Malapascua
Philippines · Visayas
A small island off the northern tip of Cebu, Malapascua is built around one thing: pre dawn dives at Monad Shoal, the most reliable thresher shark encounter in the world. Beyond threshers, the surrounding reefs offer macro, manta cleaning stations, and a relaxed island base.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Monad Shoal thresher dives don't depend on coral. Surrounding reefs have thinned but the marquee dive is unaffected.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Quiet water, and the protection is actively patrolled.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
11 species across the dive sites here
Cuttlefish
Seen 8 days ago
at Gato Island
Moon wrasse (cleaner)
Seen 8 days ago
at Monad Shoal
Least concern
Pelagic thresher shark
Seen 9 days ago
at Monad Shoal
Endangered
Whitetip reef shark
Seen 9 days ago
at Monad Shoal
Vulnerable
Mandarinfish
Seen 10 days ago
at Gato Island
Least concern
Painted frogfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Gato Island
Least concern
Yellow-lipped sea krait
Seen 1 month ago
at Gato Island
Least concern
Pygmy seahorse
Seen 2 months ago
at Monad Shoal
Least concern
Blue-ringed octopus
Seen 5 months ago
at Gato Island
Least concern
Devil ray
Seasonal visitor
at Monad Shoal
Critically endangered
Reef manta ray
Seasonal visitor
at Monad Shoal
Vulnerable
Dive sites
What divers say
I set an alarm for 4:30am for a week and never once regretted it. The threshers showed up every single day.
Good to know
Early starts
Dives leave around 5am. Plan your sleep accordingly.