Malapascua

Malapascua, a tiny island north of Cebu, is a world-renowned diving destination primarily famous for one thing: the elusive thresher shark. The sunken island of Monad Shoal is a unique cleaning station where these graceful predators reliably appear at sunrise, offering divers a rare and breathtaking encounter. Beyond the threshers, Malapascua boasts a diverse underwater landscape with 16 distinct dive sites, featuring everything from vibrant coral gardens and dramatic walls to fascinating muck diving. This unique combination makes it a bucket-list location for photographers and pelagic lovers alike.

Diving conditions are generally excellent, with water temperatures ranging from 25-30°C and visibility often exceeding 20 meters. Currents can vary from mild to strong, especially at sites like Monad Shoal and Gato Island, suiting a range of experience levels from novice to advanced. Divers should visit Malapascua not just for the guaranteed thresher shark sightings but also for the incredible biodiversity. The chance to see majestic sharks in the morning and hunt for pygmy seahorses in the afternoon, all from a laid-back tropical island, is an unparalleled diving experience.