Malapascua

[bill22]

Hello all 1st post... just a few words on my experiences from my 6 days at Malapascua In April this year.

I made three early morning dives to the Monad Shoal but sadly no Threshers ... and there was always so many divers there, who can blame the sharks from shying away. Yea I know its luck but it seems so commercialised I got the feeling its over....

Also other diving around there in terms of aquatic life had nothing on Puerto Galeria where I had just been, it seems to me that the local reefs are really fished out, nothing much except "macro"

On a trip out to Chocolate Island there were some locals on boat with a compressor feeding some tubes which the guys diving were using to breeth, and they were spearing anything that moved, there really was not much to see once down there.

I stayed at Hippocampus and dived with Sea Explorers (after a brief spell with the poms at Threshers) - that was okay but the groups are big and its mass production all around. Hippocampus was a nice place to stay, Sea Ex is right next door.

It seems the whole diving business is at the advanced stage of commercialisation there. which is good in way in terms of facilities and shops, but really there are too many divers going to Monad each day.

And the real shame is that the locals are wiping out the reef stocks - sure who can blame them if its a question of survival, but its a disaster for tourism, and people there should be given some incentives for protecting and not wiping out reef fish stocks. But the Phillippines is such a corrupt mess, guess thats a very low priority on the national agenda.

I appreciate your post and sharing your experience in Malapascua. I think that it could certainly be helpful to some when deciding on what time of year they want to visit there. Sorry, you didn't enjoy your time there and that you didn't see any Threshers. I had at least three dives while I was there where I didn't see any Threshers. I was just lucky in that I had 9 dive days there I had some really great dives when I was Malapascua. Timing, as they say, is everything. I was in Malapascua last October and hit it during a lull. I had an overall great experience there.

I also stayed at Hippocampus when I was there and thought it was a nice place. I didn't dive at Sea Explorers, but they appeared to be well organized and they have a very good reputation in the Philippines.

A lot of people showed up the day before I left. I opted not to dive Monad the last morning I was there and I heard later that there were so many people that they couldn't even move around without bumping into each other. Needless to say they didn't see any Threshers that morning either My friend who went out said it was crazy and was not surprised. This sounds like what you experienced. I don't know what the answer to that is though. Maybe more cooperation between the dive operations there to minimize the numbers of people out there at one time.... Since they don't see Threshers every day... I kinda doubt that's going to happen We can hope though

Like a couple of other people here, I also would not agree with your last statement that the Philippines is a "corrupt mess". All countries have their problems. I don't believe that you judge an entire country by what a few individuals do. Dynamite fishing was once commonplace, but is now becoming less and less common. As more people become educated and as diving tourism takes the place of spearfishing on hookah's and dynamite fishing, this will become a thing of the past. One only has to look to Verde Island to see what is possible. Education and providing alternatives to local fishermen so that they can feed their families is key.

 

[xariatay]

Saw a thresher shark on our 2nd (& last) morning at Monad Shoal - Aug 07. Until now, I still feel very lucky & blessed.
Pyrodiver's advice is right. Monad Shoal was teeming with clean fish on that 2nd morning, on the 1st morning, nothing much was happening. Might have something to do with the water temp. 2nd morning was noticibly colder.
Will be back at Malapascua in Dec, am prepared for the peak season!

 

[pakman]

So which shop do you favor now Mike? TSD or exotic?

Jigo, sorry didn't see this til now. Tough call. Service wise, I would have to say they are equal. Both have good size and good condition bangkas. I did like the Exotic dive guide, Tong, better. I guess if you prefer an all in one dive resort, then Exotic would be your choice. The resort is further north on the beach so it would be a bit of a walk (10-15min?) if you stayed somewhere else (I presume they give dive priority to guests staying at their resort). I think I stayed in the no fan room at Exotic. Kind of small compared to what you can get at say Cocobana or the other resorts.

 

[jigo]

Thanks Mike. From what i gather, it will be better to go during the off season. barring any typhoons.

 

[pyrodiver]

Been there only once and was very happy with Exotic. Must be coincidence but they asked me where I wanted to go diving and they scheduled all the dives in the week according to my preference. Not bad eh?

 

[clgsamson]

Been there only once and was very happy with Exotic. Must be coincidence but they asked me where I wanted to go diving and they scheduled all the dives in the week according to my preference. Not bad eh?

maybe they thought you were from the mainland...

 

[Mike Veitch]

maybe they thought you were from the mainland...

Cebu?

 

[jigo]

Been there only once and was very happy with Exotic. Must be coincidence but they asked me where I wanted to go diving and they scheduled all the dives in the week according to my preference. Not bad eh?

thats cool. when did you go? you werent the only guest were you?

 

[clgsamson]

Cebu?

China...

 

[bill22]

Thanks Mike. From what i gather, it will be better to go during the off season. barring any typhoons.

I was there the last week of October at the tailend of the typhoon season... not a lot of people, but we did miss some dives because of weather.