide covered in soft and hard corals.
Marine Life
Pygmy Seahorse, frogfish, nudibranche, batfish, cuttle fish, zebra crab, dragonet, pipe fish, juvenille sweet lips,commensal shrimp, lion fish
Dive site : Bantigue
Distance : 2 km
Travel time : 10 min
Experience : Open water
Visibility : 10-20m
Depth : 5-15m
Current : usually no current
Description
Just a few minutes boat ride on the north side of Malapascua island is Bantigue.
This dive site is especially for macro fans. Mostly sandy bottom with single coral blocks.
Marine Life
Sea mouth, nudibranche, ghostpipe fish, flying gurnart, dragonet, lion fish, blackpitted snake eel, banded snake eel,
helmet crab, porcelain crab, devil fish, blue ring octopus
Dive site : Light House
Distance : 2 km
Travel time : 5 min
Experience : Open Water
Visibility : 10-30m
Depth : 8-10m
Current : no current
Description
The dive site were we give the guarantee to show you the mating mandarin fish or seahorses.
If the dive guide cannot show the dive will be free of charge.
Marine Life
Mandarin fish, Seahorse, Bobtail squid, big crabs, banded pipe fish, sometimes blue ring octopus, devil fish, common octopus, boxer shrimp
Dive site : Dona Marilyn
Distance : 23 km
Travel time : 70 min
Experience : Advanced Diver
Visibility : 10-20m
Depth : 18-33m
Current : Can be strong
Description
Wreck diving in Malapascua island can be quite an adventure.
The big passenger ferry sunk in a strong typhoon more than 20 years ago. The ship was on traveling between Manila and Cebu. The ferry is over 100 meters long and lies on its starboard side.
Marine Life
The port side is covered with blue and red soft corals. Stingray, scorpion fish, black corals, colemani shrimp, Adams urchin crab.
Dive site : Gato Island
Distance : 17 km
Travel time : 45 min.
Experience : Open Water
Visibility : 10-25m
Depth : 3-27m
Current : can be strong but usually no current
Description
One of the best dive sites in the Visaya Sea with a beautiful tunnel and many swim troughs.
Big rocks are covered with soft corals.
White tip reef sharks are almost certain to see during the dive.
Marine Life
Banded Sea snake, white tip reef shark, bamboo shark, nudibranche, Squid, pygmy seahorse, Spanish dancer, cuttle fish, big mouth mackerel, stone fish, spider crabs, frogfish.
Dive site : Calangaman Island
Distance : 27 km
Travel time : 80 min
Experience : Open Water
Visibility : 20-40m
Depth : 5-40m
Current : no current
Description
A beautiful island with a great wall dive with soft and hard corals.
Lunch is on the Island.
Marine Life
Long nose hawk fish, Sea mouth, nudibranche, frogfish, colorful reef fishes, lionfish, scorpion fish, orang-utan crab, spotted garden eal