Diving in Malapascua

Nestled at the northernmost tip of Cebu in the Visayas region of the Philippines, Malapascua Island is rapidly gaining fame as one of the world's premier dive destinations. Its claim to fame? The mesmerizing thresher sharks that grace the clear waters, offering divers a unique, thrilling experience. But the allure of Malapascua extends beyond its sharks. The island is a gateway to an underwater paradise, where divers can explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. Located within the Coral Triangle, these reefs are home to a colorful array of species, including the elusive mandarin fish, making every dive a visual feast. Diving around Malapascua offers a variety of experiences, catering to different styles and preferences. Monad Shoal, a submerged island, is particularly famous for early morning thresher shark encounters. Meanwhile, Gato Island provides a different thrill with its tunnel swim-throughs and sightings of white-tip reef sharks. Dive sites like Kemod Shoal add to the diversity, presenting breathtaking underwater landscapes that range from coral formations to sloping reefs and small walls. With its warm waters, rich biodiversity, and unique dive sites, Malapascua is a must-visit for diving enthusiasts seeking adventure and wonder in the heart of the Philippines.

Courses and Events

Advanced Open Water Certification with Thresher Sharks!

Advanced Open Water Certification with Thresher Sharks!

We are the #1 SSI Training Center in the Philippines for 2 years in a row! Malapascua has been rated the #2 dive location in the Philippines. If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water training towards them. The training consists of 2 days with 5 Advanced Open Water dives the cost is 15k and a Bonus Fun Dive for 1k extra. This also includes 2 free nights at our Guesthouse Villa Atlas in the dorm room with fan. Please contact us via WhatsApp +63 919 822 6330 or email atlasdiversinfo@gmail.com

April 30, 2026 +296 More
$261.51
₱15,999.00
Navigate Around Malapascua Island!

Navigate Around Malapascua Island!

In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

April 30, 2026 +296 More
$163.44
₱9,999.00
Start Diving with SSI Basic Diver

Start Diving with SSI Basic Diver

In the SSI Basic Diver program, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to try diving up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. It is a great way to explore the underwater world more fully as you try diving. The entire Basic Diver program can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Dive programs within 6 months, so you can take the next step in your dive adventure.

April 30, 2026 +296 More
$81.71
₱4,999.00
Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

April 30, 2026 +245 More
$277.87
₱17,000.00
Open Water Diver Course at Shark Island!

Open Water Diver Course at Shark Island!

We are the #1 SSI Training Center in the Philippines for 2 years in a row! Malapascua has been rated the #2 dive location in the Philippines. This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification. The training consists over 2 to 3 days and the cost is 17,999php and includes 2 free nights at our Guesthouse Villa Atlas in the dorm room with fan. Please contact us via WhatsApp +63 919 822 6330 or email atlasdiversinfo@gmail.com

April 30, 2026 +296 More
$294.20
₱17,999.00
Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

April 30, 2026 +245 More
$304.02
₱18,600.00
Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

April 30, 2026 +186 More
$302.39
₱18,500.00
Advanced Open Water Diver

Advanced Open Water Diver

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

April 30, 2026 +245 More
$245.16
₱14,999.00
Deep Diving to 40M with Sharks!

Deep Diving to 40M with Sharks!

We are the #1 SSI Training Center for 2 years in a row! The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and 3 open water dives for 10,499php You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education. Please contact us via WhatsApp +63 919 822 6330 or email atlasdiversinfo@gmail.com

April 30, 2026 +296 More
$179.78
₱10,999.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Malapascua

Malapascua diving offers a lot of variety. Wall dives with caves, reef and muck diving will keep everyone happy. Some can be dived as drifts and there are a couple of wreck dives to explore too.

There are lots of dive centres on the island to choose from, all of which offer dive courses. The island is a very popular place to learn to dive and an open water course will take you around three days, though to dive with the threshers at Monad Shoal, you will need to complete a deep adventure dive or advanced course. There are several luxury dive resorts too which offer dive and stay packages at the more expensive end of the market. There are several liveaboards which operate in the area, most of which encompass the Visayas region at large.

Top Wildlife Sigthings in Malapascua

Of course, the most famous animal encounter in Malapascua has to be thresher sharks. These timid sharks can be seen on a very early (normally around 6am) dive in Monad Shoal. The threshers come up from the deep water at first light to be cleaned by wrasse on this cleaning station. It is one of the only places in the world where they can be seen almost everyday, all year round.

Though cowed by the threshers, the reef life here is also stunning. Super rare mandarin fish can be seen at “The Lighthouse” - they can even be seen mating. The male and female perform a cute dance, touching noses and circling around one another before shooting towards the surface. Other well camouflaged life include: ghost pipefish, frogfish, pygmy seahorse, blue ringed octopus, nudibranch, Spanish dancers, cuttlefish and ribbon eels.

