Manta Bowl - Malapascua
Manta Bowl is exactly what it sounds like, a big, often current-swept spot where we go looking for pelagics. It’s off the southeastern edge of the main Malapascua reef, and while a lot of people head out hoping for mantas, we've had plenty of solid dives even when they don’t show. You’ll anchor up, drop down, and find yourself on a gently sloping coral reef that tops out around 20 metres. The main event here are the cleaning stations, where we’ll tuck in, sometimes holding onto a reef hook, and just wait. While you’re waiting, orbicular batfish usually cruise by, and we’ve seen schools of Indian scad so thick they almost block the sun. If you’re lucky, an oceanic manta ray will glide in for a clean, a truly impressive sight. Even without mantas, there are often eagle rays doing fly-bys, and the occasional reef shark. Currents can be strong, so it’s best for divers comfortable with a bit of a drift and keeping an eye on their buddies.
- Location
- Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 12.611016, 123.708100
Marine Protected Area: Ticao Island marine Protected Area Network (TIMPAN)
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 Manta Bowl
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 Manta Bowl
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