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.
Kemod & Monad Shoal
Two shoals, two signature sharks. Kemod 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 Options
6D5N, 12 Dives
1 Spot Left
Superior
16sqm · 1 double bed / 2 single beds · 1 pax spot left, sharing with male
Twin, per paxRM 4,000
Single occupancyRM 5,800
Air conditioning
32" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Veranda, restaurant view
Sold Out
Premier
30sqm · 2 double beds · Sold out
Twin, per paxRM 4,200
Single occupancyRM 6,090
Breakfast included
40" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Veranda, garden view
Sold Out
Seaview Suite
22sqm · 1 queen bed · Sold out
Twin, per paxRM 4,200
Single occupancyRM 6,090
Air conditioning
40" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Veranda, partial sea view
Sold Out
Ocean Suite
22sqm · 1 queen bed · Sold out
Twin, per paxRM 4,300
Single occupancyRM 6,235
Air conditioning
40" LCD TV, cable
Free WiFi
En-suite bathroom
Hot & cold shower
Stocked minibar & fridge
Electric kettle
Veranda, ocean view
Premier, Seaview Suite and Ocean Suite are now sold out. Superior has 1 pax spot remaining, sharing a twin room with a male roommate.
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
Kemod Shoal feePHP 300 / day
Kemod Shoal / Gato Island fuel chargePHP 550 / trip
Monad–Kemod 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).
6D5N Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
01
Sat 6 Mar — Arrival
Check-in, followed by a check-out dive to confirm buoyancy and gear before the trip's dive schedule begins.
02
Sun 7 Mar — Local Reefs & Sunset Dive
3 local dives, including a sunset dive to watch the Mandarin Fish courtship display.
03
Mon 8 Mar — Kemod & Monad Shoal
3 dives at Kemod/Monad Shoal, in search of thresher sharks.
04
Tue 9 Mar — Gato Island
3 dives at Gato Island's marine sanctuary and cave system.
05
Wed 10 Mar — Local Reefs
2 local dives.
06
Thu 11 Mar — 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.
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.
Kemod Shoal
Monad Shoal
Gato Island
Lighthouse
House Reef
Butong Bato
Ubang Bato
North Rock
North Point
Pawikan Hole
Quilliano
Pantaw-Pantaw
Dakit Dakit
East Garden
Chocolate Island
Kalanggaman Island
Getting There
Recommended Flight Plan
Malapascua rewards a little patience getting there — and punishes a rushed arrival. Fly in a day early, on 5 March, 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 6 March 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 5 March and staying overnight near the airport is the only way to guarantee a smooth, on-time arrival at the resort.
Suggested outbound: Fri 5 Mar 2027 — KUL 17:15 → CEB 21:25 (4h 10m, Philippines AirAsia Z2 7115). Overnight near Cebu airport, then transfer to Malapascua on the morning of 6 March.
Suggested return: Thu 11 Mar 2027 — CEB 14:55 → KUL 18:35 (3h 40m, Malaysia Airlines MH4696, operated by Firefly FY3693).
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 5 March 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.
Guests who require additional training can contact us directly.
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 Kemod 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.
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.
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