EXPEDITIONS/MALAPASCUA, CEBU — PHILIPPINES
Malapascua
Thresher sharks at dawn. Tiger sharks on the shoal. Mandarin fish at dusk. A small island with an outsized reputation.
Duration
6D5N / 5D4N
Dives
12 / 10 dives
Peak Season
Mar–Jun
Signature Sharks
Thresher & Tiger
Thresher shark, frogfish, reef and swim-through photography: Pagan Chee. Room and grounds photography, and mandarin fish courtship pair: our island partners on Malapascua.
Overview
Malapascua is a small coral island off the northern tip of Cebu — barely 2.5km long, but home to one of the most famous shark encounters in diving. This is the place divers come specifically for a single, precise reason: a near-guaranteed early-morning date with wild thresher sharks, and it delivers, dive after dive.
Base yourself on the island and the rest of the week fills in around that headline encounter — drift dives over healthy reef, muck sites thick with critters, a marine sanctuary at Gato Island, and Malapascua's own signature closer: a sunset dive spent watching Mandarin Fish perform their courtship display as they emerge from the coral rubble at dusk.
Kemud & Monad Shoal
Two shoals, two signature sharks. Kemud draws divers for reliable thresher shark sightings in the early morning. Monad now hosts a tiger shark believed to be 5–6m long.
Gato Island
A protected marine sanctuary with a unique underwater cave system, sleeping white-tip reef sharks, sea snakes and a diverse reef — good for both beginner and experienced divers.
Sunset at Lighthouse
Malapascua's magical closer — witness the rare courtship and mating ritual of the colourful Mandarin Fish as they emerge from coral rubble at dusk.
Accommodation & Pricing
3 Room Types Available
Starting from RM 3,250 / pax — select a duration below to see full pricing per room.
7 Available
Superior
16sqm · 1 double bed / 2 single beds · 7 rooms available
Breakfast included
Air conditioning
32" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
Telephone
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold showers
Toiletries & hairdryer
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Private veranda, restaurant view
Twin, divingRM 4,000
Single, divingRM 5,800
Twin, holidayRM 2,300
Single, holidayRM 3,865
Twin, divingRM 3,250
Single, divingRM 4,450
Twin, holidayRM 1,950
Single, holidayRM 3,090
1 Available
Premier
30sqm · 2 double beds · 1 room available
Breakfast included
Air conditioning
40" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
Telephone
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Toiletries & hairdryer
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Private veranda, garden view
Twin, divingRM 4,200
Single, divingRM 6,090
Twin, holidayRM 2,500
Single, holidayRM 4,155
Twin, divingRM 3,450
Single, divingRM 4,750
Twin, holidayRM 2,150
Single, holidayRM 3,330
1 Available
Deluxe
20sqm · double bed / 2 single beds · 1 room available
Breakfast included
Air conditioning
40" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
Telephone
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Toiletries & hairdryer
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Private veranda, garden view
Twin, divingRM 4,100
Single, divingRM 5,945
Twin, holidayRM 2,400
Single, holidayRM 4,010
Twin, divingRM 3,350
Single, divingRM 4,600
Twin, holidayRM 2,050
Single, holidayRM 3,210
Only Superior, Premier and Deluxe rooms remain available for this departure. "Holiday" is the non-diving rate — accommodation, meals and transfers only, no dive package included. Exact 5D4N calendar dates to be confirmed.
