Thresher Sharks 1-day itinerary

Wake at 4am for a 4:30am boat departure to Monad Shoal — a submerged island 8km off Malapascua where thresher sharks rise from the deep to visit cleaning stations at dawn. This is one of the only places in the world where you can reliably see these extraordinary animals, with their scythe-like tails that can be longer than their bodies. The cleaning station sits at 20–30m on a sandy plateau where cleaner wrasse remove parasites from the sharks. Dives cost ₱3,500–5,000 including equipment.

After the adrenaline of the dawn dive, spend the afternoon snorkelling around Lighthouse Island — a tiny islet just south of Malapascua accessible by a 10-minute boat ride or a 30-minute swim from the main beach. The shallow reef is alive with clownfish in anemones, blue-spotted stingrays on the sand, and triggerfish darting between coral heads. Snorkel gear rents for ₱200–300/day. The beach on Malapascua itself is postcard-perfect white sand.

Bounty Beach is Malapascua's main strip — a curve of white sand lined with dive shops, guesthouses, and restaurants. Fresh grilled fish with garlic rice costs ₱200–350 at beachfront restaurants. The sunset view from Bounty Beach faces west with a clear horizon. After dinner, most divers swap thresher shark stories over San Miguel beer (₱60–80) at the beach bars. The island is small enough to walk end-to-end in 20 minutes.