Thresher sharks at "Monad Shoal" Malapascua Island, Philippines

December 31, 2014
Thresher shark dive at "Monad Shoal"
Malapascua Island in the Philippines
Monad Shoal is an underwater island on the edge of a 200m drop off, it is famous as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be seen everyday, Dive centers vary in their approach to the dive, some preferring to kneel waiting at the dive wall, near the 200m drop off (as below) and others offering a swimming dive. Sharks are seen regularly on both types. Leaving between 4:30 - 5:30am, this early morning dive and having the opportunity to admire their majestic, graceful movements is really one not to be missed. Malapascua is a tiny island, and at roughly 1km wide and 2.5km long it takes just two hours to walk around In November 2013 Typhoon Yolanda hit and the town of 3000 was almost fully destroyed, and many coral reefs were also devastated. However, the infrastructure has been restored, and the local and dive community seem to be back on their feet. Malapascua is located in the Philippines just off the north tip of Cebu Island.
Most people get to Malapascua via Cebu City. From Cebu, take a bus or car up to the port of Maya, then a boat over to Malapascua. The road ban be rough in places but it is getting better as the government slowly implements its improvement plans for northern Cebu.