Berriez, as a newcomer to diving you've definitely chosen the perfect location to begin.
Having recently spent 8 weeks on Malapascua Island I can definitely confirm your sentiments regarding points 1) and 2).
Although there is beautiful diving for OW divers on Malapascua, in order to get the most out of individual dive sites and to be allowed to dive others, I would suggest that AOW is a must. I would therefore suggest that you complete your OW before arriving on Malapascua.
For your AOW I can highly recommend the exceptional level of training, professionalism and the personal touch from Evolution.
The dive centre is owner operated by two highly skilled tech divers, who certify both PADI and SDI/TDI.
Having assisted them as a DiveMaster Trainee on several AOW courses I can assure you that you will get a level of training and enthusiasm above and beyond both PADI requirements and what most diving instructors will offer.
For AOW there are 5 required 'adventure' dives of which Navigation and Deep are required. They are keen to encourage Peak Performance Buoyancy as your third adventure dive (it should really be compulsary), as peak performance trim and buoyancy are central to the enjoyment/ease/air consumption/safety of any dive. The PPB training you will receive here is excellent. They are keen to teach the fundimentals of better diving and will give you a basic skill set that you can practise and perfect as you gain more diving experience. This includes not just the hows, but the whys and the dive usually ends with the 'beer challenge'. If you can hover 'motionless' with your hands behind your back and purge your regulator on the instructors pointy stick, he will buy you a beer. (Good luck, but You won't be getting a beer).
Both instructors are keen photographers and have a wealth of knowledge about the flora and fauna of the island so U/W Naturalist is a sensible choice which will consequently enable you to get the most out of any subsequent dives with the very keen eyed local dive guides. Or if you're a photographer then you're in capable hands for U/W Photographer.
Malapascua also has several unique Night Diving sites, including a 12m ish dive where you can watch Mandarin Fish spawn every night, and often see blue ringed octopus, bobtail squid, cuttlefish etc.
The again if you want an 'easier' (rubbishy boring) Adventure dive you could opt for Boat Dive, seeing as all the dives are from a boat and all that is really required is a little boat orientation and knowledge of the different methods of entering the water. Or Multilevel Dive; not so much an 'easier/boring' dive; but a stepped deep dive which will provide you with increased dive time and allow you more experience with dive tables/computers.
I'm not sure if Enriched Air (Nitrox) is an 'Adventure' dive, I think it is. If you find that you have a low air consumption, then being able to dive using Nitrox will maximise your time under water because the gas contains a lower percentage of nitrogen. This can double your bottom time on the Monad Shoal dive that you are interested in diving. Having a longer bottom time (thanks to Nitrox) on this dive site allows you to spend more time watching the Thresher Sharks and Devil/Manta Rays while the Air divers have to return to the mooring line and the surface.
Evolution can be found here:
Evolution Diving The Natural Selection
here:
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and on Trip Adviser
Matt from Evolution is a member of this board so will probably pay this thread a visit soon enough.
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Regarding other places to dive.
Both Bohol and Moal Boal have come highly recommended by the other travelling divers that I spoke with at the dive centre. The sardines at Moal Boal in particular are meant to be an unmissable sight. Apo Island (marine sanctuary south of Cebu) has also received considerable praise from those who have dived there. I can ask around for you as I don't currently have access to my 'little black book' of recommended dive sites and dive operators.
Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.
Nic
