We are the #1 SSI Dive Center in the Philippines for training students for 2 years in a row. We train from Try SCUBA all the way to the Instructor Level. Not only do we think we have the best instructors, but we also have world class diving locations that combined together make an amazing place to get certified or upgrade your SCUBA training.
Malapascua is the #2 dive destination in the Philippines! It’s one of the few places in the world you can see pelagic thresher sharks. The Holy Trinity of the dive sites here include: Monad Shoal, Kimud Shoal and Gato Island. Monad shoal is what made Malapascua famous for the pelagic thresher sharks. The sharks would visit everyday in the morning for the cleaning station that Monad Shoal offers. This shoal is a cleaning station for many pelagic species such as the tiger shark, gray reef shark, whale shark, whitetip reef sharks, as well as manta and devil rays and of course the thresher sharks! Plus there are plenty of macro opportunities which includes countless nudibranchs. Recently the thresher sharks have moved from Monad Shoal to Kimud Shoal possibly because of divers with poor buoyancy control, this is why advanced buoyancy skills are needed to visit both Monad and Kimud Shoals.
One thing that distinguishes Kimud from Monad in particular, is the increased population of the thresher sharks. It’s 100% that you will see the thresher sharks, but there is no guarantee! Also Kimud Shoal is a full garden of hard corals, soft corals, and sponges, with plenty of reef creatures, crowns the plateau of Kimud shoal. This is a great spot to look for moray eels and frogfish. Along the sloping or vertical sides of the shoal, soft corals of many colors abound, housing a great variety of nudibranchs and shrimps for macro-lovers. Huge sea fans also decorate the drop-offs, which have dramatic overhangs on the east side of the shoal. During your surface intervals look out for the thresher sharks breaching completely out of the water! Also keep your eyes open for spinner and bottlenose dolphins to and from Monad and Kimud shoals!
Another can’t miss dive site is Gato Island. Gato Island is a protected marine sanctuary and it is a perfect place to see both macro and big fishes. This dive spot is particularly famous for the sea snakes, whitetip sharks, and bamboo sharks and coral cat sharks resting under the rocks. It is also known for its tunnel dive where whitetip and blacktip reef sharks await the divers at the exit of the tunnel.
On the colorful soft coral gardens, you can also see frogfishes, pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs. Away from the Reef are also good to spot schools of squids and sometimes big-mouthed mackerel attracted by bait balls. The underwater rock formation of the island is impressive with its overhangs and swim-throughs that let you enjoy beautiful light games. This dive spot is without a doubt one of the pearls of Malapascua.
Gato Island was subdivided into five dive sites namely: the Cathedral, Guardhouse, Nudibranch City, The Cave, and Whitetip Alley.
Atlas Divers Malapascua offers SCUBA diving courses from Try SCUBA Diving to the Instructor Level.
