The Big Shark Trip

Dauin – Moalboal – Malapascua – Bohol – Dauin

We call it the big shark trips and for good reasons. On this safari we go to the best places to see multiple species of sharks. Everything from Thresher sharks, white&black tip, bamboo shark, whale shark and if lucky hammer head in Apo island. This trip offers incredible variety of palegic animals as well small rare speceis.

Dauin

Negros Oriental, Dauin, with its black volcanic sand, is famous for muck diving. Depending on the season, different types and sizes of octopuses, sea horses, (baby) frogfish, a variety of ghost pipefish, and flamboyant cuttlefish can be found. This is where we start the trip in front of Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort

Moalboal

Located on the western side of Cebu island, a small land that sticks out of the mainland forming a island look a like formation. Here is the famous Sardine run! A very popular snorkeling place but scuba diving is a other world experience! Pescador island is only 20 minutes away, amazing coral and a cave. Giant frogfishes and critters can be found.

Malapascua

Are you ready to experience the Thresher sharks all by yourself? We will be arriving in the night time at Kimud shoal and with our yacht we can attach to the mooring lines so we will be the first to dive before others arrive, creating once in a lifetime experience with the sharks!

Situated in the Visayan Sea north of Cebu; Malapascua became known in the early 1990s as a dive destination. Prior to this, the island was known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach; it has also become known for its beautiful coral gardens, coral walls and excellent local dive spots, as well as further-out sites including Gato Island, Monad Shoal, and Kemod Shoal. Monad Shoal is an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can regularly be sighted.

The number-one dive site of Malapascua is now Kimud Shoal but before the Thresher sharks were in Monad shoal. Due to multiple Tiger Sharks arriving in around year 2022 the Threshers have moved. So we will have decent chance for Tigers in Monad, as well black & white tips and occacional big rays.

Gato island is one of our favorite with multiple shark species, most notably the bamboo sharks. This is also where black & white tips like to rest. The tiny island has a swimthrough and very vibrant soft coral scenery. Nudibranchs and rare critters are all over the place.

When we leave Malapascua area we make our final stop at the stunning white sand island of Kalangaman, steep hundreds of meeters drop off wall diving.

For more diving information on Malapascua, visit the Sea Explorers page.

Cabilao Island

Known among divers being one of the best of countless of islands around Bohol. With all types of dive sites, walls, slopes, sandy and grassy.

Our favorite sites are the Current Viewpoint: This plateau, approx. 25-30m in depth, is located in the north-western corner of the island, where there is current often. The sandy bottom is full of broccoli and some fan corals, and if you look closely enough, you will find the rare pygmy seahorse. It’s also a good dive for seeing whitetip sharks, schools of barracudas and jackfish. The bottom is home to ghostpipefish, many different nudibranchs and thorny seahorses.

For more diving information on Cabilao island, visit the Sea Explorers page.

Balicasag & Pamilican Island

Probably the most crowded dive site in the Philippines would be Balicasag island, traditional wooden dive boats arrive there around 9-10 am, we how ever arrive once again in the night time so we get to experience the island all to ourselves. This is where we get to see large schools of barracudas & tornadoes of Jack fish. Pamilican has one of the best drift dives on the trip with seafloor completely covered in soft corals.

Sumilon Island

Here we have the option of seeing the whale sharks of Oslob. Then we go to one of our favorite place to see big schools of fish! From baracudas, jacks and big pelagic fish swimming by. The island is a stunning place to stay with white sandy beach and clear water. Lots of sharks as well.

Route Map

Sample Itinerary

The following is a sample scenario of how the trip might be, this of course all depends on many factors like, weather, sea state, visibility, and what we have heard on the radio of what is to be seen.

We embark at Pura Vida beach & Dive Resort Divers Bar 2pm to M/Y Gypsy. Yacht will be in front of the resort. 4 pm after the briefing we start sunset cruise to Moalboal.

We wake up in Moalboal anchored and cruise early to Pescador island. We arrive early in the morning so we get the whole island to ourselves. Cathedral is our favorite spot and if good visibility we do second dive the slope. Dive 3 panagsama beach for sardine run. Dive 4 Kasai village bridge wall dive.

We then start a beautiful sunset cruise up Tanon Strait to northern Cebu.

Highlights: Frogfishes, soft corals, small critters, turtles & millions of sardines.

We arrive early as usual to have the dive sites to ourselves.

Gato Island, 2-3 dives here at one of our favorite dive sites in the Philippines. A small rock sticking out of the ocean with swim through tunnel, coral gardens and multiple shark species including bamboo sharks. 4thdive Malapascua island house reef or night dive. Popular: Mandarin Fish mating dusk dive.

Here we sometimes go on the beach for the sunset drinks.

Highlights: Bamboo sharks, Withie/black tip sharks, vibrant soft corals, pygmy seahorses, rare critters.

Shark Day! Again we cruise overnight and arrive at Kimud shoal to have the famouse Thresher sharks all to ourselves, this is a rare experience to have all to ourselves!

Kimud shoal 2-3 dives with Thresher sharks and then 1 dive Monad shoal for chance tiger sharks, 4th Tongo point or nightdive.

Highlights: Sharks all day, chance of big rays and school of fish in Monad shoald.

Early morning dive in Kimud shoal before the crowd arrives and then move to Kalanggaman island, a picture perfect postcard white sandbar island where a beach walk and photo oppertunity. The island has steep 100+ meeter vertical walls as well sandy slopes with black coral garden ranging in multiple colors.

We spend the whole day at Cabilao island. Incredible soft coral and fish life. All types of dive sites are located here. Walls, drift, slopes, each dive is different. Home to the green and yellow giant frogfishes!

One of the most busy dive site in the Philippines is Balicasag island. Today it’s strictly regulated with pre booked dives and permit to visit. Only 2 dives are allowed here. Thankfully we get to dive once again before the crowd. Spectacular coral scenery and massive schools of fish.

After the 2 dives we cruise to Pamilican island which probably has the best soft corals, completely covered bottom with them and here we can see large schools of fish as well.

Highlights: Tornado of fishes, schools of spadefish, countless of turtles.

On the 8th day we arrive in Sumilon island for a thrilling drift dives. Black and white tips are present around the island as well chance of big schools of fish. Normally 2 dives here before moving to Santander anchoring for slopy seagrass critter and turtle haven in crystal clear water.

Last diving day of the trip we go to Apo island, home to the best coral garden in Visayas. For decades Protected seascapes full of life. There are multiple dive sites and all of them are different from another, we also have the option for world class muck diving in Dauin.

Crew fare wells and assists you with luggages after big breakfast. Disembarkation at Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort 8 AM.