Dakit-Dakit - Malapascua
Dakit-Dakit offers a relaxed dive, often a good second or third tank for the day. It’s a gentle slope, mostly sand, with occasional coral patches where you can spot nudibranchs if you’re patient. We’ve often found groups of garden eels swaying in the milder currents here, and it’s a pretty reliable spot for Savigny's brittle stars tucked away. While you probably won't find thresher sharks here, it's a solid choice for macro photographers or divers looking for an easier profile after a deeper morning dive.
- Location
- Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 11.323561, 124.109085
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
- ALASKA 1 - 28m (wreck)
- ANNA MARZ - 8m (wreck)
- ASIA MALAYSIA - 10m (wreck)
- ASIA SOUTH KOREA - 30m (wreck)
- BALANGIGA - 5m (wreck)
- Blue Coral Malapascua - 17m (reef)
- Bogtong Bato
- Calangaman - Nunez Shoal (pinnacle)
- Capitancillo Island - 23m
- Celsa 2 - 3m (wreck)
- Chocolate Island - 5-20m (reef)
- Chocolate Island Malapascua - 17m
- Coral Garden - 15m (reef)
- Coral Garden Marine Protected Area (reef)
- Cresta de Gallo
Nearest Dive Centres to Dakit-Dakit
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
- Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Six-banded Rock Cod (Epinephelus sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Locust Lobster (Remiarctus bertholdii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Triangular Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) - Reef Fish
- Earmuff wrasse (Halichoeres bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Hair Tailed Blenny (Xiphasia setifer) - Reef Fish
- Lattice monocle bream (Scolopsis taenioptera) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish
- Telescopefish (Epibulus insidiator) - Reef Fish
- Barbeled leatherjacket (Anacanthus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- Ternate Chromis (Chromis ternatensis) - Reef Fish
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Dakit-Dakit
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