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No dive trip to the Philippines is complete without a visit to the small island of Malapascua located ten kilometres north of Cebu Island.

Malapascua is one of the best shark diving locations in the Philippines. Sharks seen here include white-tip, black-tip, bamboo, nurse, cat and the magnificent thresher. Monad Shoal is known as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be closely observed on a daily basis. Other large pelagics seen on Monad include manta and mobula rays.

There's also an impressive array of critters found here. Look out for nudibranch, ghost pipefish, frogfish, crabs and more. Observe the colourful mandarin fish at Lighthouse during a dusk dive and head out to the marine reserve and sea snake sanctuary of Gato Island to get the best diving experience in this location at the heart of the Philippines. Plus ensure you make time to discover the Dona Marilyn wreck.

The variety of dive sites and biodiversity of marine life in such a small location is what attracts divers time and time again. It's a fantastic place for underwater photographers.

Journey to the island is a three to four hour drive from Cebu City. It's a sleepy and relaxed island, but has its lively moments during the holiday seasons.

View suggested itineraries

Key info

  • Ideal for viewing: pelagic thresher shark, mobula ray, mandarin fish, giant frogfish, banded sea krait

Dive trips

This dive location is featured in the following itineraries:

Discover the Visayas

This popular itinerary offers divers the chance of thresher shark encounters in Malapascua, a unique dive with a resident sardine baitball in Moalboal and plenty of time to discover the islands of the Visayas region. Find Out More about Discover the Visayas

  • Duration inc. flights: 13 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £2,445 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea

Island Hopping Dive Safari

Choose from five exceptional diving locations in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Enjoy stress free diving adventures as you island hop between them, exploring everything from macro life to pelagics. Find Out More about Island Hopping Dive Safari

  • Duration inc. flights: 18 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £2,995 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea

Visayas Liveaboard

These liveaboard trips operate throughout the year to the Visayas, one of the best diving locations in the Philippines. Highlights include outstanding macro life in Dauin and Malapascua's thresher sharks. Find Out More about Visayas Liveaboard

  • Duration inc. flights: 12 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £3,795 pp
  • Trip type: Liveaboard trip

Big Fish Tour

For those who like their marine life BIG! This exciting and comprehensive dive itinerary includes encounters with whale sharks, manta rays and thresher sharks in three locations across the Philippines. Find Out More about Big Fish Tour

  • Duration inc. flights: 14 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £2,845 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea

Malapascua Dive Adventure

Escape to an island hideaway brimming with delights on this trip to Malapascua, a tiny island with huge appeal for divers with its mix of diving experiences and thresher shark encounters. Find Out More about Malapascua Dive Adventure

  • Duration inc. flights: 11 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £1,995 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea

Sharks & Reefs

This two week itinerary is perfect for divers seeking thresher shark encounters in the clear blue waters at Monad Shoal, and the pristine reefs surrounding Panglao and Balicasag islands. Find Out More about Sharks & Reefs

  • Duration inc. flights: 17 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £2,145 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea
Suggested accommodation options are shown below. Please contact us for further recommendations.

Evolution Resort

This small resort, owned and operated by dive instructors, offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses and boat dives to local sites around Malapascua, encountering thresher sharks, wrecks, macro life and plenty of reefs. Find Out More about Evolution Resort

Our suggested liveaboard is shown below. Please contact us for further recommendations.

MY Sea Gypsy

MY Sea Gypsy is an elegant Bond-style vessel that delivers modern, sleek luxury to liveaboard diving in the Philippines. It’s a boutique vessel with massage services and accommodates just eight divers. Find Out More about MY Sea Gypsy