What's Included
Included
- 4/5 nights air-con, en-suite bathroom accommodation
- Full board meals — breakfast, lunch & dinner
- 10/12 dives (bring your own equipment)
- Round-trip transfer (5 pax per van)
- Porter fee (2 luggage per pax)
- Maya Port & Environmental Fee
- 1x complimentary merchandise
Not Included
- International flights
- Government tax, Gato/Kemud/Monad fuel surcharges, Kemud Marine & Conservation Fee (approx. PHP 3,000/pax for 6D5N)
- Travel & dive insurance (strongly recommended)
- Dive equipment rental, nitrox, additional dives & night dives
- Crew gratuities (suggested minimum RM 50/day per pax, cash only)
- Food & beverages outside of package
- Personal expenses
Optional
Additional Fees Payable to Resort Directly
Equipment Rental (per dive)
Full equipment setPHP 400
Regulator & BCD combinedPHP 300
15L tankPHP 150
Nitrox (per tank, per dive)PHP 420 / dive
Night dive surchargePHP 300 / dive
Tax / Shoal / Marine / Environment Fee
Government taxPHP 300 / diving day
Kemud Shoal feePHP 300 / day
Kemud Shoal / Gato Island fuel chargePHP 550 / trip
Monad–Kemud Shoal conservation feePHP 100 / trip
Kalanggaman Island entrance feePHP 1,000 / visit
Kalanggaman Island fuel chargePHP 1,600 / trip
Charges based on actual diving days and location. Based on the proposed itinerary, estimated on-site charges are PHP 2,700 per pax (excl. equipment rental, nitrox & night dives).
Trip Itinerary
6D5N or 5D4N
01
Fri 2 Apr — Arrival
Check-in, followed by a check-out dive to confirm buoyancy and gear before the trip's dive schedule begins.
02
Sat 3 Apr — Local Reefs & Sunset Dive
3 local dives, including a sunset dive to watch the Mandarin Fish courtship display.
03
Sun 4 Apr — Kemud & Monad Shoal
3 dives at Kemud/Monad Shoal, in search of thresher sharks.
04
Mon 5 Apr — Gato Island
3 dives at Gato Island's marine sanctuary and cave system.
05
Tue 6 Apr — Local Reefs
2 local dives.
06
Wed 7 Apr — Departure
Check-out and depart.
All dives depend on weather conditions, and dive locations may change due to unforeseeable matters. Unused dives are not refundable nor exchangeable.
01
Day 1 — Arrival
Check-in, followed by a check-out dive to confirm buoyancy and gear before the trip's dive schedule begins.
02
Day 2 — Local Reefs & Sunset Dive
3 local dives, including a sunset dive to watch the Mandarin Fish courtship display.
03
Day 3 — Kemud & Monad Shoal
3 dives at Kemud/Monad Shoal, in search of thresher sharks.
04
Day 4 — Gato Island
3 dives at Gato Island's marine sanctuary and cave system.
05
Day 5 — Departure
Check-out and depart.
Exact calendar dates for the 5D4N option to be confirmed. All dives depend on weather conditions, and dive locations may change due to unforeseeable matters. Unused dives are not refundable nor exchangeable.
Dive Sites
Malapascua Dive Sites
Beyond the headline shoals, Malapascua's reefs and muck sites offer a strong week of diving on their own — most within 20 minutes of the island.
Dive site locations approximate.
Lapus Lapus
Gilano
House Reef
Kimud Shoal
Monad Shoal
Gato Island — The Cave
Gato Island — The Wall
Deep Slope
Ka Osting
Getting There
Recommended Flight Plan
Malapascua rewards a little patience getting there — and punishes a rushed arrival. Fly in a day early, on 1 April, and spend the night near Cebu airport before making the crossing fresh the next morning. It turns a long transfer day into an easy, unhurried start to the trip.
Please do not book a flight arriving on 2 April itself. The jetty to Malapascua closes sharply at 5:00pm, no exceptions — and between the road transfer from Cebu airport (3h 30m) and the ferry crossing (35m), a same-day arrival leaves no safe margin. Flying in on 1 April and staying overnight near the airport is the only way to guarantee a smooth, on-time arrival at the resort.
Suggested outbound: Thu 1 Apr 2027 — KUL 09:25 → CEB 13:30 (4h 05m, Malaysia Airlines MH4695, Boeing 737-800, operated by Firefly). Overnight near Cebu airport, then transfer to Malapascua on the morning of 2 April.