There is other pelagic life for those who prefer larger animal encounters. Turtles are a common sight at most dive sites, as are white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, devil rays and moray eels. Hammerhead sharks can be seen (sometimes even in schools) from December to May, as can manta rays.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
586 Sightings
J
43
F
84
M
103
A
64
M
21
J
16
J
12
A
44
S
43
O
43
N
61
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Alamy/imageBROKER
Thresher Shark

Thresher Shark
505 Sightings
J
59
F
18
M
49
A
90
M
62
J
30
J
21
A
19
S
26
O
24
N
50
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
272 Sightings
J
27
F
13
M
40
A
68
M
23
J
19
J
4
A
16
S
19
O
8
N
10
D
25
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
138 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
15
A
6
M
4
J
11
J
15
A
25
S
6
O
11
N
27
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
2.2k Sightings
J
216
F
322
M
326
A
253
M
130
J
92
J
75
A
126
S
152
O
136
N
215
D
200

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
1.5k Sightings
J
156
F
184
M
222
A
174
M
80
J
38
J
46
A
91
S
107
O
66
N
150
D
154

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch

Nudibranch
1.2k Sightings
J
131
F
159
M
206
A
169
M
68
J
20
J
9
A
51
S
77
O
64
N
107
D
136
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse
1k Sightings
J
112
F
163
M
169
A
168
M
82
J
32
J
20
A
41
S
48
O
44
N
81
D
78

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
859 Sightings
J
60
F
128
M
135
A
106
M
28
J
24
J
26
A
64
S
89
O
45
N
84
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp

Shrimp
691 Sightings
J
57
F
86
M
102
A
89
M
57
J
28
J
9
A
37
S
54
O
38
N
58
D
76
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
675 Sightings
J
48
F
134
M
120
A
66
M
19
J
16
J
19
A
33
S
72
O
63
N
50
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
639 Sightings
J
70
F
122
M
93
A
41
M
9
J
21
J
23
A
50
S
73
O
63
N
31
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab

Crab
633 Sightings
J
48
F
82
M
77
A
62
M
60
J
28
J
15
A
35
S
48
O
29
N
61
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach
Pipefish

Pipefish
428 Sightings
J
41
F
91
M
91
A
65
M
17
J
18
J
10
A
3
S
17
O
4
N
36
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
344 Sightings
J
37
F
57
M
55
A
35
M
5
J
4
J
15
A
41
S
40
O
23
N
12
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
330 Sightings
J
6
F
32
M
81
A
19
M
13
J
4
J
8
A
29
S
42
O
35
N
24
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

istock-atese
Frogfish

Frogfish
295 Sightings
J
22
F
60
M
34
A
45
M
9
J
13
J
10
A
13
S
30
O
11
N
23
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
261 Sightings
J
21
F
27
M
42
A
14
M
10
J
11
J
13
A
32
S
26
O
31
N
20
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish
256 Sightings
J
10
F
29
M
27
A
56
M
2
J
18
J
6
A
14
S
23
O
0
N
27
D
44

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
176 Sightings
J
15
F
12
M
40
A
6
M
7
J
5
J
10
A
21
S
36
O
16
N
2
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
144 Sightings
J
19
F
20
M
23
A
3
M
4
J
0
J
5
A
12
S
36
O
14
N
7
D
1
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
128 Sightings
J
10
F
6
M
20
A
39
M
6
J
1
J
1
A
11
S
4
O
0
N
15
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

iStock-atese
Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse
127 Sightings
J
16
F
3
M
5
A
1
M
29
J
14
J
14
A
18
S
2
O
10
N
3
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
117 Sightings
J
7
F
25
M
18
A
0
M
2
J
3
J
3
A
18
S
20
O
14
N
1
D
6
Alamy-WaterFrame
Spiny Seahorse

Spiny Seahorse
113 Sightings
J
3
F
11
M
45
A
15
M
8
J
1
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
7
N
3
D
16

The best Months to dive in Malapascua

Diving in Malapascua is good all year round, though there are different seasons to contend with. The driest time of the year is from February to May and this is also the best season for diving too. This is the season with the most tourists too so bear in mind that the island will be busier and some prices may be higher. This is the best season to see hammerhead sharks too.

Between June and November is generally known as a wet season, with more rainfall. There are occasionally typhoons in September and October but storms are usually short lived. The visibility is between 15m and 30m all year round except November-January. Plankton blooms reduce the visibility in the cooler water but this does increase the chance of seeing manta rays!

Dive Centers

Atlas Divers Philippines, Inc.

Atlas Divers Philippines, Inc.

