Malapascua Island Cebu
About Malapascua Island
Malapascua Island in the Philippines is a tiny tropical paradise famous for daily thresher shark encounters.
Malapascua Island Philippines
Thresher Shark Divers is located on the western end of Bounty Beach, the long beach on the south side of the island. We can usually see our dive boats arriving in the morning after their early trip to see the thresher sharks at Kimud Shoal.
Find out:
- How to get to Malapascua
- More about the Philippines
- Useful travel information
- More about us
- Dive shop facilities
- Malapascua resorts
- The Wilde Bar on the Beach
Contact us if you have any further questions about coming to Malapascua and the Philippines.
Malapascua Island is just off the north tip of Cebu in the Philippines. It is about 2km by 0.5km, and you can walk around it in 1-2 hours. Its population has grown to about 7,000 from about 4,000 when TSD first opened in 2004.
The name Malapascua means ‘Bad Christmas’ in Cebuano. Legend has it that it was so named because the Spanish found it during a heavy storm at Christmas time.
Modern-day Malapascua was first ‘discovered’ over 30 years ago, when Swiss expat Freddy arrived and built what is now Cocobana Resort. The incredible thresher sharks drew divers from around the world.
Today, Malapascua remains a beautiful, sleepy island. There are no cars and most buildings are only one floor high. The locals are friendly and will always return your wave!
Local Events on Malapascua
Fiestas: There are many fiestas throughout the year with beauty pageants, discos, booths, food and drink. Western holidays are also celebrated, notably Christmas, New Year and Easter. The big island fiesta runs May 1-May 10, and you are welcome to join in! If you prefer an early night, then be sure to bring earplugs!
Basketball is the national obsession and games are played at courts all over the island.
Cockfighting comes second after basketball, and you will see the proud birds (and prouder owners) all over the island.
Malapascua is suitable for families, with swimming pools at several resorts as well as beautiful sandy beaches with calm, shallow waters.
As for sightseeing, the island is small and the main attractions are the beaches, the snorkeling and the diving. Walking to the lighthouse makes for a pleasant stroll, and there is cliff-jumping for the brave!
Malapascua Resorts
Because we do not own a resort, we will not bind you into a room that might not suit you. Tell us your needs and we will suggest the perfect resort.
We have several resorts we use regularly because of their high quality and service standards.
There are some great restaurants on Malapascua, so be sure to ask us for recommendations!
Malapascua Dining
Malapascua has some excellent restaurants. Many are Western-owned and run with high standards and delicious food. And you can find excellent fresh BBQ in the market area, any night of the week.
Malapascua’s Bars
Malapascua is not a party island, but there are some great beach bars and occasional live music.
The Wilde Bar sits right on the beach at Thresher Shark Divers, framed by palm trees and ocean views. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a cold beer, watch the sunset, and swap stories from the day’s diving.
If you’re lucky, you might catch one of TSD’s celebrations for newly certified divers. That means the legendary “Shark Bite Shot” makes an appearance… along with the story behind how this infamous drink came to be.
Booze Cruise
This is a Thresher Shark Diver’s Special and is not to be missed! Enjoy a cruise around the island in one of our traditional Philippine dive boats, with a fully stocked bar on board.
We will stop for snorkeling, including at the Lighthouse wreck, catch a glorious sunset, and you can even take a turn at driving the boat!
Malapascua Weather
Malapascua sits at the north tip of Cebu, in the central Visayas. The climate is tropical, with two seasons: the Amihan (northeast monsoon, November to February) and the Habagat (southwest monsoon, July to October). March to June is the dry season, with March averaging just 20 to 50mm of rain, and May the hottest month at 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.
Water temperature stays at 27 to 30 degrees Celsius most of the year, dropping to 24 to 26 degrees in December to February. Wet season brings 130 to 215mm of rain per month, mostly as afternoon bursts.
Online weather apps: Are not always very accurate! Contact us for latest info.
Typhoons and diving: Cebu averages one typhoon a year, sometimes none. Most storms track through northern Luzon or eastern Samar. In the last 26 years, only six brought direct impact to Cebu. We lose very few diving days per year, and there is almost always a sheltered side of the island to dive when conditions shift.
So When Should You Come?
Thresher sharks are at Kimud Shoal every day of every month, so timing comes down to weather, crowds and price.
- March to June: Dry season. Visibility 20 to 30m, calm seas, the busiest and priciest months. Best for first-time visitors and underwater photographers.
- November to February: Amihan shoulder. Choppier seas, visibility often 10 to 15m, smaller dive groups, lower prices. Water cooler at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius.
- July to October: Habagat wet season. Heavier rain, lowest prices, virtually no crowds. The odd day gets weathered out, but direct typhoon hits in these months are historically rare.
Come midweek or outside major holidays for the fewest divers. For the full breakdown, see our Best Time to Dive Malapascua honest answer guide.
Continue Exploring
- Things to Do — Activities beyond diving
- Getting Here — How to reach Malapascua Island
- Resorts — Where to stay on Malapascua
- The Wilde Bar — Beachfront drinks and dining
- Diving — World-class diving from our PADI 5 Star centre
Learn more: Malapascua on Wikipedia