Suggested return: Wed 7 Apr 2027 — CEB 14:30 → KUL 18:10 (3h 40m, Malaysia Airlines MH4696, operated by Firefly).
Car/van transfer between 5:00pm and 5:00am is classified as night-time travel — an additional PHP 1,500/car/van applies. Boat transfer is strictly not allowed between 5:00pm and 5:00am.
| Route | Travel Time |
|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur to Cebu (direct) | 4h 05m |
| Singapore to Cebu (direct) | 3h 45m |
| Cebu Airport to New Maya Port | 3h 30m |
| New Maya Port to Malapascua Island | 35m |
Flights are self-booked and not included in the package price. The 1-night pre-stay near Cebu airport on 1 April is also self-arranged and not included — happy to share hotel suggestions on request.
Dive Season
Malapascua, Cebu — Dive Season
Jan
~
Feb
~
Mar
✦
Apr
✦
May
✦
Jun
✦
Jul
✕
Aug
✕
Sep
✕
Oct
✕
Nov
~
Dec
~
✦Peak season
~Shoulder season, colder water & choppier surface
✕Wet season, occasional storms — not usually recommended
Malapascua can be dived year-round, but this trip is timed to the March–June peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
What dive certification is required for this trip?
Advanced Open Water certification is recommended. The following experience requirements apply:
- Open Water divers with fewer than 50 logged dives must be accompanied by an instructor or divemaster.
- Open Water and Advanced Open Water divers with fewer than 50 logged dives must complete a buoyancy workshop.
Is there any gear that's prohibited?
Specifically for Kemud & Monad Shoal — gloves, reef hooks, and metal pointers are generally prohibited due to the fragile marine environment. Camera strobes and flashes are strictly not allowed.
What's the water temperature like?
A warm 28–30°C year-round — among the most comfortable water you'll dive in. A 3mm wetsuit or shortie is plenty for most divers; bring a light rash guard if you tend to run cold on longer multi-dive days.
Do I need my own dive gear?
This package is priced with divers bringing their own equipment. A full rental set is available on-site for PHP 400, or individual pieces (regulator & BCD combined PHP 300, 15L tank PHP 150) if you're only missing a few items.
What time is the Kemud Shoal thresher shark dive?
Early morning — thresher sharks are sighted at their cleaning station at first light, so this is typically the first dive of the day.
Is Nitrox available?
Yes, for certified Nitrox divers — a Nitrox fill is charged per tank, per dive, at PHP 420.
What's the difference between the Diving and Holiday rate?
The Holiday rate covers accommodation, full board meals and transfers only — no dive package. It suits a non-diving companion joining the trip. The Diving rate includes the full dive package for that duration.
Do I need a visa?
Malaysian passport holders enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days — no fee, no application. Other nationalities should check their own requirement.
What currency should I bring?
On-site fees (equipment rental, taxes, shoal fees) are charged in PHP. Crew gratuities are suggested in RM (minimum RM 50/day per pax, cash only).
What's the power plug type?
The Philippines uses Type A/B (flat 2 or 3-pin), 220V — different from Malaysia's Type G, so bring an adapter.
Can I pay the resort's on-site fees by card?
Yes, though a 3.5–4.0% credit card surcharge applies for any on-site payments made directly to the resort (equipment rental, taxes, shoal fees etc). This is separate from DYVUM's own 3% card surcharge on the package price — cash is preferred for on-site charges where possible.
Booking & Payment
- A 30% deposit secures your place on this expedition. This deposit is non-refundable.
- The remaining balance is due 60 days before arrival.
- No refund within 45 days of arrival.
- Card payments carry a 3% surcharge — cash preferred.
- Full terms are outlined in our Booking & Cancellation Policy.
Questions? Email explore@dyvum.com or WhatsApp us.
DYVUM is built for divers who want more than just another dive — more skill, more confidence, more stories, a deeper connection with the ocean, and a community to keep exploring with.