Beginners Friendly Dive Trip
Malapascua, Philippines
LAND BASED – BLANCO BEACH RESORT
Diver Requirements
- Advanced Open Water
- Suitable for divers comfortable with early morning dives & open-water conditions
Trip Type: Fun Diving | 23rd -29th December 2025
Welcome to Malapascua
Thresher Sharks. Sunrises. Paradise.
Malapascua is the world’s only year-round thresher shark destination. Every dawn, these elusive predators rise from the depths to cleaning stations at Kimud and Monad Shoal, offering divers a front-row seat to encounters found nowhere else on Earth.
But Malapascua is more than just threshers. Expect tiger sharks, hammerheads, mantas, devil rays, and macro wonders like pygmy seahorses, mandarinfish, and nudibranchs. Add in pristine beaches, fiery sunsets, and warm Filipino hospitality, and you’ve got the perfect balance of thrill and island serenity.
Your home for this journey is Blanco Beach Resort, perched on the island’s white sands. It’s your sanctuary between dives, with modern comforts, tropical charm, and ocean views at your doorstep.
Where You’ll Be Diving
Kimud Shoal
The new thresher shark hotspot, where encounters with multiple threshers are common at 20–30m.
Monad Shoal
Once the main thresher site, now famed for tiger sharks, occasional hammerheads, and manta rays.
Gato Island
A marine sanctuary with swim-through tunnels, reef sharks, and sea snakes in their natural breeding grounds.
Local Reefs & Macro Sites
A wonderland for critter lovers — frogfish, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, and the Denise pygmy seahorse.
Itinerary
- Arrive in Cebu. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay in Cebu.
Cebu → Malapascua
Morning transfer to Malapascua Island (approx. 4–5 hrs by road + boat). Check in at the dive resort. Gear setup & orientation dive (optional, extra). Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua
Dive Day 1 – Start your 12-dive package. Likely 3 dives: early morning Thresher Shark Dive at Monad or Kimud Shoal + 1–2 day dives (e.g., Gato Island, Lapus Lapus). Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua
Dive Day 2 – 2–3 dives. Options: Thresher Shark Dive + Gato Island Cave / Cathedral + Lighthouse Mandarin Fish Dive (sunset). Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua
Dive Day 3 – 2–3 dives. Possible sites: Kalanggaman Island day trip (with beach BBQ), North Point, Chocolate Island. Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua
Dive Day 4 – 2–3 dives. Options: Bugtong Bato, Deep Rock, Bantigi, or wreck dives (Dona Marilyn / Tapilon). Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua
Dive Day 5 – Finish 12-dive package. Early shark dive + relaxing reef/macro dives. Optional night dive (extra). Overnight in Malapascua.
Malapascua → Cebu City
Morning transfer back to Cebu. Overnight stay in Cebu.
Cebu City → Mumbai
Morning transfer back to Cebu. Overnight stay in Cebu.
Note: Itinerary subject to weather and safety considerations.
What You’ll experience
Accomodation
Blanco Beach Resort Malapascua
A boutique beachfront resort offering modern comfort and seamless access to world-class diving adventures.
Why divers love it:
- Elegant Rooms: 10 deluxe rooms with private balconies or terraces, air-conditioning, and minibars.
- Beachfront Dining: Enjoy fresh, locally sourced meals at the resort's restaurant, with options for vegetarian and vegan diets.
- Diving Excellence: Partnered with Thresher Shark Divers, a PADI 5-Star CDC, offering daily thresher shark encounters and other exciting dive sites.
- Relaxation Spaces: Unwind on the private beach, at the beach bar, or in the resort's lounge areas.
- Wellness Offerings: Engage in yoga sessions or island hopping for a balanced experience.
- Prime Location: Situated just a 5-minute walk from Thresher Shark Divers, providing easy access to diving excursions.
Cost Breakdown
Standard Room (Twin Sharing): INR 1,19,000 + Taxes
Deluxe Room: Available on request. Ask us for upgrade options.
What’s Included
- 4N/5D at Seaventures Dive Rig (A/C Standard Room, twin-sharing)
- 3 meals daily + tea, coffee, and water
- Roundtrip transfers: Tawau – Semporna – Dive Rig
- ~14 dives, including 1 day at Sipadan (subject to permit)
- 1 night dive (certified divers only)
- Unlimited buddy dives on the house reef
- Tanks, weights, and belts
- Complimentary WiFi
What’s Not Included
- International flights & visa
- Dive gear rentals (BCD, fins, wetsuit, etc.)
- Sipadan permit fee (MYR 350 per diver/day)
- Sipadan entrance fee (MYR 100 per person/day)
- Dive computer (mandatory – rent or bring your own)
- Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, snacks
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, and tips
- Dive & travel insurance (mandatory)
Gear Rental
Let us know in advance to reserve gear.
Payment & Cancellation
Payment Terms
- 50% deposit to confirm
- Balance due by 10th May 2025
Cancellation Policy
- No refunds on cancellations or no-shows
- No refunds for missed dives/services
- All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable
Faqs
Yes, recommended. WiFi is available onboard, but limited.
Check-in: 2 PM | Check-out: 12 PM
- Arrival: Land – 7:30 AM | Boat – 10:00 AM
- Departure: Boat – 2:00 PM | Land – 3:00 PM
28°C to 30°C
Limited by the government. Issued first-come, first-served. We’ll do our best to secure yours.
Mumbai → Kuala Lumpur → Tawau → Semporna → Seaventures
Yes, rental gear is available. Check Gear Rental above.
Boat dives at Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai + night & house reef dives.
Absolutely. Let us know if you’d like to do Advanced or any specialties.
Yes. DAN or equivalent is required.
23rd to 29th December 2025
Fly into Cebu City (CEB). From there, transfer by road and boat to Malapascua Island (approx. 4–5 hours).
This 12-dive package includes multiple dives per day over 5 dive days, covering Monad Shoal, Kimud Shoal, Gato Island, Lapus Lapus, Bugtong Bato, Deep Rock, wreck dives like Dona Marilyn/Tapilon, and more. Optional dives may be booked extra.
Advanced Open Water certification recommended; minimum 20 logged dives preferred. Comfortable with drift dives, pelagic encounters, and reef/macro exploration.
Yes, high-quality rental gear is available at Thresher Shark Divers. Advance booking is recommended.
Yes, Nitrox is available for certified divers to extend bottom time.
A deposit secures your booking. The balance is due before arrival or on check-in depending on your package.
Cancellations are subject to the terms outlined at booking and may include partial or full refunds depending on timing.
Yes, all divers must carry valid dive insurance covering shore-based dives, drift dives, and encounters with thresher sharks or other pelagic species.
Fresh, locally sourced meals are served daily at Blanco Beach Resort, including vegetarian and vegan options. Amenities include:
- Elegant deluxe rooms with private balconies or terraces, air-conditioning, and minibars
- Beachfront dining and lounge areas
- Private beach and beach bar for relaxation
- Yoga sessions and optional island-hopping excursions
- Easy access to Thresher Shark Divers for world-class diving adventures