Malapascua is a small island off the northern tip of Cebu known almost entirely for one dive: Monad Shoal at first light. Pelagic thresher sharks visit a cleaning station at around thirty metres every morning, making this the only place in the world where threshers can be seen reliably on scuba. The dive is early (surface interval around 4:30am), deep, and disciplined — no flash photography, strict positioning behind reef structure. Typhoon season June–October brings rougher surface conditions; the drier window November–May is preferred.
What you'll see
Top species with their June status.
Pelagic Thresher Shark
Frogfish
Blue-Ringed Octopus
The year at a glance
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Monad Shoal
Dawn dive to 25–30m for pelagic thresher sharks at a cleaning station. The whole reason to come to Malapascua.
- 02
Gato Island
Cave swim-through with whitetip reef sharks and seahorses.
- 03
Kalanggaman
Spectacular drop-offs and sandbar; full-day boat trip.
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Cebu (CEB). Visa: Visa-free for many nationalities, up to 30 days.
Best months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec
Avoid
Jul, Aug, Sep