MUSKRAT - Malapascua

Okay, so the Musket. Don't go to Malapascua just for this, but if you’re already there and fancy something a bit different from the thresher sharks, it’s a surprisingly good shallow dive. This old motor vessel, grounded during Typhoon Agnes back in '84, is practically falling apart, and that’s what we love about it. It sits at a maximum depth of two metres, so it’s more of a snorkel or a leisurely, long safety stop if you’re just coming up from a deeper dive nearby. The hull, all 97 metres of it, is just a broken skeleton now, completely covered in a fuzzy green layer of algae. You can weave in and out of the rusted metal, which is a neat experience, feeling the sun warm on your back through the surface. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – we’ve seen everything from tiny gobies darting between the rebar to small schooling fish taking shelter. It’s a gentle drift, usually, but sometimes a slight current picks up, pushing you along the length of the wreck. It’s a great spot to practice your buoyancy or just spend an hour seeing how an artificial reef evolves. We’d suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, which can drop if the winds have been stirring things up.

Location
Malapascua, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.201667, 125.178340
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
2m

Marine Protected Area: Madong-badong Marine Reserve Area

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 MUSKRAT

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 MUSKRAT

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