Malapascua Monad Shoal - Malapascua

Canto del Bajito is a pretty solid wall dive, and while the visibility can be a bit hit or miss, around 10 meters on average, it’s always worth a peek for those ‘cupons’. We're talking cup corals here, and they are surprisingly huge, some pushing over two meters tall. Our favourite part is cruising along the base of that wall, keeping an eye out for the big stuff; we’ve spotted some hefty cubera snapper and pufferfish lurking in the shadows. Up top, the reef gives way to a bustling community of smaller fish – slender parrotfish picking at algae, dusky damselfish darting between coral heads, and Caribbean spiny lobsters peeking out of crevices. If you move slowly, you'll catch glimpses of American crested pipefish or a camouflaged eyed flounder. We'd suggest going early in the morning, before the boat traffic picks up, as it can make a difference to what you’ll find. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate the intricacies of a coral wall and don’t mind a bit of a treasure hunt for those larger reef residents.

Location
Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.330000, 124.120000
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
20-35m

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 Malapascua Monad Shoal

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 Malapascua Monad Shoal

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