Coral Garden Marine Protected Area - Malapascua

Coral Garden, a protected area just off Malapascua, lives up to its name with sprawling beds of halodule, thalassia, and cymodocea ocean turf grass. We find it’s a pretty mellow dive, generally without strong currents, making it a good spot for newer divers or those who just want to take their time poking around. Look closely among the soft corals and you’ll often find Savigny's brittle stars, and if you’re lucky, a snow-flaked cone nudibranch. It's a nice change of pace if you're looking for something a bit quieter than some of Malapascua’s more famous thresher shark dives.

Location
Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.340268, 124.123276
Type
reef

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 Coral Garden Marine Protected Area

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 Coral Garden Marine Protected Area

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