Malapascua

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 Monad Shoal, a natural cleaning station for fish located 7.8 kilometres (4.8 mi) from the island . The shoal is a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long rock stump at the edge of a 200 metres (660 ft) drop and has a flat top at a depth of 20 to 24 metres (66 to 79 ft). The site is best known as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be seen regularly at and just before sunrise. They use the seamount as a cleaning station for bluestreak and moon cleaner wrasse to remove ectoparasites such as gnathiids from their skin and clean their gills and mouths. The shoal also attracts other pelagic fish such as devil rays and eagle rays. Manta rays and hammerheads are seasonal.

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

Ticao Island & Donsol

Ticao island is one of a kind place in the Philippines due to it’s unique cleaning station known as that manta bowl. What makes it stand out even further is it’s very common to have whale sharks there at the same time with Mantas due to the location. The bowl sits at about 20m in between Ticao pass, a highway for large Palegic animals. Donsol is also nearby which has the largest whale shark population in the Philippines and that’s why there’s high chance of seeing both at the same time. Ticao island is also known for incredible nudibranchs and small critters. On the island is a large marine protected sanctuary called Halea Nature park. White tip and black tip sharks are common there. The island also has one of a kind waterfall that drops into the ocean. So not only does the island offer incredible diving but from the boat a spectacular sight to see.

How to get there

From Cebu city we offer transfer to the Northern part of the island where you will be picked up at Maya port.

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 will leave at Maya port or Malapascua island around 1 pm and dive nearby sites.

Once on board, we will get the boat and mandatory briefing and equipment checks. We will have 1-2 dives before enjoying sunset.

We wake up for sunrise as we cruise to Monad shoal for the thresher sharks. Dive 3 and 4 we dive in Gato Island. In the evening or at night we cruise to Ticao Island.

We schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset dive, a night dive is possible depending on location

Dive day typically as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Light snacks followed by briefing & Dive 4

We explore the islands of Ticao. We start with Manta bowl every morning. Cruise around the island for awesome critters and sharks.

We schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset dive, a night dive is possible depending on location

Dive day typically as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Light snacks followed by briefing & Dive 4

We make our way to Donsol to see whale sharks.

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2

Depending on weather and time we will do third and fourth coastal dive in Donsol.

Enjoy a afternoon and a sunset cruise with our special M/Y Gypsy cocktail selection as we cruise to Malapascua

We arrive early for sunrise dive at Monad shoal for two dives. Dive 3-4 at Chocolate island.

We schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset dive, a night dive is possible depending on location

Dive day typically as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Light snacks followed by briefing & Dive 4

Sunrise dive at Monad with the Thresher sharks before heading back to the island and a breakfast.