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.
This
dive location
is featured in the following itineraries:
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Located on Malapascua Island, this small modern property on Bounty Beach is an ideal place to base yourself for a few days whilst you head out to Monad Shoal in search of thresher sharks.
Find Out More about Ocean Vida Beach & Dive Resort
With its own private beach and prime location on Malapascua, this small, friendly property provides all you need for a tropical island getaway in the Philippines, together with world-class diving at nearby Monad Shoal.
Find Out More about Tepanee Beach Resort
Our suggested liveaboard is shown below.
Please contact us for further recommendations.
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