Chocolate Island Malapascua - Malapascua

Chocolate Island is a handy little spot, particularly if you’re fresh out of open water training or just looking for a relaxed afternoon dive. It’s shallow, capping out at around 17 meters, which means plenty of bottom time to poke around. We've often seen cuttlefish here, sometimes in pairs, along with a decent variety of nudibranchs if you slow down and look closely. It’s not going to blow your mind with massive pelagics, but for a gentle introduction to Malapascua's calmer side, it does the trick. Good for honing those buoyancy skills too.

Location
Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.305200, 124.063600
Maximum Depth
17m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Mabini, Higatangan Marine Sanctuary

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

Nearby Dive Sites in Malapascua

Nearest Dive Centres to Chocolate Island Malapascua

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.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Chocolate Island 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