Diving in Malapascua

Best Time to Dive in Malapascua

The warmest water temperatures in Malapascua occur in June, averaging 29.9°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 27.5°C
• February: 27.1°C
• March: 27.6°C
• April: 28.3°C
• May: 29.6°C
• June: 29.9°C
• July: 29.6°C
• August: 29.6°C
• September: 29.8°C
• October: 29.6°C
• November: 29.2°C
• December: 28.6°C

Marine Life in Malapascua

Home to 88 recorded species including 72 reef fish, 5 crabs & lobsters, 5 sharks & rays, 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 seagrass & algae.

Dive Site Difficulty in Malapascua

Malapascua has 6 beginner, 2 intermediate, 3 advanced dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Malapascua

Based on average water temperature of 28.9°C, currents 15 cm/s.

• Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• BCD - buoyancy compensator
• Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
• Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
• Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
• Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Malapascua

• Taklong Island National Marine Reserve - Resource Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Sagay Marine Reserve - Resource Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Island of Banaon, Basaan, Saac, Tambu, Bambanon Wilderness Area - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Panciscan Pt. in Bitos Bay up to Bano Sanlay, Panicijan River in Butuan Bay; Mangroves along the banks of Sta. Rosa River in San Jacinto town Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Natural Park (IUCN Category II)
• Tañon Strait Protected Seascape - Protected Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape & Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Biri Larosa Protected Landscape & Seascape - Protected Landscape and Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Island of Budlanan, Bugatusan, Panga, Silo, Cabgan, Canconstino, tabaon, Maagpit, and Islet of Basihan, Bugatusan, Hayaan, Inanoran , and Poom Point East of Basihan Islet (Getafe Group of Island) (Clarin Group of Island) Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
• Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
• Islands of Guinauyan, Naro, Chico, and Pobre Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Catiil, Colangaman, Lomislis, Tagangdio, Tintinan, and islet of Pamasuan Wilderness Area - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Island of Pamusuan, Handayan, Majanay,,, Islets of Bonoon, Lapinig, Pinahon and Lapinig Chico, Mangrove areas east of Soom River Pangpang Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve - Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape - Protected Seascape (IUCN Category V)
• Marine Protected Area Network within Biri-Larosa Protected Landscape and Seascape - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Ticao Island marine Protected Area Network (TIMPAN) - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Asid Gulf Marine Protected Area Network (AGMPAN) - Marine Protected Area Network (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Bago, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Hinigaran, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Nueva Estrella Norte Marine Reserve - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Pontevedra, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Enrique, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Valladolid, Negros Occidental - Local Conservation Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Apale-Tolingon Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Balirahay Reef Marine Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Benolho Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Buntay Marine Protected Area/ Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cabugawan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Calangawan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Canawayon Island Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cancandoy Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Caroyocan Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cinco Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cogon Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Dumana Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Gabas Marine Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Guinob-an Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Himokilan Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Ingan Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Kantawi Reef Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Kawayan Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Lewing Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Look Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Mabini, Higatangan Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Macabug Marine Reserve Area with Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Madong-badong Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Mahayag Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Naval Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Palo Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve (Binangalan Reef) - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Pangasugan Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Panunubulon Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Plaridel Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Poblacion I Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sakay Point - Sitio Calipata-an Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sambawan Island - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sampotan Islet Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Isidro Marine Reserve Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• San Miguel Fish Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Sta. Cruz Marine Sanctuary and AR Project - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tagbak Marine Park - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tagbibi Marine Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tinag-an Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Tomakeen Daco Reef Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Uson Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• VSU Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Bacon Marine Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Castilla Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Bugsayon Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Fishery Reserve and Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Malilipot-Rawis-Lagbak (MARILAG) Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Namantao Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Cataingan Bay Marine Protected Area - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Ragnas Fish Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Gurion Marine Sanctuary - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
• Nipa-Nabangig Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve - Locally-managed Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Applicable)

Getting to Malapascua - Nearest Airports

• Ormoc Airport (OMC), Ormoc City - 74 km away, approx 96 min travel time
• Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB), Cebu City/Lapu-Lapu City - 122 km away, approx 148 min travel time
• Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD), Bacolod City - 127 km away, approx 153 min travel time