Malapascua is a small island in the central Visayas, located north of Cebu Island, measuring no more than 148 hectares and populated by only 5000 inhabitants. Due to its geographical location and surrounding reefs, it has become a popular destination for divers from all over the world. The main attraction is the presence of thresher sharks, just an hour's boat ride from the island. Initially found at Monad spot, which is also a cleaning station for manta rays, they have migrated to the Kimud reef without a clear explanation. These sharks usually inhabit depths of over 300 meters but take advantage of the reef to come early in the morning for "cleaning" by the numerous fish that inhabit it.
Apart from diving, Malapascua is a serene fishing island, surrounded by white sandy beaches, where cars do not exist, and people usually travel on foot, by bicycle, or by motorcycle. The atmosphere is peaceful, and visitors can laze on the beaches between dives or indulge in snorkeling around the island. It is evident from the concentration of dive centers per square meter that tourism revolves around this activity.
Diving with Thresher Sharks:
One peculiar feature of the thresher shark is the size of its tail! It can be as long as the entire body of the mammal. This majestic creature moves slowly, gently waving its tail, making it a magical species to observe.
The only way to see these sharks is through scuba diving. Their presence at depths ranging from 15 to 30 meters at the Kimod site requires at least an Open Water diving certification. The Advanced Open Water or Deep Diver specializations are advantageous but not mandatory to observe thresher sharks at the Kimod site. However, these were required at the Monad site, which is currently not frequented by thresher sharks, and hardly any diving clubs visit there anymore.
For Advanced or Deep Diver level divers, the site consists of beautiful drop-offs, reaching about 40 meters deep, where you can see the thresher sharks ascending or descending towards the reef. Outside of the Kimod site, Malapascua might not compete with other diving spots in the Philippines. However, observing the coming and going of these curious creatures, sometimes coming as close as 3 meters from us, is a fascinating experience. Don't worry; thresher sharks feed exclusively on small fish and are generally harmless to humans.
Details
Level | Open Water.
Depth | Between 12 and 18 meters
Organization | 2 dives in the morning with a departure at 6:00 AM. Centers offering 3 dives start their first dive at Monad and the next 2 at Kimud.
Price | Between 70 and 85€ for 2 or 3 dives. With coffee and snacks.
Other Dive Sites in Malapascua:
Outside the Kimod site, Malapascua might not compete with other diving spots in the Philippines. However, Gato Island is worth a visit. Apart from the "postcard" aspect of this island in the middle of the ocean, the spot is known for its underwater cave and white-tip sharks living there. The island is surrounded by beautiful corals, and macro life is particularly abundant (nudibranchs, seahorses, harlequin shrimp, etc.).
Details
Level | Open Water.
Depth | Entre 10 et 18 mètres
Organization | 2 dives in the morning, departure at 9:00 AM, return around 2:00 PM.
Price | Around 70 euros for 2 dives. As always, snacks and coffee are included.
The island remains a particularly suitable place for first-time divers or for those wishing to achieve their first diving level. It's surrounded by magnificent soft coral parks, particularly inspiring for your first underwater experience.
Diving Centers in Malapascua:
We won't hide it from you, the presence of thresher sharks in Malapascua has made it a popular diving destination, and you can see it in the range of diving centers available. There's something for everyone: PADI-certified centers, SSI, and many others...
The prices remain relatively low, making it one of the most affordable destinations for diving with thresher sharks. For example, the least expensive centers charge around 70 euros (4200 Philippine pesos) for 3 dives, and PADI-certified centers charge around 75 euros (4500 pesos) for 2 dives.
We won't provide a detailed list of all the diving centers in this article, as the selection is extensive. However, we can recommend Ocean Passion, the only French-speaking center on the island (but able to speak Spanish and English too) after the closure of Frenchkiss Diving, if you want to pursue certifications without language barriers.
Note that, like everywhere in the Philippines, municipalities have found a way to impose an additional fee on tourists eager to dive in Malapascua. Therefore, you will need to pay a tax of 300 pesos per day of diving, and 400 pesos for the Kimud site. Some centers include this tax in their diving prices, while others may charge it separately, so be sure to inquire beforehand.
Regarding the prices for PADI certifications, we would like to share our experience, as we obtained both the Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications during our stay on the island, and everything went smoothly.
Details
Level | Open Water.
Organization | A half-day in the pool, followed by 5 dives in the sea, spread over 3 days. There is an option to complete the E-Learning beforehand on the internet to save time.
Price | Starting from 18,500 pesos.
Détails
Level | Advance Open Water.
Depth | Between 18 and 30 meters.
Organization | 5 dives in total, to be completed over 2 days, including a Deep Dive and an Underwater Navigation Dive. The other 3 dives are based on your choice of specialization.
Price | Starting from 15,200 pesos.
How do I get to and from Malapascua?
The nearest airport is Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Direct flights are available from Manila and numerous cities in Asia.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will have two options:
The quickest but most expensive option is to take a private van directly to Maya Port. Expect a journey of approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a minimum cost of 4,500 pesos per vehicle (prices may vary).
For budget travelers, the more affordable choice is to head to the northern terminal of Cebu City and take a bus or van to Maya Port. For the bus, the fare is around 300 pesos per person for a 4-hour journey. For the van, slightly faster at 3 hours and 30 minutes, the cost is approximately 350 pesos per person. Please note that there is usually no designated space for luggage in these vans, which might require you to pay for an additional seat for your bags.
Upon arriving at Port Maya, you will need to pay an environmental fee of around 150 pesos and then pay approximately 200 pesos for the boat ride to Malapascua Island. Boat transfers operate between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, departing every half an hour officially. However, in practice, the departure often depends on the boat being filled to capacity or passengers paying for vacant seats. It's not uncommon to experience longer waiting times, especially during the return trip if too few passengers are leaving the island, and you might be asked to pay extra in such cases.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When departing the island, be prepared to wait for the van to be full at the parking lot of Port Maya, which can sometimes take several hours.
Where to stay in Malapascua?
Numerous dive centers have their own resorts on the island, and some even offer discounts for divers who stay with their associated centers. In any case, it's a good idea to check prices online as they are often cheaper.
We can recommend three accommodations based on your budget:
Malascpascua Budget Inn, Dorm beds starting from 11 euros, double rooms from 32€.
Siams garden, Double rooms starting from 25€ (1520 pesos), with AC-equipped rooms, costing around 42€ (2520 pesos).
Teepanee Beach resort, Double rooms starting from 65€ (4000 pesos).
The Best Time to Visit Malapascua?
While there isn't a specific season to see the thresher sharks in Malapascua, as they are present all year round, we highly recommend visiting during the dry season. According to our experience, the best period extends from early February to late June. The rainy season falls between July and September, followed by the wet season until January. During the wet season, as the name suggests, rain is common. You might find yourself either in an umbrella or in swimwear, depending on your luck.
Personally, the few days spent in Malapascua left an indelible memory of our trip to the Philippines. It all started with our encounter with those thresher sharks, but it was also the unique atmosphere that reigns over the island that captivated us. You've probably guessed it; it was a real favorite for us. So, if you're as eager for underwater exploration as we are, we highly recommend including Malapascua in your itinerary during your stay in the Philippines.
And as always, if you're interested in diving but still have questions, don't hesitate to write to us in the comments or email us at helloversantsud@gmail.com. We'd be more than happy to help you out! :)