Marine Protected Area
Protected Area
Mabini, Higatangan Marine Sanctuary
Why dive here
With 87+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles, thresher sharks, lionfish and pufferfish - Marine Protected Area offers some of Malapascua's richest diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, June, July.
You’ll likely hear the Marine Protected Area called something else by the local dive shops; it’s one of those spots that’s often just lumped in with the general diving around Malapascua. We find it’s a good choice for an afternoon dive, especially if you’ve spent the morning at Monad Shoal. The visibility here can vary, but generally, it’s a comfortable dive, not too deep, maybe 15-20 meters. You’ll spot a decent range of species, we’ve logged amberfish, and it’s a good spot for brittle stars, particularly Savigny’s. Keep an eye out for the different seagrass beds, too – halodule and thalassia are pretty common. It’s a gentle dive, good for stretching out your bottom time and appreciating the smaller things.
Nearest Dive Centres to Marine Protected Area
Dive shops near Marine Protected Area
Avila's Horizon Dive Resort
DiverGems Scuba Diving School
Divelink Cebu
Dive Society
Dive Society Dive Center
Mabuhay
Reviews for Marine Protected Area
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Marine Protected Area
Marine Protected Area Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Marine Protected Area, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (11.45, 124.02) (6km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 29.3–31.5°C
Current Speed
8.25 cm/s
Direction: S (194°)
Salinity
33.75 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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