Seahorses, Frogfish, and Things That Look Like Rocks: A Muck Diving Guide
Malapascua is famous for sharks, but its muck diving is world-class. Frogfish, seahorses, blue-ringed octopus, and creatures so camouflaged you’d swim right past them.
Marine Life
Mandarin Fish Night Dives: Malapascua’s Best-Kept Secret
Every sunset, mandarin fish emerge from the coral rubble at Malapascua’s Lighthouse reef to mate. It’s one of the most colourful spectacles in diving, and most visitors miss it.
Creature Feature: Flamboyant Cuttlefish
Flamboyant cuttlefish in full colour © Tim Rock Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish, Metasepia pfefferi, are a favorite of underwater photographers here inMalapascua. They display stunning changing colours and patterns and actually “walk” along the bottom of the sea, the only cuttlefish species known to do so. These tiny cuttlefish only grow up to 8cm in length, and …
Creature Feature – Sea Moths
We have some weird critters here in the waters around Malapascua Island, making it a photographers dream. But one of the weirdest of all are the sea moths which can often be found walking (yes walking!) around in pairs. Sea Moth by Stewart Robinson The sea moths, or Pegasidae, are a family of fish found in shallow coastal …
Our Newest Divemaster Trainee!
Luwill is a local lad; a relatively new member of staff who has been with us for about a year now. With his excellent English, fine sense of humor, and his position as main boat boy to meet and greet guests when they first arrive at the port to Malapascua Island, he has quickly turned …
New Chef
Oscar’s restaurant above TSD has been open for 15 months already and has gone from strength to strength. The food has been consistently amazing and continues to astonish us with its all-out yumminess. But we always want to improve and for the last few months we have been looking for a new chef to move …
Palau Trip Report
Palau has been the dream of a lifetime for me, and so when I was offered the chance to do a liveaboard on Big Blue Explorer I jumped at the chance. Palau is very close to the Philippines and is a perfect destination to combine with your next Malapascua or Philippines visit. This trip was …
August at TSD
August was a bit of a rollercoaster month at TSD going from very quiet to hugely busy and back again. Another IDC started on August 1 so a lot of last minute preparations were being made by all our candidates. Then it was full on classroom and in-water work for them for the next 10 …
Liveaboards for 2010 / 2011
For some of us, it’s already time to start thinking about our diving trips for next year. For those who prefer their diving liveaboard style, we have new schedules for 2010 and 2011. First up are the Expedition Fleet Tubbataha liveaboards that run from March to June each year. There will be 4 running boats …
Tec again
Trevor returned from Puerto Galera having completed a series of tech dives in preparation for his upcoming search for wrecks and sharks in Malapascuan waters. His deepest was a dive to 90 meters on an industrial strength DPV. Boys and their toys – zooming round the canyons like teenagers….