Malapascua Island, Barrio Proper, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines
DiverGems Diving Center

DiverGems Diving Center

Malapascua Island, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines
DIVE NATION, DIVE NATION MALAPASCUA

DIVE NATION, DIVE NATION MALAPASCUA

Malapascua Island, Brgy Logon, 6013 Daan Bantayan, Cebu - Philippines
French Kiss Divers Malapascua, French Kiss Divers Philippines

French Kiss Divers Malapascua, French Kiss Divers Philippines

Malapascua Island, Legend, Bounty Beach,, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines

Malapascua Kairos Diver

Sitio Barrio, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu, Cebu - Philippines

MTD Dive Shop

Malapascua Island, Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines

Little Mermaid Dive Resort

Malapascua Island, 6013 Cebu, Cebu - Philippines

Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort, Kokay’s Diving Shop

Malapascua Island, Barrio North, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines

ZHANG RESORT AND DIVE CENTER OPC

Malapascua Island, Barangay Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines

FISH BUDDIES

BRGY. LOGON MALAPASCUA, 6013 CEBU CITY, Cebu - Philippines

MONTENOVA DIVE RESORT

Logon, 6013 Daanbantayan, Cebu - Philippines

Dive Sites

Atlas Divers-Philippines Inc., 6013 Daanbantayan
Pasil Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Pasil Reef (★4.5)

Pasil Reef is a nice sandy area suitable for muck diving. Also it is great site for night diving. Max depth is around 16M. The average depth is 5-8M.
Atlas Divers-Philippines Inc., 6013 Daanbantayan
Bool Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★3.9)</span>

Bool Reef (★3.9)

Nice coral and sea grass reef and a good spot for night diving. This site is for beginners and a good training location for open water students and advanced.
Atlas Divers-Philippines Inc., 6013 Daanbantayan
Secret Wall <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.1)</span>

Secret Wall (★4.1)

This is an advanced dive site that goes down to 28M. This wall dive has an average depth of 12M to 14M. This is a good dive muck divers and macro photography.
Atlas Divers-Philippines Inc., 6013 Daanbantayan
Mangrove <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Mangrove (★4.4)

Mangrove is a great dive site for open water training with an average depth of 8-10m and a maximum depth of 14m. There is a nice sandy area and a patch reef.
DIVERGEMS HOSTEL AND DIVE CENTER, 6013 Daanbantayan
Lapus-Lapus <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.1)</span>

Lapus-Lapus (★4.1)

The shallow part of the famous Lapus-lapus islet off the coast, of the tip of the north of malapascua island. It has the shallowest depth at 4-5m crawling down to the deeper side to 18-20m it is perfect for beginner and advanced divers looking to observe the marine life interaction in the reef.
Mares
Dakit Dakit Pinnacle <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Dakit Dakit Pinnacle (★4.4)

Dakit Dakit Pinnacle is about 5M deep at the top and then stands up to 12-14M and has the diameter of the top is 20M. Covered with nice hard and soft corals including table corals and big rocks with nice growth.
Mares
Dakit Dakit <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.2)</span>

Dakit Dakit (★4.2)

Small rocks are coming out of the water and make a stunning atmosphere especially during sunset. Strong currents can be found at this dive site, but during other times of the day it is a perfect dive site for check-up dives, open water and advanced divers.
Mares
Blue Coral Malapascua <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.2)</span>

Blue Coral Malapascua (★4.2)

Beginner dive site, ideal for training courses, located close to the marine sanctuary. Sandy bottom with seagrass beds adjacent. Usually calm and still waters, light current only if present.
Mares
Malapascua <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Malapascua (★4.5)

A beautiful house reef dive full of fish.
Mares
Exotic Dive Resort house reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Exotic Dive Resort house reef (★4.5)

Exotic’s protected area where the fish are plentiful, this Reef is not to be missed. Starting at 5 meters and gently sloping to 13, it’s a great place to work out the kinks after some time out of the water. Amongst the scattered coral and patches of sea grass, a wide variety of fish and macro life can be found.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Bakhaw <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.1)</span>

Bakhaw (★4.1)

10-15 minutes off from the port of Malapascua to the back of the island in the north east side, with its flat sandy, grassy bottom it is perfect for the open water divers practicing their buoyancy and expert divers looking for extremely small macro critters.
Aqualung
Lighthouse Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.1)</span>

Lighthouse Reef (★4.1)

A favorite night dive site in Malapascua found on the northern part of the island. The dive usually starts at dusk to enable divers to watch the Mandarin fish.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Japanese Shipwreck <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Japanese Shipwreck (★4.4)

Ideal Open Water Training Dive number one site, whereby your very first dive is also a wreck dive! Five to 12 meters depth range on a sandy bottom.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Bantigue <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.2)</span>

Bantigue (★4.2)

A lovely sandy bottom patches and soft coral reefs with a healthy reef fishes colonies with a depth from shore outwards to 10-13 meters perfect for the open water sessions and Try Scuba / Try Mermaiding / Try Freediving sessions with minimal boat traffic to interfere the practice sessions.
Mares
Lapus I <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.0)</span>

Lapus I (★4.0)

Lapus Shallow Dive site is an ideal dive training site. It is a sandy slope with some rock formations. Most of the time there is a light current except for slack hight tide.